High bar squat template?

[Ben]

Started SS mid-April squatting 60kg / 135lbs. Couldn't do the low bar version as it messed up my elbows for the power clean, so I used a high bar position. I'd got up to 132.5 kg / 290lbs for five by the beginning of July. (To be honest, my form was pretty rubbish from about 270lbs onwards. I was just grinding them out.) Then I had a month and a bit of going on various stag do's and holidays, some of which were quite harsh. Started training again properly last week, and I'd lost a fair bit of weight and strength, particularly on the squat.

Anyway, my plan is to work back up to hopefully 285 lbs - 315 lbs again using SS, then when I next stall just switch to Texas Method for squats. I'll keep doing the normal SS routine for everything else.

But I've read on here that Rippetoe's templates don't work as well for high bar squats. You can see this reflected in my squat numbers. So if anyone can suggest a better high bar template to use, please let me know? Ideally something simple I could tack on at the beginning of my normal SS routine. In the short term I'm more concerned with improving the deadlift, bench and power clean, so as long as I'm squatting once or twice a week and improving gradually that would be fine for me.


cheers,
Ben

(If it's relevant to my squat, my deadlift was at 150kg / 330lbs for five. I've just lowered this after my holidays back to 140kg and it was ok.)

[Dutch]

I don't see why I wouldn't work. I've been squatting highbar since forever. Maybe you'll stall earlyer because they don't allow as much weight, but I think you should just try it, you're not going to get weaker. I don't see whats wrong either with the occasional grinder, thats what happends if you battle with heavy weights. They usually don't allow crisp form. If your getting stronger and your form isn't entering dangerous injury zone I think you'll be fine.

[Dastardly]

The only that you would probably find different is a slower progressing deadlift, compared to what you might have if you were training low bar squats.

I dont think you really need to do anything much different, perhaps add something to help your deadlift. Like a back off set or RDL's.

[Ben]

I don't see why I wouldn't work. I've been squatting highbar since forever. Maybe you'll stall earlyer because they don't allow as much weight, but I think you should just try it, you're not going to get weaker. I don't see whats wrong either with the occasional grinder, thats what happends if you battle with heavy weights. They usually don't allow crisp form. If your getting stronger and your form isn't entering dangerous injury zone I think you'll be fine.

Thanks for the advice. Makes sense.

Yeah I'm glad I did grind through the sets, but my form did get borderline dangerous by around 285lbs. I was falling forward too much on the last few reps.

Yes, the low bar position does feel a bit stronger and I guess would be ideal, but the high bar one seems fine too. Anyway even though my squat numbers aren't great compared with others (I've seen some nutter on here squatting over 450lbs as a novice) I'm still personally happy with how the program's worked for me.

So I'll carry on with the high bar and use SS to try and push past the previous stall at 285 / 290lbs, then when I stall again I'll use Texaxs Method for squats.

[Ben]

The only that you would probably find different is a slower progressing deadlift, compared to what you might have if you were training low bar squats.

I dont think you really need to do anything much different, perhaps add something to help your deadlift. Like a back off set or RDL's.

Thanks for this. At the moment I'm alternating the deadlift with power cleans on 'B' workout day so I don't deadlift that often, but I'm increasing it by 5kg each time. Maybe I'll carry on as I am until I stall, then add some stuff like you say above...My grip seems to be the weakest bit for me, so maybe a back off set double overhand grip and holding it as long as possible..?

[Dastardly]

My grip seems to be the weakest bit for me, so maybe a back off set double overhand grip and holding it as long as possible..?

Sounds perfect.