Phantom Box Squats

[Metalject]

I'm sure everyone hear is familiar with box squats. I'm sure everyone has seen someone set up to squat and put a box or bench under them to squat down on. Then there's phantom box squats, which is where the guy squats down to the box yet never actually touches it. Obviously this brings up an important question, why set up the box? But yesterday I saw the greatest set of phantom squats of all time.

The guy sets up his box, does his set and never touches the box. He completes the set and then racks the weight. What does he do next? He removes the box and goes and grabs a lower box. He was a full foot from touching the box during his first set but because this wasn't a low enough phantom squat he grabbed a lower box. He then goes no lower than he did last time and is every bit of nearly two feet from touching the box on his next set due to the lower box. Then, because this wasn't enough he keeps adding more and more weight. He did a few sets with 315 and then 365 on the bar still not going anywhere near the box; in fact, he was further and further away from touching it every set.

The point in this story...people are ridiculous and phantom box squats sure are fun to watch. Especially when there's two guys doing them together and congratulating each other after every set, lol!

[kelkel]

I'll watch if it's a female fitness model!

But seriously, the majority of people who squat today seem to be indoctrinated into the "almost" half squat workout style. I often wonder if they do the bottom half of their squat workout on another day!

[MajorPectorial]

Lol. I don't use squats I'm 6'3" so use a low bench behind when going heavy ever since I done the "holy shit I can't get back up" by not concentrating n overloading more than I thought. Damn near scared the life outta everyone in the gym. Had to let it drop behind. Just glad I don't screw my back from the sudden weight loss really. Never again. But this is only on my heavy days n drop until I "feel"my ass touch the bench but not rest as I feel I'd be kinda bouncing it n sudden loss n increase in pressures not good for the back I feel. But lighter weights its ass to the grass. Being really long climbed I strangely suffer on my squats. Yet put me against any guy down the gym for leg curl. Even Russian leg curl or leg extension any day. Then my legs just suddenly pop outta nowhere. Strange shit.

[Metalject]

I'll watch if it's a female fitness model!

But seriously, the majority of people who squat today seem to be indoctrinated into the "almost" half squat workout style. I often wonder if they do the bottom half of their squat workout on another day!

I never thought about it like that. That must be what they do. They must be doing the bottom half in the middle of the night. I guess this is what the hardcore guys really do. LOL!

I new a guy years ago, really nice guy who always came up to talk to me when I was in the gym and he told me he had started splitting his chest workout into separate workouts, inner-chest day, outer-chest day and upper-chest day. Where he came up with this I had no idea but I asked him "what about lower chest?" Yeah, I was being a smart butt but I think I ruined his day because now he thought he was going to have to add another chest day. I should have told him he could just do his lower chest the same day he does the bottom half of his squat workout, but I didn't know that was possible until now, lol!

[Metalject]

Lol. I don't use squats I'm 6'3" so use a low bench behind when going heavy ever since I done the "holy shit I can't get back up" by not concentrating n overloading more than I thought. Damn near scared the life outta everyone in the gym. Had to let it drop behind. Just glad I don't screw my back from the sudden weight loss really. Never again. But this is only on my heavy days n drop until I "feel"my ass touch the bench but not rest as I feel I'd be kinda bouncing it n sudden loss n increase in pressures not good for the back I feel. But lighter weights its ass to the grass. Being really long climbed I strangely suffer on my squats. Yet put me against any guy down the gym for leg curl. Even Russian leg curl or leg extension any day. Then my legs just suddenly pop outta nowhere. Strange shit.

If you're lifting for strength box squats where you sit all the way down and pause can be pretty good. They're definitely not easy.

[RaginCajun]

I thought the thread said phantom box squirts.

Carry on

[BlueWaffle21]

I had a young guy at my gym that would squat 405 but maybe drop 15 degrees. It's sad to see, they all think they are so damn strong.

[tigerspawn]

We have several guys that do top quarter squats. I enjoy watching the ones that load up the hack squat yet never disengage the safety locks. These individuals never lower weight enough to touch the locks while squating.

[Metalject]

Squats not going all the way down with a bunch of weight is fun to watch but these phantom box squats take it to a new level. It's like taking food, brining it to your open mouth, closing your mouth before the food's inside and rubbing it all over your face. It is that retarded.

[MajorPectorial]

On my ass to grass days I simply go until my leg muscles stop me going further. Effectively kinda just can't go further even if I wanted to. But I'd never attempt this on a heavy day. My spine would more likely come out my ass

[--->>405<<---]

i started doing box squats about 6months ago. theyre freaking brutal!! when i first did them i went from 515lbs (without bench/box) down to 225-315lbs with box.. i am back up to 405lbs and could prob do 455lbs but i have no spotter. i have 2 benches i use, one is normal and about parallel but the other is actually slightly greater than parallel.. it is a bear! i do drop sets to one rep shy of "i cant take any more pain im gonna die"!!

i will always squat with a bench/box as it keeps me honest and i want to do everything properly. the lower u go the muscles u use are totally different! i have learned a lot about the squat since starting the box squat and gained a LOT more respect for guys who put emphasis on proper squat form. it will truly separate the men from the boys..

[OnTheSauce]

I box squat more than I can regular squat. I can be more explosive out of the hole. I use a box below parallel too. Most anyone I see ever do box squats is way too high

[kelkel]

i started doing box squats about 6months ago. theyre freaking brutal!! when i first did them i went from 515lbs (without bench/box) down to 225-315lbs with box.. i am back up to 405lbs and could prob do 455lbs but i have no spotter. i have 2 benches i use, one is normal and about parallel but the other is actually slightly greater than parallel.. it is a bear! i do drop sets to one rep shy of "i cant take any more pain im gonna die"!!

i will always squat with a bench/box as it keeps me honest and i want to do everything properly. the lower u go the muscles u use are totally different! i have learned a lot about the squat since starting the box squat and gained a LOT more respect for guys who put emphasis on proper squat form. it will truly separate the men from the boys..

There ya go!

[austinite]

I think the last time I saw this done properly at my gym was in the late 90's.

[Metalject]

I think the last time I saw this done properly at my gym was in the late 90's.

There are a few gyms around that are still bodybuilding a power lifting friendly...you'll definitely see real box squats in those places.

There's one of those gyms back in my hometown that I used to go to...don't now because I don't live there...I can't remember a single day where I didn't see someone doing these. Pretty cool gym...you can get away with anything in there. Loud, chalk everywhere and if you drop a weight no one cries...I know, amazing.

Last time I did any box squats was at this gym and this was back in 2011. I was having a hard time with my regular squats and thought a change might help me. Then after a few wks of that I remembered I don't like having turds in my pants....NOT anabolic.