let be honest here, most people in public gyms dont squat because they think it’s embarrasing/gay for people see their ass sticking out.
[quote]IFlashBack wrote:
TBH something that we need to consider here is the psychological aspect:
Most gym rats are afraid to squat properly since there is a risk like no other leg exercise. Leg extensions? Just stop when you’re exhausted. Leg Press? Use your hands to push the weight up if exhausted. Squats? You have to dump it.
Most people never learn to dump the weight properly, and even if they do they’re afraid of making a bunch of noise. Now I don’t really care but I know this was a subconscious thought process for me for a long time.
I also think this is why OLY gyms produce the best squatters; they are trained to throw around weights and not give a damn about being “noisy”, so when the time come that they have to push themselves on squats they either make the lift or dump it - it’s a low risk high reward for them psychologically. For a gym rat it’s get another rep or be embarrassed and potentially get injured - High risk low reward. [/quote]
I’ve never learned how to dump a bar but I will say the very few times I have squatted outside of a rack were the best squats sets I have ever had. The feeling is so much better and it’s all in my head.
[quote]HiFiBoy wrote:
As someone who enjoys back squatting, would the more experienced lifters recommend moving to a front squat?
I have a similar issue to the above poster, ‘big’ ass and upper legs, but my tear and sweep are lacking.[/quote]
Try some leg-press with your feet very low and close together. Use a weight you can get 15-20 reps. Go deep and do not lock-out at the top or use any momentum. 3-4 sets after your back squat.
[quote]Arms Afire wrote:
Maybe they are scared of setting off the Lunk Alarm.[/quote]
giggle
I don’t think squatting alone will lead to impressive legs, but used in conjunction with say, leg press and leg extensions, I think it would be difficult NOT to build your legs to a respectable level. You can’t hit a muscle group heavily in one region and expect it to be fully developed.
[quote]Ripsaw3689 wrote:
I don’t think squatting alone will lead to impressive legs, but used in conjunction with say, leg press and leg extensions, I think it would be difficult NOT to build your legs to a respectable level. You can’t hit a muscle group heavily in one region and expect it to be fully developed. [/quote]
Good point. There is a reason no pro bodybuilder flat out ignores those leg abduction and adduction machines…while many of us avoid it because it isn’t a “manly” movement.
[quote]Professor X wrote:
[quote]Ripsaw3689 wrote:
I don’t think squatting alone will lead to impressive legs, but used in conjunction with say, leg press and leg extensions, I think it would be difficult NOT to build your legs to a respectable level. You can’t hit a muscle group heavily in one region and expect it to be fully developed. [/quote]
Good point. There is a reason no pro bodybuilder flat out ignores those leg abduction and adduction machines…while many of us avoid it because it isn’t a “manly” movement.[/quote]
Right. I’m one of the few guys in the gym that uses the leg curl machine. I don’t care if it looks sissy because it helped my hammies blow up when I pre-exhaust before squat.
[quote]Ripsaw3689 wrote:
[quote]Professor X wrote:
[quote]Ripsaw3689 wrote:
I don’t think squatting alone will lead to impressive legs, but used in conjunction with say, leg press and leg extensions, I think it would be difficult NOT to build your legs to a respectable level. You can’t hit a muscle group heavily in one region and expect it to be fully developed. [/quote]
Good point. There is a reason no pro bodybuilder flat out ignores those leg abduction and adduction machines…while many of us avoid it because it isn’t a “manly” movement.[/quote]
Right. I’m one of the few guys in the gym that uses the leg curl machine. I don’t care if it looks sissy because it helped my hammies blow up when I pre-exhaust before squat. [/quote]
I like the seated leg curl…only because having my ass in the air makes me feel like someone is shooting a porn vid from the wrong perspective.
