Squatting, Deadlifting and Competing

[SClark08]

Starting Strength Coaches,

I have competes and placed 3 times now in raw classic meets and have come up with a few questions regarding my progress:

First meet (2012) 196lbs squat 425, bench 325, conventional 507
Second meet (2013) 195lbs squat 440, bench 355, conventional 550
Third meet (2014) 208lbs squat 505, bench 350 (missed 275), deadlift 570

First question: my deadlift is considerably stronger than my squat - when I train the deadlift feels like crap and the squat feels 'okay/confident' and on the platform the roles reverse. at higher levels it's usually the other way around. Is this common? Or am I doing something (technique) wrong - goes to question 2

Second question: both lifts discussed have a close stance (hip width or narrower) and the squat is low-bar. When I competed last it unfortunately involved a monolift with safety chains. I hit the safety chains on all 3 attempts in this recent meet. For the purpose of improving my total, am I doing myself a disservice by a.) squatting below parallel (glutes to ankles) and b.) maintaining such a narrow stance?

Recent videos for reference (note: lots of background noise/'mute' would be a good idea):
December 2014 competition squat: http://youtu.be/zOMqjNsM9Kc
December 2014 competition deadlift: http://youtu.be/0Nxsrd0mbUs
Training 2013 squat: http://youtu.be/JrwRbozNI1Y

Thank you all and god bless,
Lt Clark

[Mark Rippetoe]

These are pretty good numbers, really. Especially considering that you're doing an Olympic squat instead of using your hips. Correct this, and the squat will catch up to the pull. And go to 220.

[tdood]

My deadlift always feels like hell as i get close to a meet. Heavy pulling is very fatiguing, I don't do it within 2 weeks of a meet.
My openers feel heavy when I hit them a week out (squat and bench only) I'll usually do a very light SLDL that day to stretch my hamstrings.
The 2 weeks off from heavy pulling really allows for some supercompensation. My deads feel great on meet day.
Training full body and using baker's "mock meet" intensity day really primes you for PRing on meet day. You see a lot of guys shot after heavy squats. I haven't benched or pulled without squatting first in years.

[SClark08]

Thank you so much for the quick reply. I think where I strayed from the path was with a picture of Anatoly Pisarenko squatting. I saw this picture: ( http://rebel-performance.com/wp-cont...Back-Squat.jpg ) and thought, now that's a manly squat... lets do that.

Your recent TNation article on the squat ( http://www.t-nation.com/training/squ...-deep-analysis ), specifically the cue "nipples pointing toward the floor" was one of those "Oh yeah..." moments.

I attempted to modify my squat technique this morning (Texas Method - Light Day). I captured [rubbish] footage of a side-view for the bar path and front-45*:
Side Angle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1P8p1bIGj7w
Front 45: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bx_-GdVst6k

I'll keep playing with it and try a 5 or 8RM instead of a triple on Intensity Day - to reinforce the new technique with a slightly lighter load.

To conclude, I was flipping through the books yesterday and had a point about Figure 2-1 (or http://www.sportsscience.co/wp-conte...lustration.jpg ). In the recent TNation article you mentioned a foot position approximately 30-35*. In this figure, the lifter looks like he's got a much greater degree of external rotation/ more "open" hips. Is there a point of diminishing returns for lighter lifters?

[Mark Rippetoe]

The lifter in the illegally-reproduced picture is in the correct stance. I was standing there when our photographer took the picture for the 3rd edition.

[bueller73]

Rip, a quick search shows that picture and other material for SSBB3 are from http://www.sportsscience.co/strength...leg-exercises/ by Daniel Brady
Email: danielbrady_89@hotmail.com

[Mark Rippetoe]

We're on it. Thanks.