squat depth

My friend and I had an argument the other day about our squat 1rm because he said he could get 350 but he doesnt go that far down in my eyes.  I have always went down to the point where my hams touch my calves or ass to the grass when im squatting for reps or a new max.  Many people tell me theres no need to go down that far though.  So how far exactly should one go for it to be considered one good full rep?

the top of ur thighs should be atleast parallel to the ground, that or lower is fine.

While I agree with what you're saying regarding Parallel being accepted as a full squat, I did them that way from many many years.. recently, I have started doing full, ATG squats and can say first hand, I'm feeling muscles soreness and experiencing growth that I didn't think was possible at my age.. 8 or 9 months ago I would have aruged that gong ATG is pointless and you can achieve the same strength and mass growth going parallel, but now I have to admit, I was wrong.. deep squatting is incredible and anyone physically capable of doing them should give it a go..

ORIGINAL: David1991

the top of ur thighs should be atleast parallel to the ground, that or lower is fine.

There is never enough time to do everything, but there is always enough time to do the most important thing

 

ORIGINAL: smoundzou

While I agree with what you're saying regarding Parallel being accepted as a full squat, I did them that way from many many years.. recently, I have started doing full, ATG squats and can say first hand, I'm feeling muscles soreness and experiencing growth that I didn't think was possible at my age.. 8 or 9 months ago I would have aruged that gong ATG is pointless and you can achieve the same strength and mass growth going parallel, but now I have to admit, I was wrong.. deep squatting is incredible and anyone physically capable of doing them should give it a go..

ORIGINAL: David1991

the top of ur thighs should be atleast parallel to the ground, that or lower is fine.

i make sure to go all the way down as well i was just saying that going parallel still "counts"

ORIGINAL: smoundzou

While I agree with what you're saying regarding Parallel being accepted as a full squat, I did them that way from many many years.. recently, I have started doing full, ATG squats and can say first hand, I'm feeling muscles soreness and experiencing growth that I didn't think was possible at my age.. 8 or 9 months ago I would have aruged that gong ATG is pointless and you can achieve the same strength and mass growth going parallel, but now I have to admit, I was wrong.. deep squatting is incredible and anyone physically capable of doing them should give it a go..

ORIGINAL: David1991

the top of ur thighs should be atleast parallel to the ground, that or lower is fine.

100% agreed

first day with no buds, 11/17, need a new job. 1 down 13 to go.

ORIGINAL: mr. 209

ORIGINAL: smoundzou

While I agree with what you're saying regarding Parallel being accepted as a full squat, I did them that way from many many years.. recently, I have started doing full, ATG squats and can say first hand, I'm feeling muscles soreness and experiencing growth that I didn't think was possible at my age.. 8 or 9 months ago I would have aruged that gong ATG is pointless and you can achieve the same strength and mass growth going parallel, but now I have to admit, I was wrong.. deep squatting is incredible and anyone physically capable of doing them should give it a go..

ORIGINAL: David1991

the top of ur thighs should be atleast parallel to the ground, that or lower is fine.

100% agreed

 
 
i go WAY past parallel. I'm getting way better gains and my knees hurt alot less than when I stopped at parallel.

17 years old
180 pounds

dirty bulk= fail
X-repper forever

On the race to 190 and 17 inch arms

i currently go as far down as i can however for some reason thats not much past parallel. like even at the very bottom the top of my thighs are just getting past parallel

Yes you are doing it right.I have judged squatting at powerlifting meets.Of course full squatting is better.Nothing more i hate than people squatting alot of weight and not going full.If your knees hurt wrap them.
I always wrap and use wrist wraps.Why not?Why get hurt.You have only have two knees and two wrists.

ORIGINAL: Beefcake
i go WAY past parallel. I'm getting way better gains and my knees hurt alot less than when I stopped at parallel.

That makes me want to attempt beyond parallel squats... I always just assumed my knees would be more strained that way than by stopping at parallel...

This is probably a really silly question, but do any of you find balancing really difficult? I'm new to this, and short, skinny and female, and so have decided that I'll get my form right with an unloaded barbell before trying anything more intense, but I always feel like I'm going to fall over backwards (I go as low as I can, as in hamstrings meet calves). Help please?

ORIGINAL: Shadowcat

This is probably a really silly question, but do any of you find balancing really difficult? I'm new to this, and short, skinny and female, and so have decided that I'll get my form right with an unloaded barbell before trying anything more intense, but I always feel like I'm going to fall over backwards (I go as low as I can, as in hamstrings meet calves). Help please?

two quick thoughts and hopefully some one else will come along and really help.....

