Determining which squat is best in a vacuum is kind of weird. Yeah, low bar has more hips and posterior-chain, but you're already deadlifting, aren't you? Barbell programs need quad work. Most people (especially people not competing in powerlifting) should be high-bar squatting instead of doing a squat variation that overlaps more with the deadlift for no reason.
In starting strength programming you're deadlifting heavy but not for lots of volume - 1 top set of 5 so the low bar squat programming actually doesn't overload the posterior. Once you get to 315 and up sure, variation will probably be beneficial but you're probably not "starting" strength anymore.
one big point id throw in is, if you are very posterior dominant lifter and pull conventional, you can get wicked strong quads with high bar. Depends WHAT you want to get strong. Low bar and conventional and good mornings or whatever else make it hard to get super strong quads without a lot of accessories if you have poor leverages and highball is a great fix
I use HB squats for my volume squatting. My LB are all about the hips, max weight 5s turn slowly into goodmornings from rep 3 with hips shooting up (not back) at the bottom and back angle becoming even more horizontal. As an result I build big glutes and shitty quads. HB helps to target them. I stop my sets as soon as I start to feel glutes taking over the movement.
I get pretty good carryover from high bar to low bar. Elbow tendonitis made me switch to high bar for three months. A week after returning to low bar, I hit a lifetime PR of 500.
@@l.em.t3819lay off the low bar squats for a while. I had a similar experience when I was powerlifting, low bar killed my shoulders and elbows, but I could squat heavier weights that way. I trained high bar only up until about 6-7 weeks out from meets and consistently hit pr’s. Worked well for the last 3 meet preps I did, still was in a lot of pain bringing the low bar back in but it was manageable enough for that time period. Now that I don’t compete I only train high bar and it’s just much more sustainable
I started out in the gym loosely following Starting Strength, and therefore low bar squatting. I've recently started training for the sport of weightlifting, but I was moving in the high bar direction on my own. I consider the squat variants (i.e., low bar, high bar, front squat, and overhead squat) to be tools which each serve a purpose; each one has a place in the intermediate or advanced lifter's toolbox.
I high bar squat because its intuitive and I never knew what low bar was until I found it on youtube. I never worried about falling over because I always practice safe sets. Never got elbow tendonitis from squatting, its hard to imagine.
Honestly the only time i would chose a low bar squat is if I was powerlifting. In most other situations like bodybuilding or athletic performance I personally get way more out of a high bar ass to grass squat. Just the shoulder pain from low bar is enough to not do it. Everything got better for me once i learned how to squat like a weightlifter!
I have been experiencing discomfort in my right shoulder for several weeks now. Despite my best efforts to perform the low bar squat last week, I simply couldn't manage it. Therefore, I resorted to the high bar instead. While doing the high bar, I couldn't help but think that Grant would give me the business if he saw me high barring. 😂 So thanks for posting this.
I like to do an upper/posterior split and alternate high bar and low bar squats. I ran starting strength til I hit 225 OHP, 315 Bench, 405 squat and deadlift at 5’5 48 yrs old. Example split I run now… Mon Low Bar Squat 405 3x5 RDL 2x10 225 Barbell Row Leg curls Incline dumbbell curls Tue Bench Press 315 3x5 Dumbbell fly Laterals Upright Rows Pushdowns Thu High Bar Squat 315 3x5 Deadlift 405 1x5 Leg ext Pull ups Cable curls Fri OHP 3x5 225 Incl DB press Cable Fly Cable laterals Overhead tricep cable ext
I would add two more categories to who should high bar squat. 1. Those who are using the squat as their main quad developer, who do plenty of other hinge movements for glutes, hips, and hams. 2. Those with low back issues. I got boomed in Iraq and have had two major fusion surgeries in my low back. I had been doing low bar for a couple of years and got to a sticking point, couldn't add weight no matter what I did. I decided to switch to high bar. I used week 1 to get used to the movement and went up to 80% of 1rm. Week two I was able to add 20 pounds to my max no problem. And my back is never as sore anymore after squat day. I have set a new PR once a month for the last three months.
