I currently do HBBS for 2 reasons:
-I got started squatting with CrossFit and Oly lifts
-It seemed logical to pair high bar with deadlifts so that my squat and deadlift were doing different things.
My goals are size and strength in general (no competitions and I still like to do heavy cleans). The reason I’m thinking of switching over is obvious: to get a bigger squat. Does anyone do both high and low bar squats, perhaps on different days or different training cycles?
[quote]pre04 wrote:
I currently do HBBS for 2 reasons:
-I got started squatting with CrossFit and Oly lifts
-It seemed logical to pair high bar with deadlifts so that my squat and deadlift were doing different things.
My goals are size and strength in general (no competitions and I still like to do heavy cleans). The reason I’m thinking of switching over is obvious: to get a bigger squat. Does anyone do both high and low bar squats, perhaps on different days or different training cycles? [/quote]
I have never done a high bar squat with a barbell, but in my current training cycle I use the low bar squat, front squat, and safety squat bar squat with a high bar placement. Did you have any particular questions on the matter?
You answered my first question. I was also trying to get a conversation on the topic going.
I’m trying to determine if I should switch/ what would be the benefits of switching.
Why do you not do high bar squats?
[quote]pre04 wrote:
You answered my first question. I was also trying to get a conversation on the topic going.
I’m trying to determine if I should switch/ what would be the benefits of switching.
Why do you not do high bar squats?[/quote]
I’ve never needed to do one before.
For determining if you should switch, definitely give it a try for a while and see if it helps you meet your goals. It’s how I approach just about everything.
No harm in doing both. It’s goal dependant but you can benefit for sure. I use high bar pause squats after my low bar squatting. I find it helps drill me to keep my elbows under the bar, chest high and not falling forward. I also use them for high rep sets - not sure why I prefer to do high rep sets high bar, just do.
I didn’t quite understand what your specific question was other then does anyone use both methods?
OR maybe what was the benefit over one than the other so correct me if I am off base?
Anyway here’s my take on it with pictures… In the front squat position you will notice the moment arm between the hips and the bar is shortened and the moment arm between the knees and the bar is longer compared to the LBBS & HBBS. This produces a squat that has less hip extension and more knee extension, hence the reason why the front squat ‘can’ be a great quad builder.
In the LBBS most of the moment is shifted to the hips and as a result may be referred to as a posterior chain dominant movement. High bar is somewhere in the middle. The implications here are that the LBBS is a more hip dominant compared to either HBBS or front squats allowing you to utilise more muscle mass (think glutes, hams, lower back) and therefore lift more weight. So if you want to lift more use LBBS.
It’s been said here a number of times “you cant ride two horses with one ass” meaning pick one goal, so if you want to get a bigger squat utilise the best exercise for the job, do what Dave Tate et al. do and LBBS. If you want great ‘bodybuilding’ quads do what they do and HBBS or FS.
I suppose you could finish with front squats and get the best of both worlds but as you probably know technique is everything esp. when combining two big lifts like this and the implications it may have on lower back health…
I’ve been watching some videos by Rip and others and it doesn’t seem like it will be too difficult of a transition. How long should it take to feel comfortable and be able to move heavier weight than I have been with HBBS?
Are you making sure to wrap your wrists?? If not, the wrist and elbow pain will catch up to you before your low bar catches up to your high bar…
Once I found my sweet spot for bar position and overall technique my low bar caught up to my high bar pretty fast.
[quote]Sutebun wrote:
Are you making sure to wrap your wrists?? If not, the wrist and elbow pain will catch up to you before your low bar catches up to your high bar…
Once I found my sweet spot for bar position and overall technique my low bar caught up to my high bar pretty fast.[/quote]
I have terrible mobility and never experienced the wrist and elbow pain I hear that is so famous with low bar squatting. I still can’t really isolate the variable.
I made a video a while back showing how I set up for low bar squatting if it’s helpful to anyone
Nice video you schizophrenic asshole 
I know that Paul Carter likes to do high bar squats as a variation when he wants to target the quads to a greater degree. I squat high bar - I like it better, I keep thinking about olympic lifting and I don’t do powerlifting meets - but I know that to get a bigger squat per se, low bar would be more efficient. Just don’t bullshit yourself and tell yourself you got stronger when the switch produces a 10-20lbs increase - you just improved your leverage, your muscles are still the same. Not a criticism, just something to keep in mind.
No bosu ball?
[quote]jp_dubya wrote:
No bosu ball?[/quote]
That really discredits the whole video
I do both. I like the extra quad work from high bar. I use less weight on a high bar and that makes my back happier. The transition is pretty easy, just move the bar further down your back. Just don’t take the weight into your arms.