squat problems

[Welsh power house]

I cant squat with good form. I lean too far forewards and cant 'sit back into the squat' no matter how hard i try to change my form, it wont work!!!!

So, i have decided to do squats in the smith machine (should be able to keep better form). Either that or front squats.

Which would you guys recommend? My main goal is to put on mass...and my legs suck!!

cheers.

 

[enrage]

start doing box squats. box squats will help you form and will help you sit back. Just make sure you don't completely sit down, thats one way to fuck up your spine.

 

[Welsh power house]

I have doen them and they didnt really help...thanx 4 the reply ne way!

What u think about smith machine squats?

 

[The Shadow]

I cant squat with good form. I lean too far forewards and cant 'sit back

Sounds like tight Achilles tendons. Spend some time on the calf raise machine with as much weight as you can stand up with. Let the weight stretch the calves and let them sink as far as possible. Be sure to stretch the hips and you'll no longer be rounding and leaning forward.

That said I prefer Smith squats and Hacks.

 

[BodybuildingUniverse]

welsh, isn't there anyone, any gurus in the gym that can help with your squat form? Have you tried altering your stance and/or bar placement on your back? Stick your chest out and your butt out and force those knees to stay wide and not come in. I think a smith may only make it worse, compensating for poor form when the real deal would do so much more for you.

 

[BodybuildingUniverse]

welsh, did you see this?

http://www.testosterone.net/html/body_57cp.html

 

[Lord_Suston]

If you are leaning to far forward then try to place the bar a little higher on the traps. If it has to do with your ankles and heels coming up during the lift try using boots i know it sounds funny but they really help.
Welsh workout with some light weight to find where the bar is comfortable and able for you to go nce and straight.

 

[Welsh power house]

I dont see what the problem is. I know how to squat properly and have been shown how to do it by my coach in college who knows everything about lifting weights. But still i seem to be leaning forward and just not squatting well at all!!

Hopefully the smith machine will force me to sit back as it controlls the motion of the lift....and i cant bring the bar forwards can i?!

Thanx for the advice guys!!

 

[MrMuscle]

i have never been able to do squats either..my bodymechanics just wont allow it..so i do front squats..excellent exercise

 

[bignate73]

if someone can do front squats, they can do back squats.

sorry, your bodytype wont allow one and not the other. there is just something you are missing. be it bar placement, flexibility, etc. you just havent found it yet.

 

[sysopt]

I would first say that to try box squating; if you dont wanna do that, well, I dont have a rack so I have do hacksquats (real ones) instead and they seem to work well.

http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/Quadriceps/BBHackSquat.html

 

[Welsh power house]

Bignate...i have been squatting for about 3 years and i still have'nt got a decent squat. i can lift some decent weight for my size but my form is terrible(imo) and i dont think that has anything to do with my flexiablity which has always been very good....we do fitness tests in college and mine wasvery high so i dont think thats it.

I have done front squats in the past and i can sit back further because if i dont, the bar will obviously slip off!!!

I read once in musclemag about the problem i have and they suggested front squats.

It is pissing me off, front squats are ok, but no way as near as good an exercise as the squat!

Thank God i can still bench and deadlift!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[I'D RATHER BE DEADLIFTING]

I'd stay away from the smith for many reasons, but the main one I'll bring up here is that it won't help you sit back. I agree with Jake that it will probably make your situation worse and get you no where closer to getting your free weight form down. On a smith you can kick your feet out in front of you and push back against the machine on the way up. This does not duplicate a free weight squat, plus will take out a ton of the much needed stablizers to help aid in begtter squat form. If you want to have better form, practice. I realize you say you have tried everything, but you haven't. Go with the box squats that enrage suggested. Do them light til you get it. Learn the proper form on them. Also, starting on a higher box and gradually lowering it will help you to perfect your technique.