Form Checks

[homerj742]

Squats 265lbs.

I need help! lol Thanks guys:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sQzPrd1Ycg

[August West]

Looks like you have a tendency to pitch forward, especially on the third and fifth reps there. I've struggled with that myself. One thing that can help is to think about keeping really tight shoulders up where the bar is resting - squeeze back against the bar and that can help keep the chest up instead of letting it drop.

Do you have flexibility issues at all? It seemed like you were descending cautiously and just barely hitting depth - I've found that hamstring stretching and the squat stretch helped me get a more powerful bounce at the bottom. I'm no trainer, so take this all for whatever it's worth and if it doesn't help you forget it. But I bet you'll find squatting a lot more enjoyable when you can keep the bar over the mid-foot and get a real bounce out of the hole.

[homerj742]

August, thanks for the excellent feed back. And yes, I've always had flexibility issues shoulders and legs. I had a massage therapist help me with my shoulders (had a hard time keeping a tight back due to not having a narrower grip on the bar).

I will definitely incorporate some hamstring stretching during the day.

[milesdyson]

you're trying to do low bar squats with the bar in a high bar position.

[homerj742]

Miles, it feels like I'm doing low-bar. Maybe I will get a video or pics of where I hold the bar during a workset and we can verify from there.

[Soh]

Squats 265lbs.

I need help! lol Thanks guys:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sQzPrd1Ycg

I think you need to reduce the weight abit, thatll help you regain form. Also i think you're short of proper depth. You need to go down abit more. But overall its not so bad. You're moving your chest forward cuz the weight is too much. Good job bro!

[homerj742]

Thank you Soh, I appreciate the feed back. For tomorrow's workout, I will reduce the weight to about 225 and post another video here.

[milesdyson]

Miles, it feels like I'm doing low-bar. Maybe I will get a video or pics of where I hold the bar during a workset and we can verify from there.
this is the angle that makes me think it's not low bar.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ad2e91aeGTs&feature=channel

[homerj742]

At 225lbs, I made some adjustments and I think I hit depth. Will post 2 videos tonight!

[homerj742]

Dropped the weight to 225 to work on form. Again, I appreciate everyone help in trying to make my squats better!

Set 1, started off high, but ended stronger:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WPSDNwiuOA

Set 2, same as 1 but more consistent

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbcl1zCuMDg

Set 3, got cut off as I ran out of space on the camera:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDJl__Cj1uE

[Aslin]

Set 2, same as 1 but more consistent

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbcl1zCuMDg



I would be real happy with these.

[homerj742]

Asin, cool, thank you for the feed back. I will use that as my "template" going forward. Time to start ramping up the weights again!

[Soh]

Nice, the second set was the best. A little off the weight always helps! Be strong.

[homerj742]

280 from this past Friday 4/23/2010

Set 1 (knees forward?):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuALpZ0-beY

Set 3 (knees fixed, too much forward lean?)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqqrN9Zx00Y

Thanks in advance!

[drlvegas]

Looks like you're looking straight ahead, rather than down. Usually looking down will get you less upright. Look down & think hip drive on the way up.

The last video you posted looks more like an SS-type squat, and less like a high-bar squat than the first ones. You're definitely headed in the right direction.

[homerj742]

Thanks man, I notice my head points forward half way through my ascent. I will have to correct this. Appreciate the advice!