It sounds like you need to warm up better. Maybe even do a 3 to 4 warm up sets starting with the bar with a slow ecentric going ass to grass. Lots of people think the form is the problem but its usually the ego that makes you lift too much.
Good video. I was surprised you did not talk about foot placement here, because it goes hand in hand w high bar. Another good reason to high bar is to do closer stance quad centric squats, which arguably are better for hypertrophy. I know this is not a big goal of SS , but neither are all Olympic lifts. So the " body builder" reason could be on here.
The best thing is to learn and master both variations. On quad dominant days do high and on hammy days do low. If you dont split the leg into quad and ham then do whichever you like most but its good to master both variations.
Plugging in some high-bar work throughout the week, really helped manage fatigue, so I could break through on my deadlift. Still making gains in my LBS, but now they’re not getting in the way of making progress with my deadlift.
I do sets of one snatch with 3 overhead squats. I do sets of one clean with 3 front squats. It took more effort but cost less pain to learn these variations. I want to preserve these abilities, so I practice them. I also get more out of them by doing them barefoot atg, sometimes with a pause. I just enjoy these a lot more than back squats, and that's reason enough to keep doing them. It's also fun to do them at the beach or on a nice lawn.
@@Niel2760 that's a solid approach. I like to use wedges to elevate my heels when I high bar squat. The stretch in the quads is great. You dont have to use a lot of weight either.
@@user-dn4lg1dv5v right on, i used my wedge this morning for my high bar. I also only go up about three quarters to keep my quads under tension the whole time. Standing up is resting. And you’re right, don’t need a ton of weight and since I’m in my mid forties I’m not trying to impress anymore.
@@user-dn4lg1dv5vI think the not a lot of weight part was critical for me- focusing on high bar and heel elevation has finally gotten some size and strength in my quads, but man did I have to lower the weight especially at first
As a High bar squater and doing some 🏋️ as well I got to say this.. As long as you get of the couch and go to the gym it shouldn't matter what squat type are you using, as long as you don't ego lift and have a good form. The rest depends on many factors that you will decide for YOURSELF. 🥂
I was surprised to not see long femurs on this list. I have long femurs (relative to torso), and the physics of this means that I have to lean pretty far forward even with high bar position. Low bar just becomes a good morning and does not feel good at all. My deadlift is like 2x my squat. Lol.
Interesting, I am a fellow long femur lifter and both back squats feel unnatural. Lifting shoes with an elevated heel is a must as well as driving the knees out in both versions. That said, low bar feels just a bit more natural than high bar. I can't reach atg in high bar without slight rounding
That's bizarre! - I've never heard of a max deadlift being 2x a max squat. I have short femurs, and I seem to prefer low bar - I also have an odd squat / Deadlift split - My max deadlift is no higher than my max squat, unless I use a trap bar for the deadlift. Low bar squatting doesn't bother any part of me except my wrists, which is somewhat alleviated by using tight wrist wraps.
I also have long femurs and almost 2x deadlift than squat, but it's now improving for me since I got weightlifting shoes and started working more on ankle/hip mobility
Grant, something to consider about recommending high bar squats as a light variation for primary low bar squatters. I did this for a while, but found that I didn't understand how to *not* low bar squat, at least initially. I still tried to use my hips out of the hole which resulted in pretty bad lower back pumps/soreness. For someone who is trying to mix in a lighter variant, it may be better to try pausing the high bar movement to be sure you lead out of the hole with a vertical back or just front squat which makes it really difficult to use your hips and not dump the bar.
@@weirdphax5406 its not about ego. If you're supposed to lift close to failure, or to failure, one day you will fail a squat. And you should know what to do before hand. Not learn while youre in the process of failing
@@jackmehoff2363 You DON'T have to go to failure, you can still make gains by leaving a rep or 2 in the tank. ive been lifting 20+ years and NEVER had to dump weight...im. wise enough to kno my limits PLUS i don't wanna dump the weight and hurt some bodyv and look like an idiot
@@weirdphax5406 i dont know how to talk to you. If youve never failed a rep, then you actually dont know your limits. You are either lying to me, or youre lying to yourself about your limits. If youve been lifting 20 years and never failed a rep then you have never pushed yourself.
