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 Chat & Conversation
 SQUAT CHAT... method of choice, weight, smith machine or freeweight? etc..
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| Author | Topic: SQUAT CHAT... method of choice, weight, smith machine or freeweight? etc.. | ||
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Freak 
Posts: 2062 |
curious... i like to kill legs and train alone, so i almost always use heavy weight on the smith machine... stance changes from shoulder, to wide, to close...
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Freak
Posts: 2062 |
one more thing i do... i use a flat bench to place under me so when i squat down my ass touches it... i know i am past parallel at this point and its time to blast up.... NO BOUNCING OFF THE BENCH!!! | ||
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Elite Bodybuilder 
Posts: 913 |
i use the smith machine as well but i know some people are going to argue that | ||
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Elite Bodybuilder
Posts: 1302 |
I work for the ATF in the Squat Division. i train alone and never smith it, always free weights. it just doesn't feel like squatting if i'm not standing there at the beginning of the set when i take it off the rack and sort of let it balance itself out and listen to the plates clanking around going holy shit am i going to break through this floor or what. ------------------ | ||
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Elite Bodybuilder
Posts: 882 |
I'm with super. Ass-To-Floor free weight squats or I might as well not train legs. Training alone isn't a problem, just grab the nearest guy and ask for a spot. He should only be there for a "help! there is NO WAY I could possibly complete this rep" assist. If you need the spotter to stay with you during each rep, then you're using too much weight. -Warik ------------------ BY THE POWER OF GRAYSKULL!!! | ||
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Elite Bodybuilder
Posts: 1021 |
free weight mostly, sometimes I use the smith machine, I'll be honest since I'm still rebuilding my leg strength back up from screwing up my knee a while back. The most I will use is 295lbs for a set of 6-8. I don't feel very steady with that much weight and my knee still gets that buckling feeling. Anyone else have a hard time building their squat strength after a knee injury? my biggest mistake was taking a year off after running from doing any squatting at all and not getting that knee cleaned up by a Dr. | ||
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Elite Bodybuilder
Posts: 1359 |
recently ATF on squats. sometimes I'll do 400-550lb half-reps. I go ATF on hack squats also. leg press I go very very heavy. leg routine: 4x standing calve 2x seated calve 5x barbell squats 2x hack squats or 2x leg press 3x SLDL 2x lying leg curls | ||
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Moderator
Posts: 6944 |
Leg day: Squats 5 sets x 8 reps Ass-To-Floor I change it up a little every few months. | ||
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Moderator
Posts: 6944 |
quote: Just a quick note that it is stressful on your knees and lower back to go below parallel on hack squats. | ||
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Freak
Posts: 2062 |
hmm... i dont abandon free weight squats, but i dont do them as much as smiths or even the leg sled... for some reason my knee gets a "twinge" behind the cap on free weight squats... also, do you guys think ass to the floor makes a difference than parallel? seems to me as excess wear and tear | ||
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Pro Bodybuilder 
Posts: 482 |
smith machine, my knees don't like free wieghtiung it, plus its hard to keep my balance with my flat ass feet | ||
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Elite Bodybuilder
Posts: 1277 |
TXCguy, hey man, I used to have really bad knees. I always did light squat for about 2 months, then started working in some light lunges before squat, but before that I did extensions to warm up the knees. You should probably ask your doctor/physical therapist what to do, then go a little harder than what they tell you. | ||
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Amateur Bodybuilder 
Posts: 241 |
Free weight squats are the measure of a man in the gym. Period. Other than a few exceptions where people are honestly not physically able to perform them, they should be the cornerstone of any leg routine. A lot of people come up with every excuse imaginable to replace them with leg presses, Smiths, hacks, whatever. Unless you really cannot do them you should be. I absolutely love the mental challenge of "getting up" for training quads and hams. It's a mental challenge to be able train every set to utter failure and learn to accept the gnawing, gut-wrenching sensation that steadily grows with each rep...you're body pleading with you to stop while your mind continually struggles against our inherent human instinct to flee from pain...especially when self-inflicted. I feel like a warrior ready to go to battle on leg day, with my belt stapped and my knee wraps tight...ready to go to war against that enormous amount of weight ready to crush me into the cold floor unless I force it out of the bottom like a turbo-charged, Met-Rx-fed human piston!! DAMN!! I'M READY FOR SOME HEAVY SQUATS NOW!!! ANYBODY WANNA COME WITH ME????!!! WE'RE OFF TO WAR!!!.......shit, it's 12:50am. The damn gym is closed. My bad. I think I'll do legs tomorrow. ------------------ | ||