[quote]Professor X wrote:
[quote]Ripsaw3689 wrote:
[quote]Professor X wrote:
[quote]Ripsaw3689 wrote:
I don’t think squatting alone will lead to impressive legs, but used in conjunction with say, leg press and leg extensions, I think it would be difficult NOT to build your legs to a respectable level. You can’t hit a muscle group heavily in one region and expect it to be fully developed. [/quote]
Good point. There is a reason no pro bodybuilder flat out ignores those leg abduction and adduction machines…while many of us avoid it because it isn’t a “manly” movement.[/quote]
Right. I’m one of the few guys in the gym that uses the leg curl machine. I don’t care if it looks sissy because it helped my hammies blow up when I pre-exhaust before squat. [/quote]
I like the seated leg curl…only because having my ass in the air makes me feel like someone is shooting a porn vid from the wrong perspective.[/quote]
Haha unfortunately, my gym does not have one of those. Face down, ass up is not a natural position for males.
[quote]Ripsaw3689 wrote:
[quote]Professor X wrote:
I like the seated leg curl…only because having my ass in the air makes me feel like someone is shooting a porn vid from the wrong perspective.[/quote]
Haha unfortunately, my gym does not have one of those. Face down, ass up is not a natural position for males. [/quote]
Speak for yourself lol
Anyway, I find the lying down machine better because to me it just doesn’t make sense to work out a muscle while you are sitting on it.
[quote]Ripsaw3689 wrote:
[quote]Professor X wrote:
[quote]Ripsaw3689 wrote:
I don’t think squatting alone will lead to impressive legs, but used in conjunction with say, leg press and leg extensions, I think it would be difficult NOT to build your legs to a respectable level. You can’t hit a muscle group heavily in one region and expect it to be fully developed. [/quote]
Good point. There is a reason no pro bodybuilder flat out ignores those leg abduction and adduction machines…while many of us avoid it because it isn’t a “manly” movement.[/quote]
Right. I’m one of the few guys in the gym that uses the leg curl machine. I don’t care if it looks sissy because it helped my hammies blow up when I pre-exhaust before squat. [/quote]
Leg curls are boss! Every athlete or physique-dude should do them, they are sooo important for knee health (also big hammies lol). Don’t care if it’s lying or seated leg curl, or a closed-chain leg curl which is more effective but harder to load. Great for doing 20-25 partials in the stretch position on your last set too.
[quote]seekonk wrote:
[quote]Ripsaw3689 wrote:
[quote]Professor X wrote:
I like the seated leg curl…only because having my ass in the air makes me feel like someone is shooting a porn vid from the wrong perspective.[/quote]
Haha unfortunately, my gym does not have one of those. Face down, ass up is not a natural position for males. [/quote]
Speak for yourself lol
Anyway, I find the lying down machine better because to me it just doesn’t make sense to work out a muscle while you are sitting on it. [/quote]
Totally agree… I just plain don’t like the seated leg curl, but am forced to use it because there’s no lying version available.
[quote]PB Andy wrote:
[quote]seekonk wrote:
[quote]Ripsaw3689 wrote:
[quote]Professor X wrote:
I like the seated leg curl…only because having my ass in the air makes me feel like someone is shooting a porn vid from the wrong perspective.[/quote]
Haha unfortunately, my gym does not have one of those. Face down, ass up is not a natural position for males. [/quote]
Speak for yourself lol
Anyway, I find the lying down machine better because to me it just doesn’t make sense to work out a muscle while you are sitting on it. [/quote]
Totally agree… I just plain don’t like the seated leg curl, but am forced to use it because there’s no lying version available.[/quote]
x3
I love “double clutching” reps on hammie curls. Full rep, halfway down and then back up as one rep… Really good hamstring pumps.
