Squats 295x3, 265x5 Form Check

[L E]

39 | 6’1.5” ~200lbs

295x3:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_3nTaP0UA7k

265x5:
https://youtu.be/YKSTpvwOd-k?si=DzoCa17wYwrx7Zbq

Feels like squats are mostly right at depth. Not sure if okay, or must go lower.

295 felt high on the 3rd rep and way harder than it looked. Didn’t go for next reps if I knew they’d be high if even completed. Will try again on Monday.

265 back-off sets also felt way harder than they appear on playback. I focused on depth and felt like I was really sinking them, but again they mostly look like right at parallel to me when I pause the video.

Last rep of 265 hit left safety and jolted me out of position slightly, hence the chicken dance with the elbow.

Self-assessment:
Head needs to stay down.
Left wrist is bent back and hand too low.
Hips rise out of the bottom then stop while back is pulled up then finish standing. Not sure how to correct that into one motion, but that’s the hardest part of the squat, getting my back vertical again after hip drive stalls.
Knees slightly come in right after hitting the bottom.

All other lifts are moving, slowly but surely for now. Latest numbers:

B: 207.5 3x5
D: 340 1x5
P: 134 2x5,4,1
PC: 145 5x3 (still a motor moron at this)

[Mark Rippetoe]

Do not post above-parallel squats on these forums. And shoot the video from a better angle.

[Maybach]

Didn’t go for next reps if I knew they’d be high if even completed.

Interestingly, you could tell they would be high before you did the last rep, because

Last rep of 265 hit left safety and jolted me out of position slightly, hence the chicken dance with the elbow.

It is literally impossible for you to get correct depth with these safety settings. Lower them a full position at least.

[L E]

Lowered the safeties and weight to a little more than 80% to 240lbs.

This is the 3rd set of 5. Still a relatively easy weight, but if depth is satisfactory, I’ll probably just add 5lbs from here.

I looked at still frames at the lowest point and hip crease appears just below top of knees, even though it feels even deeper. The stripes are deceiving.

These also felt like any deeper and my back angle would become more vertical.

Anything else wrong with these?

https://youtube.com/watch?v=fzbMRWew...kFQPDE7ZQ8UWE-

[Mark Rippetoe]

These squats are not below parallel.

[L E]

Bottom of last rep: I’ll keep pushing it, but how far must the hip crease pass top of knees? Is this not “just below” or do I need to drop inches more?

[Jason Donaldson]

L E - the stripes aren't the only thing deceiving, with regards to parallel. I think it was Maybach from whom I first heard this, but to account for the camera angle, assume the safeties are horizontal, and calibrate off ot that line to account for camera angle. Using that, you'll see what Rip is talking about for the angle between your hip crease and the top of your patella being above parallel yet.

As to the feels, try picking a focus point that's lower for your gaze, and you may find that you can fold a bit further at the hips without feeling that you're getting more vertical. You should not be looking out that window, but below it.

[neilc1]

and don't wear black,
that and the light pollution from the window glare, blinding us

[L E]

How are these? Last set of 3x5@240.

It’s weird how it feeeels like I’m almost atg, but nowhere near it on playback. I keep trying to push lower throughout the set.

Also feels like my knees are being pushed forward a bit at the bottom. I was focusing on knees out and trying to sit back.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=WQvyM9Vi...i2IM42yYPIucFw

[Maybach]

Afraid I can't take credit for that, but it's a good idea.

The bottom of the squat is an anatomical, not a spatial, position.

Try the "prayer hands" teaching position, making sure your elbows are right on the sides of your knees. Take a video of yourself doing that, and you'll see what we're talking about.

You're pretty close. Just shove your knees out a bit more at the bottom and don't bullshit yourself.