Good vid. High bar squatting will reduce your overall load therefore less fatigue/stress at the same time reducing stress on the shoulders and elbows. Increasing your high bar squat in turn will increase your low bar squat so an overall win if you ask me.
I still can't get my arms back far enough for a straight bar, so I just use the elitlifts SS bar. I just try to hold the handles up to get as close to a low bar. Dr. Sully of GreySteel said that was a low bar squat.
I saw a video my Mark Rippatoe where he said that one cannot do a low bar squat with a SS Bar. So, I guess I should use the SS Bar to do a high bar squat. I can still practice on the shoulder stretching.
When I first started out I tried low-bar squats in the past, but my elbows just hates it. So I just do high-bar squats and got used to it over the years.
@@yoeyyoey8937 it would probably be safe to say that the variation that translates into other athletic sport/movements is more athletic, i cant imagine LB is better than HB in this case.
The only things you 'need' to get strong and a good physique (w/o peds) is the loq bar squat, conv deadlift, the bench press, the overhead press and some rows and chin-ups for dessert. That's not much in terms of options, but it works and will keep working forever. And it's so interesting how few people can and/or don't want to grasp that. But than again - then about 95-99% of all fitness influencers selling programs would have no income... And that's perhaps the reason - they are better at making people believe they need all this complicated weird shit than others like you and Rip are at making them understand they don't.
Love low bar squats - you didnt mention athletes though. Sports like basketball, volleyball, and a lot of athetlic events (thats track and field if youre american) - anything where youre jumping will have much better transference from high bar squats. Id always encourage a variety of squats in almost any programme though
High bar and conventional pair well as long ROM potentially lighter variations. Low bar and sumo pair well as shorter ROM potentially heavier variations. High bar/Conventional put your squat and pull further at opposing sides of the squat-hinge continuum, and Low Bar/Sumo bring them both closer to the center of the continuum. It doesn't make any sense to choose posterior chain dominant variations of both moves; that's just choosing to have weak quads. Overall it doesn't matter that much, just lift how you want to lift, but if you do any real analysis without weird dogmatic Starting Strength views that's the conclusion you'll come to
So wait, this can't be it. You used multiple clips of John Haack, who squats high bar in competition and who I would imagine would switch to low bar if it was beneficial to him. I am proportioned extremely similarly to him and also find high bar to be the stronger of the two for me. Why might that be?
I switched to high bar, probably permanently and will use it as my competition squat. I lack shoulder mobility, but it's getting better overtime (started lifting at the age of 31 didn't help), but I don't want to ruin my elbows for the sake of having stronger squat. Also, my body proportions are a bit off, I have long torso and short femurs, meaning my squat is by defalut, very vertical. When I do lowbar, my torso is still very upright, meaning I have very little wiggle room to angle my torso when squatting - I will end up either not being able to hold the bar on my back since it will just roll down and break my arms or I will tip over and hope the spotters will catch me before I got crushed. No balance issues with high bar, no elbow pain, my mobility routine can go alongside heavy squatting, I can probably utilize my knee wraps more with more knee bend for high bar. It stays.
I start out high bar, until the weight is heavy enough to help me get into the low bar position. I can't get into low bar position with less than 225lbs.
I squat about an inch or so lower than high bar. Prefer it to low bar. Much healthier on my shoulders for martial arts I competed in powerlifting for years and squatted realtively high bar for most of it
high bar squat is for athletes olympic wieghtlifters and general fitness folks lo-bar is ONLY for competition powerlifting to take advantage of those rules and nothing else
I've noticed way more leg hypertrophy doing the high bar variation. A lot of people in my gym can low bar squat a lot of weight, but don't have very strong legs. They are just good at low bar squatting. I would rather high bar squat 225 5x5 than low bar squat 315 for the same sets/reps. There are some bizarre blanket statements in this video. I would recommend high bar for general leg gains, then supplementing glutes/hams with RDL, SLDL, leg curl, etc.
As a 35+ yr lifter, I have always performed high bar squats. I found them to be more natural and they have given me excellent thigh (VMO & Vastus Lateralis) development. I place the bar right below the vertebra prominens so the bar is primarily resting on my shoulders and traps instead of my spine.
