First Day Trying Low Bar

[CGtheEE]

Hi all, newb here wanting to start the program. Would appreciate any feedback on my first time trying low bar. I'm a novice lifter and was doing high bar for a bit but want to start the SS program - I've done a fair bit of reading Rip's material and watching SS videos. I mainly want to check if I'm hitting depth and if the bar is in the right position - it did feel like it wanted to slip down a couple times when I started adding heavier plates. Not sure if I just need to trap it in with my arms more or not. I'm 6'0" @ 177lbs, this set was 105lbs.

Squat 8/8/23 - YouTube

[BareSteel]

Pretty good, CG. Remember to breathe into your gut, not your chest. See how your chest and the bar move at the top? Work on getting rid of that. Take a big breath into your gut and brace before each rep.

[Mark Rippetoe]

You know that air doesn't go into the gut, right? What does this cue accomplish that "Big Breath" doesn't also do?

[Eric Schexnayder]

Is this a heavy set of 5 for you?

[CGtheEE]

Is this a heavy set of 5 for you?

Not really, although I've never squatted heavier than 1 plate and some change. I started to add more weight and felt the bar start to want to slide down my back so I racked it. I'm wondering if that's a grip issue or if the bar is a smidge too low, or something else. One of the reasons I wanted to post a vid here.

I noticed the earlier mentioned shoulder shrug thing as well. Definitely want to work on that as I don't see that going well with heavier load in the future.

Appreciate the replies so far guys.

[BareSteel]

You know that air doesn't go into the gut, right? What does this cue accomplish that "Big Breath" doesn't also do?

Yes, I understand. For some reason, stating it this way has helped me communicate the difference to lifters who demonstrate CG’s issue - but I know it’s not accurate in the literal sense. Maybe there’s a better way to get that point across.

[Mark Rippetoe]

I like "Big Air." Keeps me from saying stupid things.

[Eric Schexnayder]

Not really, although I've never squatted heavier than 1 plate and some change. I started to add more weight and felt the bar start to want to slide down my back so I racked it. I'm wondering if that's a grip issue or if the bar is a smidge too low, or something else. One of the reasons I wanted to post a vid here.

I noticed the earlier mentioned shoulder shrug thing as well. Definitely want to work on that as I don't see that going well with heavier load in the future.

Appreciate the replies so far guys.

From what I can see the bar looks to be in the right spot. Can you narrow your grip more?

Good form is easy to display with minimal loading. If you want a proper form check, we need to see a set of 5 that is difficult. Preferably one that is heavy and one where you are fatigued, i.e. your last set of 5.

[Jovan Dragisic]

Not really, although I've never squatted heavier than 1 plate and some change. I started to add more weight and felt the bar start to want to slide down my back so I racked it. I'm wondering if that's a grip issue or if the bar is a smidge too low, or something else. One of the reasons I wanted to post a vid here.

I noticed the earlier mentioned shoulder shrug thing as well. Definitely want to work on that as I don't see that going well with heavier load in the future.

Appreciate the replies so far guys.

The bar is exactly where it is supposed to be. Lean over more.

[CGtheEE]

From what I can see the bar looks to be in the right spot. Can you narrow your grip more?

Good form is easy to display with minimal loading. If you want a proper form check, we need to see a set of 5 that is difficult. Preferably one that is heavy and one where you are fatigued, i.e. your last set of 5.

Fair point, thank you. Need to try out a narrower grip and focus on neutral wrist.

The bar is exactly where it is supposed to be. Lean over more.

Thanks, when you say lean over more - do you mean at the top before the descent or during the actual squat, or both?