Squat form check

[Blurmpf]

Rep 1 looks like it doesn't reach below-parallel. The other reps seem to reach depth but I don't know if I need to go deeper or not. Please tell me if there is something in my set-up or form that is causing the discrepancy between Rep 1's lack of depth and the greater depth on latter reps.

I'm cuing myself with "hip drive up" on the descent. A SS coach told me this would help me catch the stretch reflex out of the bottom. But I am sensing what I THINK is a stretch reflex BEFORE I reach depth.

The SS coach also said to cue *sit back* as I approach depth. But when I cued myself like that it led to videos that apparently have been removed from the forum because the squats didn't reach below-parallel.

Whenever I objectively reach below-parallel depth, I am forcing myself mentally to reach down deeper, past what I subjectively feel as the stretch reflex "boing" and into a position that feels as if I'm tucking my ass down between my legs like a wasp.

[Mark Rippetoe]

Notice how the bar speed slows about halfway up on 4 and 5. Can you tell why?

[Geronimo]

Because he looked up to go up. I'm sure he is going to say its a shoulder thing, but the loosey-goosey grip can't help things, especially in the hole. Bring hands in slightly to create more of a shelf, and don't let your hands have a free ride. Wrists need to be in slight extension with a grip on the bar.

[Blurmpf]

Notice how the bar speed slows about halfway up on 4 and 5. Can you tell why?

I don't know that I have the answer, but what I'm seeing is, for one thing I'm cocking my head up on those reps (and Rep 3). Even though I keep my eye gaze is downward my head keeps cocking up, much more than I am aware of it. On Rep 4 in particular my head comes up and it looks like I'm doing the look-up-to-go-up mistake, and my back is too vertical.

Also, Rep 4 looks like I lose some thoracic extension on the descent and the bar pitches forward of mid-foot. So the bar-path isn't straight on the ascent. Also on Rep 5 the bar path isn't straight and it looks like I'm rocking back onto my heels so the bar path isn't over midfoot. But Rep 4 looks the shittiest to me.

Hope I'm in the ballpark here..

[Steven Kalin]

Stop looking up out of the hole. Keep your eyes on the floor.

[Mark Rippetoe]

You lifted your chest. When you lift your chest, your knees go forward, your knee angle closes, your hamstrings slack distally, and your hip drive dies.