In terms of “bang for your buck” little can touch a real FULL squat. Not to above parallel, not to parallel, but a real deep full squat.
The squat has gotten a bad rap much like the bench press. Ego takes over and form goes out the window.
IF you use correct bar position, and IF you have the proper flexibility in your hips, and IF you’re careful enough to ensure your knees travel over your feet in a sagittal plane, you’ll reap great rewards from these.
IF you’ve paid your dues, and “been there and done that” like rainjack, sure use the leg press, hacks, smith, etc.
You know, the right tool for the right job?
[quote]jp_dubya wrote:
speakman wrote:
Major beginner here, but I’ll chime in… Some of the guys here got me started on Mark Rippetoe’s program for beginners about a month ago, and making great progress (
progress isn’t allowed here.
since when is progress an indicator of effectiveness?
[/quote]
Better go back to my old routine, then, which BTW included an occasional leg press (but mainly the even more impressive leg curl and leg extension)… LOL
I spent a LOT of time in the gym before coming to T-Nation, but truthfully didn’t have a clue what I was doing. My first squat ever was the day I started Rippetoe’s a month ago. Now that I’ve seen the light, my world is starting to make some sense!
P.S. I know there’s room for the leg press (and maybe even curl and extension) in a workout, just not for a beginner like me! I think another poster made this point earlier…
You guys have posted alot of great information. Tonight, I went with a German volume training routine for squats. I performed 10 sets of 10 atg reps with a Cambered Squat Bar. I only used about 135lbs but those 8th through 10th sets really hit home. I definitely agree a better leg workout (if you had to choose one) would be the full range squat. I’ll be cussing the squat exercise in the morning.
I hear ya. The only time I ever did traditional GVT was a workout with pullups, incline press and squats, not even full squats as back then I though parallel was adaquate. My legs were fried for the next week, not to mention my back, biceps, chest and triceps for the next couple days.
Only did that workout once.
I ended up doing ATG full range squats for 10 sets of 10. They were done 2 weeks ago on Wednesday. I was sore for 6 days. Only by the 7th day (this past Wed) were they to the point I could work them again. I had the “crapped-in-the-pants” walk going all week. It’ll be a few more weeks before I got back to 10 sets of 10 on squats. This week is 4 sets of 8.