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Amateur Bodybuilder
Posts: 155 |
Have any of you ever read the "Poliquin Principles?" It's a pretty cool book with a lot of info that I refer to often, but can't figure out who I loaned it too. There is a specific chapter on legs which talks about smith machine squats compared to free squats and parallel squatting to below parallel squatting. I wish I had the book with me to quote it, but the gist of it is that when you use the smith, you are actually placing more stress on the knees than when you free squat. He has a diagram in the book that shows all of the points of stress while on the smith and comparing them to the points of stress while free squatting. The point of the article was that smith squats are harder and more stress to the knees. The second part of the chapter deals with when you only squat to parallel, the knees take a larger load of stress than when going below parallel, due to you having to strain at a certain (parallel) point and then rise. I forgot how he explained it, but yet again he says to go below parallel. My training partner used to have terrible knees and refused to free squat. I started him free squatting and the son-of-a-bitch now squats more than me with no knee trouble whatsoever. My legs grew tons when I adopted that method of squatting a couple of years ago. I have no knee problems, nor do I forsee them. 2thick, I train pretty much the same as you on legs. Squats (Either front or back), Deadlifts, 1 leg presses and 1 leg extensions for quads. Hams it's stiff's and curls. Calves are 2 days a week on different days. I really recommend the "Poliquin Principles." I met Charles and did not care for him very much, but I respect him. He knows his shit. ------------------ | ||
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Pro Bodybuilder
Posts: 550 |
you use the smith machine AND have the bench under ur butt....o boy, would the guys and I have a good laugh at you at my gym....let me guess, you put that pad around the bar too | ||
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Mutant  
Posts: 3398 |
Uhg. Me squat, me use rack and smith, me no care. uhg. | ||
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Elite Bodybuilder
Posts: 1021 |
Curious George thanks for the info. I'll have to go read that book sometime before my next leg day. | ||
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Freak
Posts: 2062 |
one kick ass... yes i do... doesnt really bother me either... i want to know when i am at parallel... how else can i without turning my head sideways? "feeling" doesnt work for me.... not to be a dick, but when it gets down to it and i go free i can squat with anyone i have seen at any gym ive been to... its just my preferred method. | ||
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Pro Bodybuilder
Posts: 550 |
one kick ass... yes i do... doesnt really bother me either... i want to know when i am at parallel... how else can i without turning my head sideways? "feeling" doesnt work for me.... not to be a dick, but when it gets down to it and i go free i can squat with anyone i have seen at any gym ive been to... its just my preferred method. Not to be a dick? That must be a joke.. | ||
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Mutant
Posts: 3537 |
kickass...your right that must be a joke... I do free weights. The smith machine is only good if you don't have a spotter. But free weight is much better to ensure muscular balance. Mad...your using the smith machine, and you use a bench to insure your parallel?? Dude how can you even get unparalle with that machine??? | ||
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Freak
Posts: 2062 |
geez folks.. just for you i will go free tonight, no biggy... and shags, its pretty easy to not know when your parallel even on a smith machine... especially with big baggy shorts on. i like taking advice from chicks, its fun. | ||
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Elite Bodybuilder
Posts: 882 |
What's all this talk about parallel? Do you deadlift only up to your knees? Do you bent-over row only up to your waist? Do you shoulder press only down to the top of your head? Do you chin-up only to your forehead? Do you bench press only a few inches? Do the exercise right. Only powerlifters have any business doing parallel squats because they don't have to go all the way down for competition. If your goal is building mass in your legs, why deny yourself of the full range of motion? -Warik ------------------ BY THE POWER OF GRAYSKULL!!! | ||
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Olympian 
Posts: 1972 |
