I recently ordered the SSB bar from Elitefts, waiting on it to come in all I can think about is how Im gonna introduce it to my programming. I keep changing my mind, so looking for suggestions here.
My reasons for buying this bar: I have, and am getting a lot of tattoo work on my upper back, and straight barbell squatting is tearing up expensive work, and not allowing me to continue getting work done. I want to keep getting tattoos, and I sure as hell wanna keep squatting, seems like a good compromise.
So, my most recent idea for how to program it is to run two squat days a week, one with SSB, one with straight barbell paused back squats, to keep the weight down, and damage to the upper back down, but keep the movement in my training.
Great investment my friend. My gym has one and I use it at least once a week.
In order to keep the regular bar off your back for a while, you could use the SSB one day and then front squat with a free bar the next squat day. If you flip the SSB around and put the pad under your chin, you can actually use it to front squat as well. If you really hate yourself, it’s really good for Good Mornings too. When my gym got theirs, I didn’t touch a eukaryotic bar for over a month, too many exercises to do with the bar.
[quote]Chicksan wrote:
Great investment my friend. My gym has one and I use it at least once a week.
In order to keep the regular bar off your back for a while, you could use the SSB one day and then front squat with a free bar the next squat day. If you flip the SSB around and put the pad under your chin, you can actually use it to front squat as well. If you really hate yourself, it’s really good for Good Mornings too. When my gym got theirs, I didn’t touch a eukaryotic bar for over a month, too many exercises to do with the bar.
[/quote]
Ah cool, I didn’t even think of flipping it around for fronts. Call me a bitch, but the way I currently front squat with a straight bar, it leaves bloody scabs on the front of my shoulders. I could deal with it… but I haven’t yet, and that’s probly why my front squat blows. (Back squat is somewhere low-mid 5s, front squat I bet Id have a hell of a time with 3 plates)
I have one and I’m quite happy with it. Using it can be a humbling experience, but it’s much friendlier to my shoulders than the back squat or the front squat. In fact, I’ve abandoned front bar squats entirely. I generally use the SSB for every other lower body workout. It can be fun to pair with deadlifts.
Because it’s an ego check I tend to do different workouts with it than straight bar–i.e. 1-1/4 squats, speed work, ladder sets. And, I avoid using a belt and shoes.
I use it about every squat session. I kill my normal Squats what ever it may be and then use the SSB for pause squats. Seriously I have squat 600 with wraps pretty easy and pause squatting no wraps with 335 for 3 sets of 5 destroys my upper back and core like nothing else. Add in GHRs and your toast top to bottom.