You are asking if it is OK to set the pins at an unsafe height and only do 3 reps instead of 5?
Hello,
My gym squat racks have the places for the pins about 5 inches apart. So there's the "perfect" height for me when I unrack, but as the weight gets heavier I have to stand on my toes to re-rack. This makes me scared during squats and is the reason I started doing 5x3 sets at only 62.5 kg working weight (instead of 3x5) and I feel that it's too early for that.
With 5x3 I can still manage to re-rack the bar, because I don't get too tired.
I tried setting the pins lower, but it feels really uncomfortable. Is it ok to start the squat with the pins way lower than they need to be?
You are asking if it is OK to set the pins at an unsafe height and only do 3 reps instead of 5?
Change gyms.
No, unracking at "perfect height" is NFG if your tip toeing the bar back in,
squat the bar up from 5 inches lower so you can land it safely when you're done
"Tired" at 138 lbs is more of a problem than the rack.
If you're squatting correctly, the bar should be in the same spot when you unrack and re-rack. Is the bar sliding down your back? Are you losing extension of your spine and hunching over?
That being said, it's always better for the hooks to be too low than too high.
You're completely right, I realized that I was actually setting the bar too high on my back all this time. I set the hooks lower and now I can get the bar lower on my back to where it should be and re-rack safely. Thanks!
I am 130 lb/F