I remember when Paul Ellison was arguing there's no value in the high bar squat. He trained 3 athletes to go to the NFL. He supported the front squat. I agree that high bar squat is better than not squatting. I have never used the mars bar before. Paul Ellison loved the clean and snatch.
It's all I can do for now along with SSB squats. My 70 year old shoulders won't cooperate.
I‘m 42 and use a cambered bar because my shoulders hate anything else (and it’s fine)
Determining which squat is best in a vacuum is kind of weird. Yeah, low bar has more hips and posterior-chain, but you're already deadlifting, aren't you? Barbell programs need quad work. Most people (especially people not competing in powerlifting) should be high-bar squatting instead of doing a squat variation that overlaps more with the deadlift for no reason.
In starting strength programming you're deadlifting heavy but not for lots of volume - 1 top set of 5 so the low bar squat programming actually doesn't overload the posterior. Once you get to 315 and up sure, variation will probably be beneficial but you're probably not "starting" strength anymore.
Low bar primary is quads. How are your quads not getting stronger squatting 315??
@@claudej.montgomery9421 Who said my quads aren't strong? I squat high bar.
@@claudej.montgomery9421 Low bar is not primary quads. Quads barely get any work in a low bar position.
@@thomastygret7378 mmm no, the primary muscle is still quads, it's just significantly less than high bar.
one big point id throw in is, if you are very posterior dominant lifter and pull conventional, you can get wicked strong quads with high bar. Depends WHAT you want to get strong. Low bar and conventional and good mornings or whatever else make it hard to get super strong quads without a lot of accessories if you have poor leverages and highball is a great fix
I use HB squats for my volume squatting. My LB are all about the hips, max weight 5s turn slowly into goodmornings from rep 3 with hips shooting up (not back) at the bottom and back angle becoming even more horizontal. As an result I build big glutes and shitty quads. HB helps to target them. I stop my sets as soon as I start to feel glutes taking over the movement.
I get pretty good carryover from high bar to low bar. Elbow tendonitis made me switch to high bar for three months. A week after returning to low bar, I hit a lifetime PR of 500.
I'm dealing with elbow tendonitis as well, any advice?
@@l.em.t3819lay off the low bar squats for a while. I had a similar experience when I was powerlifting, low bar killed my shoulders and elbows, but I could squat heavier weights that way. I trained high bar only up until about 6-7 weeks out from meets and consistently hit pr’s. Worked well for the last 3 meet preps I did, still was in a lot of pain bringing the low bar back in but it was manageable enough for that time period. Now that I don’t compete I only train high bar and it’s just much more sustainable
Ignore my previous comment i deleted it cus i missead your comment.
I started out in the gym loosely following Starting Strength, and therefore low bar squatting. I've recently started training for the sport of weightlifting, but I was moving in the high bar direction on my own. I consider the squat variants (i.e., low bar, high bar, front squat, and overhead squat) to be tools which each serve a purpose; each one has a place in the intermediate or advanced lifter's toolbox.
Who else should high bar........ Anyone who wants big quads
5:26 notice how this guy has short legs and long torso. This is ideal for high bar squat.
I high bar squat because its intuitive and I never knew what low bar was until I found it on youtube. I never worried about falling over because I always practice safe sets. Never got elbow tendonitis from squatting, its hard to imagine.
Honestly the only time i would chose a low bar squat is if I was powerlifting. In most other situations like bodybuilding or athletic performance I personally get way more out of a high bar ass to grass squat. Just the shoulder pain from low bar is enough to not do it. Everything got better for me once i learned how to squat like a weightlifter!
I have been experiencing discomfort in my right shoulder for several weeks now. Despite my best efforts to perform the low bar squat last week, I simply couldn't manage it. Therefore, I resorted to the high bar instead. While doing the high bar, I couldn't help but think that Grant would give me the business if he saw me high barring. 😂 So thanks for posting this.
This is a great video.People need to watch.
I like to do an upper/posterior split and alternate high bar and low bar squats.
I ran starting strength til I hit 225 OHP, 315 Bench, 405 squat and deadlift at 5’5 48 yrs old.
