Squat Form Check Please

[Aaron Wilkes]

Hi,

I started SS a couple of weeks ago and wanted to post a squat video for form check. I am 25 yrs old, 6'1, 166 lbs. The videos are of me squatting 160.

Video 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-eN...NS68Xg&index=1

Video 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qzcv...NS68Xg&index=2

The second vid may be less helpful. It is hard to see the depth on a few of the reps due to the camera angle and plates blocking my thigh/hip area.

Thanks in advance for your time!

[Michael Wolf]

Aaron, here's a pro-tip: read the sticky before you post to this forum: http://startingstrength.com/resource...ad.php?t=50394

You messed up on several of the things we explicitly state there on your first try: You posted a form check in multiple places - Rip's Q&A, and here - and then you didn't even wait 2 days before posting an identical form check request here yesterday. Which I have deleted. Oh, and in both this one and your impatient re-post, neither of your linked videos are available. I get the attached image when I click on any of them:
Screenshot 2014-09-07 14.55.05.jpg

So basically, you fucked up pretty bad here on your very first try.

[Aaron Wilkes]

Michael,

I apologize for my ignorance, and appreciate your reply and the link you sent. I have read through this sticky and will be more prudent about posting here going forward. I was eager to have my form looked at, and posted twice here because I wasn't sure if one of them went through. Again, my apologies.

Not sure why the links weren't working in this case. If you're willing to take a look, try these:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-eN...JLwtntKENS68Xg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qzcv...JLwtntKENS68Xg

Thanks.

[Michael Wolf]

No problem. But re-read the part about posting only one video.

Re: your squats - you're trying to stay too upright. Allow yourself to lean over on the way down, your knees will come slightly less forward as a result. Cut off a couple inches of depth, and drive your hips up when you get just below parallel.

[Aaron Wilkes]

Thanks very much. I will work on this. Appreciate your assistance.

[Michael Wolf]

No prob. Post a set from your next squat workout for review.

[Aaron Wilkes]

Hi,

I apologize if this is a duplicate post. I tried posting it yesterday and got some error message, so I don't think it went through.

Anyways, below is a vid of the last set from yesterday's workout, doing 170 lbs. I tried to lean over more on the way down, and cut off a little depth. It seemed to make it easier, but I am not sure if I may not be keeping my back as tight as it needs to be towards the bottom. I try to keep my lower back tight in extension. I also noticed that at times my hips start to rise faster than/before my upper body. What do you think?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJGa...JLwtntKENS68Xg

P.S. I also have a video taken from the rear quarter if you would like to see additional footage.

Thanks.

[Michael Wolf]

They both went through, we'll just use this second one. Anyway, it looks like you're still getting used to the movement having a purposeful lean over; this will take some time to adjust to and smooth out, but given that, the descent is an improvement. When you rebound out of the bottom, don't let your chest lag behind your hips. Drive with your hips, but keep your chest up as you do so, so your back angle doesn't become significantly more horizontal out of the hole.

[Aaron Wilkes]

Thanks, Michael. I will try to focus on keeping my chest up as I drive up with the hips. Did my depth seem ok on this latest vid? It was hard for me to tell with the view, not sure if you are better able to tell. Would you recommend I drop the weight a bit to work on correcting the issue of my hips rising before my chest? Thanks again for the critique.

[Michael Wolf]

I like the rear quarter better for seeing depth. The plates block the view of your hip for the first 4 reps. They may need another inch of depth, but can't say for sure. If they're high, it's not by much at all. Post the rear quarter.