20 Rep Front Squats

[wbsgn12]

I have had gotten various input on my latest program goal. Some people have told me to go for it-others have said that 20 Rep Front Squats should NOT be done because the rhomboids tire out isometrically and I will not be able to use a heavy enough weight to exhaust my leg muscles. What is everyone's take? Anyone ever done this program?

[Mark Rippetoe]

I think you should try 20-rep Jump Off The Buildings. No rhomboid fatigue at all, lots of high-intensity leg work.

[wbsgn12]

so.....you think I should go for it?

[DCM]

I think you should try 20-rep Jump Off The Buildings. No rhomboid fatigue at all, lots of high-intensity leg work.

Although people are often surprised at hitting failure after the first rep...

[Mark Rippetoe]

so.....you think I should go for it?

Absolutely.

[Roy]

I have had gotten various input on my latest program goal. Some people have told me to go for it-others have said that 20 Rep Front Squats should NOT be done because the rhomboids tire out isometrically and I will not be able to use a heavy enough weight to exhaust my leg muscles. What is everyone's take? Anyone ever done this program?

Is there a reason you don't want to do 20 rep back squats like all the other crazy people?

[Robert Callahan]

hey Rip,

on a similar note: i've been thinking about doing a 20 rep single leg, overhead squats workout, what do you think? Will my shoulders fatiguing be the limiting factor and thus reduce the usefulness? should i just do normal 20 rep single leg squats minus the overhead??

I mean it should intuit that if i can 20 rep single leg overhead squat 45 lbs at a heart rate of 180 I should be able to squat 405 for a single right?

[wbsgn12]

I am terrified of having 275 lbs on my back for 20 reps. Cannot shake it off mentally, it scares the hell out of me. I refuse to go higher than 8 reps on the back squat. It is a fear that maybe does not have any merit, but I just feel that my form will deteriorate too much of the course of the set and I could potentially really hurt myself.

Front squats may be brutal, but there is a lot less room for serious error as far as technique is concerned.

[Mark Rippetoe]

We have arrived at the Truth. You are afraid. Some people stay that way.

[Carlos Daniel]

Front squats may be brutal, but there is a lot less room for serious error as far as technique is concerned.

This makes me think you never front squatted with some serious weight on the bar. I've done 20 rep squats and I have found it easier to do them high-bar. Helps keeping the bar in place. It still hurts your mind, you can't really get around that.