Example split I run now…
Mon
Low Bar Squat 405 3x5
RDL 2x10 225
Barbell Row
Leg curls
Incline dumbbell curls
Tue
Bench Press 315 3x5
Dumbbell fly
Laterals
Upright Rows
Pushdowns
Thu
High Bar Squat 315 3x5
Deadlift 405 1x5
Leg ext
Pull ups
Cable curls
Fri
OHP 3x5 225
Incl DB press
Cable Fly
Cable laterals
Overhead tricep cable ext
hey, how much sets do you do for all of these exercises? I've been looking for a new 4 day split recently and this seems nice
I would add two more categories to who should high bar squat.
1. Those who are using the squat as their main quad developer, who do plenty of other hinge movements for glutes, hips, and hams.
2. Those with low back issues.
I got boomed in Iraq and have had two major fusion surgeries in my low back. I had been doing low bar for a couple of years and got to a sticking point, couldn't add weight no matter what I did. I decided to switch to high bar. I used week 1 to get used to the movement and went up to 80% of 1rm. Week two I was able to add 20 pounds to my max no problem. And my back is never as sore anymore after squat day. I have set a new PR once a month for the last three months.
Front Squat is the true squat. Everything else is variations. It’s all love 😎👌🏽🙌🏽❤️
High bar hurts my old and beat up knees.
Low bar puts the weight more into my hips and butt and doesn’t engage my knees like the high bar.
It sounds like you need to warm up better. Maybe even do a 3 to 4 warm up sets starting with the bar with a slow ecentric going ass to grass. Lots of people think the form is the problem but its usually the ego that makes you lift too much.
Good video. I was surprised you did not talk about foot placement here, because it goes hand in hand w high bar. Another good reason to high bar is to do closer stance quad centric squats, which arguably are better for hypertrophy. I know this is not a big goal of SS , but neither are all Olympic lifts. So the " body builder" reason could be on here.
Usually on program I will do my major work low bar and switch to volume and back offs high bar.
Do low bar squat help grow the quads too?
'prefer'...obviously either or both is fine for most people
pick one one...or both 👍
The best thing is to learn and master both variations. On quad dominant days do high and on hammy days do low. If you dont split the leg into quad and ham then do whichever you like most but its good to master both variations.
Plugging in some high-bar work throughout the week, really helped manage fatigue, so I could break through on my deadlift. Still making gains in my LBS, but now they’re not getting in the way of making progress with my deadlift.
What about people who want to build their quads more?
Yes.
Yes high bar wins for bodybuilding purposes
I do sets of one snatch with 3 overhead squats. I do sets of one clean with 3 front squats. It took more effort but cost less pain to learn these variations. I want to preserve these abilities, so I practice them. I also get more out of them by doing them barefoot atg, sometimes with a pause. I just enjoy these a lot more than back squats, and that's reason enough to keep doing them. It's also fun to do them at the beach or on a nice lawn.
Doesn't High bar hit the quads more than the low bar?
Anyone who wants quad development should high bar squat over low bar.
I high bar to destroy my quads and then do low bar to focus on posterior chain
@@Niel2760 that's a solid approach. I like to use wedges to elevate my heels when I high bar squat. The stretch in the quads is great. You dont have to use a lot of weight either.
@@user-dn4lg1dv5v right on, i used my wedge this morning for my high bar. I also only go up about three quarters to keep my quads under tension the whole time. Standing up is resting. And you’re right, don’t need a ton of weight and since I’m in my mid forties I’m not trying to impress anymore.
@@user-dn4lg1dv5vI think the not a lot of weight part was critical for me- focusing on high bar and heel elevation has finally gotten some size and strength in my quads, but man did I have to lower the weight especially at first
If you really want quad development why not front Squat?
As a High bar squater and doing some 🏋️ as well I got to say this.. As long as you get of the couch and go to the gym it shouldn't matter what squat type are you using, as long as you don't ego lift and have a good form. The rest depends on many factors that you will decide for YOURSELF. 🥂
A hybrid squat is best for training. A high bar squat going just slightly below parallel, and not full ATG. Best of both.