I find it damn funny that none of the guys have said a word, and its the broads who are flaming Madbomber for being a pussy..LMAO!!!! all freeweights..dont even have a squat rack, so I've gotta clean and jerk it first...hacks and squats all freeweights. | ||
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Amateur Bodybuilder
Posts: 155 |
Has anybody ever tried the "Old" hack squats, where you take a barbell, put it behind your back, squat down and rise? That's a killer. Kat, I respect anybody who cleans and presses. Did you ever notice that any exercise that is uncomfortable to do, makes you grow so much better than comfortable machines. Anybody can do a machine, not anybody can clean and press. ------------------ | ||
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Olympian
Posts: 1972 |
Curious...thats the only kind of hacks I know how to do..I didnt know there was another way....? | ||
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Freak
Posts: 2100 |
ass to the floor or hit the door go heavy or go home | ||
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Freak
Posts: 2062 |
i dont even think i could go ass to the floor with no weight... but ladies, i went free weight tonight... weight was lighter of course, but reps were pretty high... i may have over did it by still doing the sled and extensions but we will see... i did start to cramp, that sucked but it didnt disrupt anything too much. i did not feel any bad things in my knee so i was happy about that. the one big difference are the hammys, they got worked much more than the smith does... so now i will have to put off training them for 2 or 3 days but no biggy. FYI- this entire working out thing is about bettering your body, not about who goes hardcore... if someone wants to use the sissy pad, by all means, use it... i personally dont because i like my arms spread over the weight to hold the plates in place. blah blah blah | ||
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Pro Bodybuilder
Posts: 550 |
that's good Kat..cleaning and jerking...I should try that one day... I don't go ATG for squats...I do, however, go below parallel..sometimes further down then other times.... MadB=Pussy | ||
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Freak
Posts: 2062 |
never mind... it doesnt matter what i said. you do realise i posted this to get training opinions, right? you have no idea what weight i use or how my form is... [This message has been edited by madbomber31 (edited February 28, 2001).] | ||
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Elite Bodybuilder
Posts: 882 |
quote: I find it funny how I'm no longer a guy. Thanks! =( -Warik ------------------ BY THE POWER OF GRAYSKULL!!! | ||
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Elite Bodybuilder
Posts: 1436 |
I squat ATF and I use the smith machine specifically b/c I train alone and I like the way it keeps the range of motion sturdy.. ------------------ | ||
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Pro Bodybuilder
Posts: 550 |
not flaming anyone here.... I train alone. BUT, if and when I squat a heavy weight, I get someone in the gym to spot me..I've been there for a few months now and have gotten chatty with a few, so, I know who's a good spotter... | ||
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Freak
Posts: 2062 |
i dont chat, i work. | ||
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Pro Bodybuilder
Posts: 550 |
you don't chat you work? Boy, ur full of humour lately, eh MadB? If you worked, you wouldnt be posting here all the time....and, as far as not chatting at the gym and only working out, I think when ya go to a gym regularly, you start to get familiar with some of them and maybe say hi once in a while...I do and I watch for who knows wtf they're doing in case I need a spotter.....so, you go ahead and be anti-social at the gym and keep doing ur squatting at the smith...and, dont hit ur ass on the bench when ur down!! | ||
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Mutant
Posts: 3537 |
quote: Not to beat you up any more Maddy, cause you know I luvs you, but what the hell are you talking about? You stretch your arms the length of the bar and hold the wieghts in place? Don't you use collars for that? That might be why you have difficulties getting your ass to the floor or even parralle , your balance might be off because of that. WHen you have your arms in just to support the bar your center of gravity is much better. Plus I'm trying to picture someone doing that, and if you got alot of plates on, that would be a freakin hard balancing act, kinda distracting from the squat itself. | ||
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Moderator
Posts: 2781 |
MB, The bench can be kind of dangerous because with teheight on your back, it can put pressure on your backbone and spine. This is not a good thing. | ||
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Pro Bodybuilder
Posts: 550 |
I'm trying to pic someone doing that too....I'm picturing some guy rolling into the gym in a wheelchair, which'd be good cause he wouldnt need the bench under his ass when he's squatting.......lmfao! |
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posted February 27, 2001 07:27 PM
