I haven’t really front squatted all that much, but if I’m just stretching with a broomstick I can’t sit “straight down” unless I raise my heels up some. Maybe that will be different when there is actual weight to resist, but I’d think the raised heels in a pair of Olympic lifting shoes would help me quite a bit.
[quote]Naphta wrote:
Thanks for the advice. Would foam rolling the achilles up to the calves before a session be beneficial?
I’m probably going to focus on dead lifting for my main lift over my next training block and try working specifically on form for front squats on an extra day. I can’t really afford a new pair of lifting shoes right now (although there next on the list), so I’ll probably just use a small weight plate.
Do you guys have a website for ordering lifting shoes? I have found some on Ebay, but prefer ordering from a trusted website most of the time.[/quote]
Foam rolling the achilles up to the calves before a session would be beneficial
[quote]alexus wrote:
It is possible that I don’t know what I’m talking about - so just take what seems plausible to you. I think that the following works for me (kind of adapted from Dan John’s stuff). I do it almost every day and I’m seeing improvements over time.
Sink down into a squat (with no weight) and then breathe in (big chest) and out (buddah belly) repeatedly until I’ve manipulated my spine into a neutral at the bottom position. I don’t think there is such a thing as ‘too low’ unless you are literally sitting on the ground.
Try and recruit muscles so I can come up a couple inches (trying to retain neutral spine) then bouncing lightly from the bottom. Repeat until spine actually is neutral. Then bounce up a little bit higher and repeat until spine actually is neutral. Eventually… After adding a few inches over time… ATG jump squat with neutral spine.
Then add weight.
(I’m still in sneakers but it is time for me to move to chucks 'cause each hang clean is a different experience)
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I’d say move to chucks if you havent already.
I’ve been able to front squat, and clean for that matter fine in chucks for the better part of 4 years. If you have tried squatting in chucks and can’t do it, then get some olympic lifting shoes. Otherwise save yourself 100$.