Plates under heels when squatting

[3sweeties]

I've seen people put 5 lb plates under their heels when they squat. Why do people do that? Is it dangerous?

[Adam Skillin]

Why do people do that?

Because those people don't care enough about their training to buy proper weightlifting shoes.

[3sweeties]

Ah....what lady said she was trying to target her quads....that didn't really make any sense to me.

[Les Hahn]

Ah....what lady said she was trying to target her quads....that didn't really make any sense to me.

Like Adam said, the plates sort of raise your heel like shoe. That will put a little more stress on the quads. Most people I see using the plates are doing front squats. Having a heeled shoe is nice for doing that lift. When it comes to regular squats, some people like a heel and others like to squat in flat shoes. The downside to the plates is that they could slip, and that could get ugly.

[Cody]

Like Adam said, the plates sort of raise your heel like shoe. That will put a little more stress on the quads. Most people I see using the plates are doing front squats. Having a heeled shoe is nice for doing that lift. When it comes to regular squats, some people like a heel and others like to squat in flat shoes. The downside to the plates is that they could slip, and that could get ugly.

Even if the plates stay still, trying to step backwards onto some little plates with a loaded bar on your back is asking for disaster.

[ud2o]

It seems to me that whatever minimal quad benefit is derived from this practice isn't worth the risks associated with it. Just squatting seems like it should be enough.

[Adam Skillin]

It seems to me that whatever minimal quad benefit is derived from this practice isn't worth the risks associated with it. Just squatting seems like it should be enough.

Unless there was some device that could attach safely to your foot and give you a little bit of heel raise relative to the toes, that would be designed specifically to allow you to better apply force between the floor and the barbell and even give you a firmer, better footing than you'd have otherwise...

[ud2o]

Unless there was some device that could attach safely to your foot and give you a little bit of heel raise relative to the toes, that would be designed specifically to allow you to better apply force between the floor and the barbell and even give you a firmer, better footing than you'd have otherwise...

Heh. I believe those are called "weightlifting shoes."

So...the lady should just buy the shoes?

[Les Hahn]

Unless there was some device that could attach safely to your foot and give you a little bit of heel raise relative to the toes, that would be designed specifically to allow you to better apply force between the floor and the barbell and even give you a firmer, better footing than you'd have otherwise...

If you invent such a device, you can name it a quad blaster! :-) You could buy some cheaper oly shoes, change the name on them to a quad blaster, and then sell them for 2x as much.

[ud2o]

I've seen many cat pictures in these here forums. That might be the best.

Well done.