[quote]gregron wrote:
[quote]PB Andy wrote:
[quote]seekonk wrote:
[quote]Ripsaw3689 wrote:
[quote]Professor X wrote:
I like the seated leg curl…only because having my ass in the air makes me feel like someone is shooting a porn vid from the wrong perspective.[/quote]
Haha unfortunately, my gym does not have one of those. Face down, ass up is not a natural position for males. [/quote]
Speak for yourself lol
Anyway, I find the lying down machine better because to me it just doesn’t make sense to work out a muscle while you are sitting on it. [/quote]
Totally agree… I just plain don’t like the seated leg curl, but am forced to use it because there’s no lying version available.[/quote]
x3
I love “double clutching” reps on hammie curls. Full rep, halfway down and then back up as one rep… Really good hamstring pumps.[/quote]
Dude, my hammies are crazy sore from doing that. What is weird is that the inner part of my thigh is sore too, like it hit the adductors too, which makes no sense. Well, I guess the gracilis flexes the knee, so maybe that’s it… 
[quote]PB Andy wrote:
[quote]gregron wrote:
[quote]PB Andy wrote:
[quote]seekonk wrote:
[quote]Ripsaw3689 wrote:
[quote]Professor X wrote:
I like the seated leg curl…only because having my ass in the air makes me feel like someone is shooting a porn vid from the wrong perspective.[/quote]
Haha unfortunately, my gym does not have one of those. Face down, ass up is not a natural position for males. [/quote]
Speak for yourself lol
Anyway, I find the lying down machine better because to me it just doesn’t make sense to work out a muscle while you are sitting on it. [/quote]
Totally agree… I just plain don’t like the seated leg curl, but am forced to use it because there’s no lying version available.[/quote]
x3
I love “double clutching” reps on hammie curls. Full rep, halfway down and then back up as one rep… Really good hamstring pumps.[/quote]
Dude, my hammies are crazy sore from doing that. What is weird is that the inner part of my thigh is sore too, like it hit the adductors too, which makes no sense. Well, I guess the gracilis flexes the knee, so maybe that’s it… ^_[1]
I like doing them that way because it takes away a bit of the momentum. It’s easy to get some momentum going for the hammie curls but the 1.5 rep technique cuts that out and let’s you hit the hammie’s harder IMO.
-
/quote ↩︎
I’ve been squatting and DLing heavy for the better part of a decade, and my leg development DOES NOT reflect that amount of time/effort. Hard to accept that reality, but that’s the name of the game - if something doesn’t work, reassess, and fix it. I’m sure I’ll always squat and DL regularly, mainly because they are so challenging/fun. However, it’s time for me to start trying some new things for legs… Mountain Dog leg training most likely. TIME TO BLEED!!!
[quote]BlueCollarTr8n wrote:
Try some leg-press with your feet very low and close together. Use a weight you can get 15-20 reps. Go deep and do not lock-out at the top or use any momentum. 3-4 sets after your back squat. [/quote]
I will do that, thanks man.
[quote]HiFiBoy wrote:
[quote]BlueCollarTr8n wrote:
Try some leg-press with your feet very low and close together. Use a weight you can get 15-20 reps. Go deep and do not lock-out at the top or use any momentum. 3-4 sets after your back squat. [/quote]
I will do that, thanks man.
[/quote]
Even better if preformed on a hack squat machine with a controlled double bounce at the bottom. You want a leaning back posture instead of a bent forward posture to minimize hips/glute involvement. This is what really helped me
[quote]ElevenMag wrote:
[quote]HiFiBoy wrote:
[quote]BlueCollarTr8n wrote:
Try some leg-press with your feet very low and close together. Use a weight you can get 15-20 reps. Go deep and do not lock-out at the top or use any momentum. 3-4 sets after your back squat. [/quote]
I will do that, thanks man.
[/quote]
Even better if preformed on a hack squat machine with a controlled double bounce at the bottom. You want a leaning back posture instead of a bent forward posture to minimize hips/glute involvement. This is what really helped me[/quote]
I’m not sure it’s better, but it may be just as effective. I have always found it difficult to do work off the ball of my foot in a hack machine without irritating my knees.
[quote]BlueCollarTr8n wrote:
[quote]ElevenMag wrote:
[quote]HiFiBoy wrote:
[quote]BlueCollarTr8n wrote:
Try some leg-press with your feet very low and close together. Use a weight you can get 15-20 reps. Go deep and do not lock-out at the top or use any momentum. 3-4 sets after your back squat. [/quote]
I will do that, thanks man.
[/quote]
Even better if preformed on a hack squat machine with a controlled double bounce at the bottom. You want a leaning back posture instead of a bent forward posture to minimize hips/glute involvement. This is what really helped me[/quote]
I’m not sure it’s better, but it may be just as effective. I have always found it difficult to do work off the ball of my foot in a hack machine without irritating my knees. [/quote]
how bout the original hack squat? on another day, sprint backwards.