I was surprised to not see long femurs on this list. I have long femurs (relative to torso), and the physics of this means that I have to lean pretty far forward even with high bar position. Low bar just becomes a good morning and does not feel good at all. My deadlift is like 2x my squat. Lol.
Interesting, I am a fellow long femur lifter and both back squats feel unnatural. Lifting shoes with an elevated heel is a must as well as driving the knees out in both versions. That said, low bar feels just a bit more natural than high bar. I can't reach atg in high bar without slight rounding
That's bizarre! - I've never heard of a max deadlift being 2x a max squat.
I have short femurs, and I seem to prefer low bar - I also have an odd squat / Deadlift split - My max deadlift is no higher than my max squat, unless I use a trap bar for the deadlift. Low bar squatting doesn't bother any part of me except my wrists, which is somewhat alleviated by using tight wrist wraps.
I also have long femurs and almost 2x deadlift than squat, but it's now improving for me since I got weightlifting shoes and started working more on ankle/hip mobility
Glad to know I’m not the only one…
Grant, something to consider about recommending high bar squats as a light variation for primary low bar squatters. I did this for a while, but found that I didn't understand how to *not* low bar squat, at least initially. I still tried to use my hips out of the hole which resulted in pretty bad lower back pumps/soreness. For someone who is trying to mix in a lighter variant, it may be better to try pausing the high bar movement to be sure you lead out of the hole with a vertical back or just front squat which makes it really difficult to use your hips and not dump the bar.
high or low the hips are always going to lead out of the hole
Also, look into how to dump the bar.
don't ego lift
@@weirdphax5406 its not about ego. If you're supposed to lift close to failure, or to failure, one day you will fail a squat. And you should know what to do before hand. Not learn while youre in the process of failing
@@jackmehoff2363 You DON'T have to go to failure, you can still make gains by leaving a rep or 2 in the tank. ive been lifting 20+ years and NEVER had to dump weight...im. wise enough to kno my limits PLUS i don't wanna dump the weight and hurt some bodyv and look like an idiot
@@jackmehoff2363 again i never failed a squat ... the most i lift is something for 7 reps no lower...
@@weirdphax5406 i dont know how to talk to you. If youve never failed a rep, then you actually dont know your limits. You are either lying to me, or youre lying to yourself about your limits. If youve been lifting 20 years and never failed a rep then you have never pushed yourself.
Is high bar a good assistance movement for lowbar? Not for beginners ofc. But kinda like you said, for a light day workout, accessory or otherwise?
Good vid. High bar squatting will reduce your overall load therefore less fatigue/stress at the same time reducing stress on the shoulders and elbows. Increasing your high bar squat in turn will increase your low bar squat so an overall win if you ask me.
I still can't get my arms back far enough for a straight bar, so I just use the elitlifts SS bar. I just try to hold the handles up to get as close to a low bar. Dr. Sully of GreySteel said that was a low bar squat.
I saw a video my Mark Rippatoe where he said that one cannot do a low bar squat with a SS Bar. So, I guess I should use the SS Bar to do a high bar squat. I can still practice on the shoulder stretching.
We need a how to video too
When I first started out I tried low-bar squats in the past, but my elbows just hates it. So I just do high-bar squats and got used to it over the years.
Clarence Kennedy entered the chat…
Should you do the cooler, more athletic squat variation? Yes. You get a pass to squat low bar if you're obese and balding.
Lol
It’s technically less athletic
@@yoeyyoey8937 it would probably be safe to say that the variation that translates into other athletic sport/movements is more athletic, i cant imagine LB is better than HB in this case.
@@michaelt126 why not? Lowbar uses more muscle mass and it replicates a more natural position for a lot of sports.
@@yoeyyoey8937 It does not. Look at someone doing a vertical jump. They do it upright. This is just not debatable.
The only things you 'need' to get strong and a good physique (w/o peds) is the loq bar squat, conv deadlift, the bench press, the overhead press and some rows and chin-ups for dessert. That's not much in terms of options, but it works and will keep working forever. And it's so interesting how few people can and/or don't want to grasp that. But than again - then about 95-99% of all fitness influencers selling programs would have no income... And that's perhaps the reason - they are better at making people believe they need all this complicated weird shit than others like you and Rip are at making them understand they don't.
