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Thread: Can't hit 3/3 on squats - attempt selection/ age?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Brisbane Australia
    Posts
    289

    Default Can't hit 3/3 on squats - attempt selection/ age?

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    Hi Andy

    I'm following some advice you gave me a while back to prep for another comp in Dec, based on 3 week waves 5x5,5x4, 5x3 and 1x5,1x3, 1x1-2.

    All volume numbers going up well and already matching my best comp lifts 6 weeks out.

    But....

    Been using the final 1x1-2 as a comp simulation and have noticed a pattern that also applies to actual competitions. On bench and DL I can go 3/3 but I can't hit 3/3 on squats, even weights done in previously.

    E.g. Last heavy session pre comp in March went 180/187.5 . Two weeks later in comp....170/180/185x. Same numbers in prior comp too. I've done 185 at least 6 times, but never in comp and never as a 3rd attempt.

    Yesterday 160/180/185x. (Jumped from 160-180 to see if that had an effect). Previous wave was 170/180 (no third).

    I'm also 6kg heavier that in March, so not underfed.

    Do some people just not have 2 really heavy squats in them? The way I'm feeling now is that anything over 180 maxes me out and to go higher, I'll have to do it in 2....e.g 170/187.5/x

    Ps...I'm 54 male, 91kg. 180/110/210 (best comp lifts and I weighed 85kg for these).

    Thanks for your advice.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Kingwood TX
    Posts
    8,914

    Default

    I'm not sure I understand exactly what you are asking, but in general if you keep screwing up your third attempt then it's usually that your jumps are either too big or too small.

    Let's say the best Squat you have in you is 500 lbs and you do 440 on your second attempt. Likely that 60 lb jump is too big and your CNS wasn't quite ready to handle 500 lbs. Especially if you aren't overly experienced in handling heavy singles. But lets say your second attempt is at 490. Then yeah, that might be enough to gas you for 500 and cause a miss.

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