Last night was mu ME squat night. I worked into briefs (single ply inzer power pants) and into my metal Viking IPF squatter. I was having trouble getting down so I kept adding more weight. I worked up to 505, and when I unracked the bar, It slid down, and I never made it all the way down. The weight it very easy, and I’m not getting that much pop out of the suit yet, also the straps were down. My bar position is lower than my traps, that’s where I have always put the bar. My question to the T-Nation equipped squatters is, If I put the bar more on my traps, will I be able to attack the suit more and get down better in the suit? I don’t have any videos, so if that affects your answer, I understand, I will try to get some vids in the next couple weeks
Bar position should not really affect your ability to hit depth in gear. If the bar feels better in a high bar position (on your traps) squat that way, if it feels better in low bar position (blow your traps) I would squat that way. Hitting (geared) depth in my opinion is a matter of how tight your gear is, your technique and ability to manipulate the gear , and lastly the amount of weight on the bar. So no I do not think your bar position will increase your ability to attack the suit as you put it, just go with what feels most natural.
[quote]NATOR wrote:
Bar position should not really affect your ability to hit depth in gear. If the bar feels better in a high bar position (on your traps) squat that way, if it feels better in low bar position (blow your traps) I would squat that way. Hitting (geared) depth in my opinion is a matter of how tight your gear is, your technique and ability to manipulate the gear , and lastly the amount of weight on the bar. So no I do not think your bar position will increase your ability to attack the suit as you put it, just go with what feels most natural.[/quote]
ok man, thanks. what kind of gear are you using?
is anyone on here in single ply with single ply breifs?
Not sure if it’ll help or not, but you can try starting with the bar slightly higher and your traps flexed. I’ve found the bar sinks in a lot more with suited weights, so to replicate the same position I’m starting the unrack with it higher. The end result is the same position.
Unfortunately, as your upper back mass fluctuates, the position you need will as well. I face it all the time when I come back from a layoff.
I have worn 2-ply frantz briefs with a single-single ply titan squat suit, so basicly single-ply and signly-ply (the frantz gear doesn’t give you much, especially when it’s loose). The bar position on your back doesn’t make a difference in hitting depth in a suit, that’s all about your form.
[quote]brauny96 wrote:
NATOR wrote:
Bar position should not really affect your ability to hit depth in gear. If the bar feels better in a high bar position (on your traps) squat that way, if it feels better in low bar position (blow your traps) I would squat that way. Hitting (geared) depth in my opinion is a matter of how tight your gear is, your technique and ability to manipulate the gear , and lastly the amount of weight on the bar. So no I do not think your bar position will increase your ability to attack the suit as you put it, just go with what feels most natural.
ok man, thanks. what kind of gear are you using?
is anyone on here in single ply with single ply breifs?[/quote]
I am currently squating in a titan dual quad so a centurian with the NXG super + material. I have used hardcores , z suits , centurians , and some old titans before the new stuff.
I carry the bar low and when I was squatting equipped, I was using Metal Viking briefs and a single ply Viking V-type.
The main thing is to get tight enough that the bar doesn’t slide and to push your ass back into the gear as far as possible without letting your knees cave. “Add more weight” isn’t an answer to not hitting depth. “Learn your gear” is. In single ply power pants and a viking suit, there should be no excuse for not getting down. That’s not exactly an obtuse gear combination and if you aren’t getting much out of them but also cannot hit depth, then it sounds to me like you have some very serious form issues.
Post a video.
[quote]Stronghold wrote:
I carry the bar low and when I was squatting equipped, I was using Metal Viking briefs and a single ply Viking V-type.
The main thing is to get tight enough that the bar doesn’t slide and to push your ass back into the gear as far as possible without letting your knees cave. “Add more weight” isn’t an answer to not hitting depth. “Learn your gear” is. In single ply power pants and a viking suit, there should be no excuse for not getting down. That’s not exactly an obtuse gear combination and if you aren’t getting much out of them but also cannot hit depth, then it sounds to me like you have some very serious form issues.
Post a video.[/quote]
Oh I do believe you are right stronghold. My form is bad, at least in the suit, I feel my raw form isn’t bad, but not great. I will try to post a video next time. I’m not sitting back at all either, I was putting so much weight on my knees, I wasn’t getting anything out of the suit. So maybe take off a bit of weight and push my ass back farther?
A few thoughts-
-Hitting depth and getting the most pop out of your gear will be effected by sitting back and pushing your knees out.
-The only probably with hitting depth with a low bar position is that a low postition will usually have you bending over pretty far and right at or above parallel, you get to a point where it’s very hard to get your hips any lower. As such, some lifters tend to keep leaning further, taking the bar lower, but not dipping their hips down.
-A high bar position with a wider stance will lend itself to a more upright squat and you will have to more the bar a shorter distance to hit depth. With strong briefs and suit, this is often a best bet. However the basic tenants- sit back and knees out- still apply. Otherwise, you just end up doing an olympic style squat with your knees shooting forward and your hips missing the full support of the gear.