Love low bar squats - you didnt mention athletes though. Sports like basketball, volleyball, and a lot of athetlic events (thats track and field if youre american) - anything where youre jumping will have much better transference from high bar squats. Id always encourage a variety of squats in almost any programme though
High bar and conventional pair well as long ROM potentially lighter variations. Low bar and sumo pair well as shorter ROM potentially heavier variations. High bar/Conventional put your squat and pull further at opposing sides of the squat-hinge continuum, and Low Bar/Sumo bring them both closer to the center of the continuum. It doesn't make any sense to choose posterior chain dominant variations of both moves; that's just choosing to have weak quads. Overall it doesn't matter that much, just lift how you want to lift, but if you do any real analysis without weird dogmatic Starting Strength views that's the conclusion you'll come to
I generally do high bar squats, but still do low bar squats and front squats from time to time.
So wait, this can't be it. You used multiple clips of John Haack, who squats high bar in competition and who I would imagine would switch to low bar if it was beneficial to him. I am proportioned extremely similarly to him and also find high bar to be the stronger of the two for me. Why might that be?
There’s no rule saying you can’t do both.
When I “sit back”, I feel it in quads only.
I switched to high bar, probably permanently and will use it as my competition squat. I lack shoulder mobility, but it's getting better overtime (started lifting at the age of 31 didn't help), but I don't want to ruin my elbows for the sake of having stronger squat. Also, my body proportions are a bit off, I have long torso and short femurs, meaning my squat is by defalut, very vertical. When I do lowbar, my torso is still very upright, meaning I have very little wiggle room to angle my torso when squatting - I will end up either not being able to hold the bar on my back since it will just roll down and break my arms or I will tip over and hope the spotters will catch me before I got crushed.
No balance issues with high bar, no elbow pain, my mobility routine can go alongside heavy squatting, I can probably utilize my knee wraps more with more knee bend for high bar. It stays.
I start out high bar, until the weight is heavy enough to help me get into the low bar position. I can't get into low bar position with less than 225lbs.
I'll do what I want
I squat about an inch or so lower than high bar. Prefer it to low bar. Much healthier on my shoulders for martial arts
I competed in powerlifting for years and squatted realtively high bar for most of it
Clarenco0 has left the discussion
I prefer zercher squats to focus on quads rather than the high bar
high bar squat
is for athletes
olympic wieghtlifters
and general fitness folks
lo-bar is ONLY for competition
powerlifting to take advantage
of those rules and nothing else
Everyone who cannot get them selves into a low bar position.
100% of the arm breaks
and shldr dislocations
seen online when
squatting are lo-bar
Reason 4: You do other exercises that are hip dominant.
I've noticed way more leg hypertrophy doing the high bar variation. A lot of people in my gym can low bar squat a lot of weight, but don't have very strong legs. They are just good at low bar squatting. I would rather high bar squat 225 5x5 than low bar squat 315 for the same sets/reps. There are some bizarre blanket statements in this video. I would recommend high bar for general leg gains, then supplementing glutes/hams with RDL, SLDL, leg curl, etc.
As a 35+ yr lifter, I have always performed high bar squats. I found them to be more natural and they have given me excellent thigh (VMO & Vastus Lateralis) development. I place the bar right below the vertebra prominens so the bar is primarily resting on my shoulders and traps instead of my spine.
I remember when Paul Ellison was arguing there's no value in the high bar squat. He trained 3 athletes to go to the NFL. He supported the front squat. I agree that high bar squat is better than not squatting. I have never used the mars bar before. Paul Ellison loved the clean and snatch.
Cyclists (don’t hate) find quad dominant high bar squats useful
Low bar squats are a great way to continue looking like an unathetic meatball
dude talks about the high squat like dating somebody else lol
The few strength coaches I ever personally knew were advocates of the high bar squat for athletes and everyday functionality.
Low bar squats is what a deadlift bar is to deadlifts....cheating for ego purposes
That depends on the anatomy of the lifter, if cheat try to move 180 kilos for reps in low bar if is to easy
Gotta love how the Starting Strength folks are so dogmatic to whatever Ripp preaches 😂😂😂
thats the only squat you should do lol