How low do you squat?

[pantera101]

I have read that ATG is actually better than paralell.They weresaying that paralell is your knees most unstable position,and that stopping there and going back up places lots of stress on the knees.As opposed to going down untill you can't go anymore.Being stopped by your body.They were mentioning how docs and rehab people test the stability of the knee by doing things to it when it's bent at 90% becuse this is the most unstable position for the knee.Another good point they made was how people who complain of sq's hurting their knees always use the leg extension.Just think about the stress that puts on your knees!This was from an article at T-nation.In case you can't tell,I always sq ATG!

[Manimalia]

parallel for most of my sets, though i have been known to finish below that on the last one or two.

[Nightwanderer]

How long do I squat? I can get off the pot in under 10 minutes no problem, but I have this cousin who's 350 lbs (all fat) who brings 1k page hardcover novels with him. I think he read up to book 8 or 9 of the wheel of time series that way...

[jng]

after squatting till my ass almost hits the floor for about 2 months i earned myself huge stretch marks across both buttocks
goood luck lol

[Genetic79]

If my ass ain't touching my calves, it ain't low enuff.....

[jpk]

Besides how low you go, how high do you stand up? Do you lock your knees out, thereby removing all tension from the muscles? Does anybody stand up just short of lockout when squatting?

Just curious boys

[Genetic79]

I do bottow half reps on my volume days, go all the way down and come half way up. Talk about killing ya quads.

[maurice02]

I do parallel. Had surgery on right knee. Can't go ass down.

[John Smeton]

I switch them up. i did ATG for years. You really have to lower the weight on atg, my average weight was only 225-4-6 x's on a truly ass to ground . parrell, these are good for leg development, sometimes its hard to gauge whether I'm actually parallel,and Im close so its all good. I may record myself or have a friend tell me,and half squats have their place, like for bringing up the upper quads. I switch them up.

[SoCo4Fun]

As long as you don't have any physical limitations (knee injuries, etc) you should be using your full range of motion.

[John Smeton]

also remember I'm taking about the squat.

not the hack squat, or other squat machines. I always go down very low on this, the leg press.Arnold recommends half squats for someone to really blow up their upper quads in his modern day encyclopedia. and these have always packed on huge mass on my entire upper leg.

[pantera101]

Besides how low you go, how high do you stand up? Do you lock your knees out, thereby removing all tension from the muscles? Does anybody stand up just short of lockout when squatting?

Just curious boys

I don't lock out on any exercises.

[Genetic79]

An inch below parallel, anything lower and im history...when i was 21 i did ATG but now that im over 30, i wouldnt dare try it...

Well, actually i did but now i know why i wouldnt try it again...

Why?

[Kristofer68SS]

I think parallel is fine. I enjoy ATG, but I think the emphasis on ATG is a little overblown. ATG forces max effort, of course, especially by the quads at the start of the contraction, by hams and glutes for the rest of it.

But very few of us ONLY do squats, in which case you'll have another shot to hit your quads more directly, with more precise intensity. Leg extensions, presses, smith squats - whatever else you do, you can get your quads a little more.

Also, remember that going ATG can easily cause knee-related complaints in lifters who aren't already experienced and flexible. It's great if you can do it pain-free, but it's just a rough bet to make. If you hae no pain now, that's great, but I know a number of guys who had no knee issues UNTIL they started doing ATG on squats. And this was on varying foot placements.

I go to parallel now, and I find I can control my proximity to failure much better than with ATG. Squats rule for absolute leg size, but I think you have to consider your whole routine as the size-generator, not a single portion of one lift. Squats for overall thickness, extensions and presses for quads.

I dont know them personally, but too much could have been a factor.

I use less weight, go ATG and slower.........I love the results that have I reaped from this method.

To each his own, i commend any guy who actually makes an effort at the squats and deads..................

Even the 3 inch squatters........lol

[John Smeton]

I did parallel the other day(MIGHT HAVE BEEN LOWER) REMEMBER WHEN IN DOUBT IF YOU THINK ITS NOT PARALLEL , GO LOWER is a saying I learned from Max-ot.

O and pausing at the bottom and not bouncing out(that's a cause of bad knees)

[pantera101]

I have leaned do do paralell when hitting hams first,and ATG when hitting quads first.I feel my hams too much if I work them first and then do ATG sq's.That being said,last time I did paralell my tear drops were extremely sore.I have always heard the deeper you sq the more the tear drops get worked...........But paralell did just fine.

[powerseeker]

Narrow stance, ass to grass. I used to squat "sumo style" but i got tired of hearing all the **** talking about how my 750 belt only squat didnt count because i wasnt deep enough ( mostly from the thinner guys under 205) I squat less AND i officially cant find pants that fit anymore thanks to my quads and ass exploding to cartoonish size (look too big even on my 290 pound frame). It was a setup damn it!

[Sean1332]

That's a good 5 year bump to a 9 year old thread.

But when in Rome..

Below parallel squat. ATG high bar oly squat and front squat as assistance.

[BOSS1717]

How low do you people go when squating? - is there any advantage of going "ass to the grass"? or are you just damaging your knees?
I've always squated down so that my upper leg is parallel to the floor - just wondering what you guys thought?

once you go past parallel stress comes off your knees and is primarily on your hips. \

[powerseeker]

That's a good 5 year bump to a 9 year old thread.

.

Hot damn i didnt even notice the age on this thing.