1, flat shoes help quite a bit with stability, if you are wearing sross trainers, or something with a very sloped, wedged or curved heal, that might play into it. Try something like chucks instead.

2, check how wide your stance is, if your feet are too close togethe that might can your stability off, your pitching because your body is desperatly trying to find balance, on to narrow a base.

well.. i'll tell you that the same rules apply to doing squats as when i'm having sex with a girl..

the deeper, the better.

haha.....

seriously though, take those squats deep.  the reason people talk trash about them is b/c YES>>> they're HARD to do.    but i've gotten so much NEW growth from doing ATG squats (below parallel).  my legs are getting nice and full.  i used to have chicken legs... so yea

My name is FOX.... and I approve this message.

flat shoes help quite a bit with stability

*examines trainers*

Ah, I think I have it. Now where are my Chucks...

Thank you!

ORIGINAL: David1991

i currently go as far down as i can however for some reason thats not much past parallel. like even at the very bottom the top of my thighs are just getting past parallel

 
(i know this is an old quote)
 
I have the same problem. I know its not the weight because I tried doing ATG with like 10 lbs on each side just to see if it was possible for me and I couldnt get very far past parallel. I dont know if its my bone structure, or maybe I need to stretch?

Shut up and lift

ORIGINAL: StockJockey

ORIGINAL: David1991

i currently go as far down as i can however for some reason thats not much past parallel. like even at the very bottom the top of my thighs are just getting past parallel

(i know this is an old quote)

I have the same problem. I know its not the weight because I tried doing ATG with like 10 lbs on each side just to see if it was possible for me and I couldnt get very far past parallel. I dont know if its my bone structure, or maybe I need to stretch?

some people have extremely bad flexibility due to VERY tight hamstrings.  they may work on flexibility for years, and it just doesn't seem to get any better.

I know this b/c my flexibility isn't worth siHt.  i've been working on it for a while, and I can barely touch my toes on a good day.

My name is FOX.... and I approve this message.

try some yoga man

i totally agree with what everyone has said. if ur going to squat then try and put ur butt on the ground. so many guys at my gym load u 315 lbs go down 6 inches sopring up rack the weight and high five their bud. meanwhile im two feet away getting my butt an inch of the ground on every rep!! whatever though. its their loss i guess LOL

Current: 19, 5'11", 190@7%

bench:305 squat:370(atg) deadlift:475
Goals: 4plate squat, 5plate dead

"obsessed is a word the lazy use to describe the dedicated"

In my eyes, I squat when my butt is almost to the ground. When I maxed out 600 squat when i was in high-school i did it all wrong, not to mention i almost blew out my back doing it parrallel. Now I go butt to the ground it really gets intense i love it.

Lift Big or don't lift at ALL
R.I.P Big Daddy: 1945-2005

Maxes:
Squat:430
Bench:320
Deadlift:550

ORIGINAL: TheSilverFox

ORIGINAL: StockJockey

ORIGINAL: David1991

i currently go as far down as i can however for some reason thats not much past parallel. like even at the very bottom the top of my thighs are just getting past parallel

(i know this is an old quote)

I have the same problem. I know its not the weight because I tried doing ATG with like 10 lbs on each side just to see if it was possible for me and I couldnt get very far past parallel. I dont know if its my bone structure, or maybe I need to stretch?

some people have extremely bad flexibility due to VERY tight hamstrings. they may work on flexibility for years, and it just doesn't seem to get any better.

I know this b/c my flexibility isn't worth siHt. i've been working on it for a while, and I can barely touch my toes on a good day.

Touching your toes is not a very good way to stretch your hamstrings (if that's how you do it). And nothing works better as a stretch than squats (if you do it properly).

I agree about the squats, 100%.

But why would the toe touching not be a good way to stretch the hamstrings? as with a few other exercises?

Also helps prevent lower back pain by stretching the hamstrings with various stretchs.

6'3"  @213

Squat 1x20x275

press:200, Deadlift:475, Bench:300, P.clean:235, Squat:385

"The only failure that is final is to stop trying to improve"

it's ballistic stretching;


" Ballistic stretching means doing bouncing, repetitive movements while stretching. For example, bending forcefully to touch your toes with your knees straight and bouncing while you reach is ballistic stretching. This may do more harm than good, because the muscles may shorten reflexively. However, some professional athletes believe that controlled ballistic stretching can better prepare a muscle for sustained activity, especially one requiring a burst of speed. We advise against ballistic stretching for most people."