Hamstring length

[Anon321]

"As the hip flexes, the knee flexes, thus keeping the hamstring at about the same length throughout the movement."- You on various occasions

I don't understand. How is it then that hamstrings are lengthened much more in a back squat that in a front squat if they don't lengthen on the way down, but you start out with an erect torso on both?

[Mark Rippetoe]

They are SHORTENED in a front squat.

[Anon321]

So their length decreases because the knee flexes far more than the hip flexes? Wouldn't it therefore follow that the hamstrings will lengthen in a squat where the hip flexes more than the knee flexes?

[Mark Rippetoe]

Draw it.

[George Cook]

So their length decreases because the knee flexes far more than the hip flexes? Wouldn't it therefore follow that the hamstrings will lengthen in a squat where the hip flexes more than the knee flexes?

May I humbly suggest consulting figure 2-33 on page 38 of SSBBT 3rd Ed. for and idea of what is happening to the hamstring during the front squat and the squat. For that matter, I suggest reading chapter 2 of the book, where it is discussed in depth.