Spotting ATG Squats?

[Jamie J. Skibicki]

"The hamstrings losing tension when lowering past the point of full stretch in a correct-depth low-bar squat. "

And if you have the flexibility to go lower while maintaining tension?

[Steve Berryman]

I have never seen an ATG squat without the knees sliding forward. I don't know enough about biomechanics to make any concrete statements, but Rippetoe says that the correct depth of a full squat is when the hamstrings and the rest of the muscles involved reach their full stretch points. This is typically within an inch or so below parallel, from what I have seen.

[Jamie J. Skibicki]

"the rest of the muscles involved reach their full stretch points."

Wouldn't that point depend on the flexibility of the person involved?

[Steve Berryman]

Thanks for bringing this up. Squat depth is critically important, but so is correct form. ATG-level depth most usually requires that the lumbar muscles relax the lordosis and that the hamstrings relax before extreme depth can be reached. It doesn't sound like a good idea to me that anything be relaxed in a deep squat, since doing this kills your good controlled rebound out of the bottom and risks your intervertebral discs. Those rare individuals that can obtain ass-to-ankles depth without relaxing anything might be able to get away with it, but as a general rule you should squat as deep as you can with a hard-arched lower back and tight hamstings and adductors. This depth will be below parallel, but it will not usually be "ATG".

I'd say this sums it up. Possible, but not probable.

[Steve Berryman]

I thought that I had seen Rip say somewhere before that ATG is not achievable with his requirements for the squat. It looks like I'm probably mistaken.

So, yes, assuming one is flexible enough, then ATG is fine. However, I think that's a big "if".

[IndividualThoughtPatterns]

I have never seen an ATG squat without the knees sliding forward.

Where do you live?

[Steve Berryman]

Earth.

[IndividualThoughtPatterns]

Than we might be neighbours. :-P

[Shaun]

What a bizarre couple of posts...

[Tom Campitelli]

I've watched a good number of people do low bar squats and have yet to see someone go ass to grass without relaxing something. This includes a few hyper mobile females. You can squat with high bar mechanics with the knees further forward and a more upright torso while keeping the bar lower on the back, but that's pretty damn awkward. It wouldn't surprise me if there's someone out there that can manage a real low bar squat with hamstrings to calves, but such a trainee is certainly not common.