squat - hamstring involvement

[Sesami]

Would it be correct to say that there is more hamstring involvement when knees are forward (narrower stance, toes more forward) versus when knees are out (wider stance, toes more out)? The rationale being that knees forward would decrease glute and adductor involvement, and the hamstrings must make up for this? I've tested this and I feel a lot more hamstring involvement when my knees are forward.

The reason I ask is because my deadlift is not passing my squat (both are around 275 for 5 reps). I figure a lack of hamstring strength may cause a discrepancy like this.

[Mark Rippetoe]

Your perceptions to the contrary, there is more hamstring involvement when the knee angle is more open and the hip angle is more closed, because of the lengthened position in which this places the hamstrings. This is discussed quite thoroughly in BBT, and I wish there was a way to MAKE you read it. Alas, there is not.

[Albert987]

Your perceptions to the contrary, there is more hamstring involvement when the knee angle is more open and the hip angle is more closed, because of the lengthened position in which this places the hamstrings. This is discussed quite thoroughly in BBT, and I wish there was a way to MAKE you read it. Alas, there is not.

For a while now, I've been doing my lifts in rogue do wins. I wore chucks in the beginning. I still sometimes squat in my chucks on light days. When I squat into the hole, there is a lot more stretching of the hamstrings since there's no heel. I really like squatting in my rogues, but I was wondering if this extra stretching of the hamstrings will make them contract with more force since it's like a more tightly wound up spring? Is this advantageous for a stronger squat?

[Mark Rippetoe]

Yes, and the best heel for this is somewhere between the two you have. It would be good if you had the Rogues cut off just a little, about 3/8".

[McKirdyP]

Ok, I gotta bite here. Because I LOVE my Rogues, but if I had my honest druthers, I would have them a mite bit lower as well.

If you are serious about cutting down the newest Rogues, would you trust any decent cobbler to do the job? Should they just mark the rear of the wood base and run an even cut all the way down? Or should the cut run to where they naturally level out under the toe box already?

How about a shoe like these:
http://www.titansupport.com/products/shoes/shoes.htm

They seem to have a minimal heel rise above parallel to the deck.

[Mark Rippetoe]

They have to be cut so that the toes don't get pulled up. The 3/8" I recommend shouldn't do that. I don't know how they will make the cut. Any decent shoe shop can do this job, but the original crepe soles won't survive the process. That's fine too, because neoprene resoles work better against all platform surfaces anyway, and they last longer. The Safe USA shoes are good squat shoes, but the 6" tops don't work as well for pulling. They used to make a low-quarter version of this shoe that was really good; and these could be cut down into a more all-purpose shoe.