Squat - parallel or lower

[Phildude]

When I do squats, my bodybuilding buddy told me to go calf touching hamstring, when I was pyramiding 15 12 10 8 6. Now I'm doing the 5x5 for powerlifting.

My question is, when you are working out do you all go to parallel, a little below parallel, or should I continue to go very low? I have heard so many different things, I'd like to get the word from THE MANs here.

Thanks for any help in advance.

[beezlebubb666]

bro seriously i think that after parallel its just waisted movement

[DSM4Life]

Why not do both ? I am going to start doing squats twice a week, once 4x5 parallel , then 3x15 full @$$ to grass. You just have to try it and see how you respond.

[pelly789]

if youd like to continue walking i wouldnt go "ass to the grass" parrallel or a little below is perfect anything other than that like said before is wasted movement and it f*cks up your knees imo i would

[RMBros]

Actually, A2G hasn't been shown to damage your knees - if you are flexible enough to complete the ROM naturally (without weight).

That said, A2G is really only useful to PLing if you are having problems coming "out of the hole" in your squat. No real reason to do it unless you're trying to fix something with your competition-style squat.

Just below parallel is the best bet, so you can always be sure that you're hitting at least parallel.

Honestly, you shouldn't be able to go A2G if your stance is wide enough to be a PLing stance (or at least, I can't)

[Doc.Sust]

just break paralell in regular squats,now if you want to do super deep box squats or no no no olympic style squats(the no no no stands for no blet, no wraps no spoter and real fckn deep A2G) can be used as auxillary lifts after regular squats if your lower end strenght is wk, but for most people thee squat suits solves this problem.than go ahead, i wouldn't because my knees are mess from to many years of this shit. i don't kniow to many plifters who train ass to ground, breaking prallel isthe ticket, anyhing else is just overkill IMO

[Velkar182]

I agree with Doc sust big time on this one. I supplement deep (and obviously somewhat lighter) squats. Sometimes instead of doing my Westside style max effort of 7sets 3reps and 3 sets 1 rep, I like to do this at the begining of a power cycle: 3-4 sets 3-4reps very deep, 3 sets 3reps at parallel, and 3-4 sets of 3 reps for partials. This is also CNS progressive since you start with lighter load than usual and work very heavy. I also believe it develops the hip flexors some.

[powerliftmike]

Some ppl like to talk about how deep they go, I really dont care. The fact is the deeper you go the more pressure is placed on the knee. Olympic lifters will need to do some deep training, but it wont do much good for the powerlifter.

[Mealticket]

lower you gy the more you're going in incorporate glutes and hams.
I go till my balls hit the floor

[jax larue]

bro seriously i think that after parallel its just waisted movement

I highly disagree,I do below parallel,because it builds strength thourgh out the FULL range of motion,after speacking from apractica;ponit of view it's better to have strength thoughtout a full range of motion the part of the way because what if you have to pick up something other then a barbellthats heavy,and have to squat down below parallel to lift it.you'dlook funny then
having problems lifting wouldn't you?
sotothe dude thats doing below parallel,keep it up.

[bmg]

I highly disagree,I do below parallel,because it builds strength thourgh out the FULL range of motion,after speacking from apractica;ponit of view it's better to have strength thoughtout a full range of motion the part of the way because what if you have to pick up something other then a barbellthats heavy,and have to squat down below parallel to lift it.you'dlook funny then
having problems lifting wouldn't you?
sotothe dude thats doing below parallel,keep it up.

huh?

[DSM4Life]

I highly disagree,I do below parallel,because it builds strength thourgh out the FULL range of motion,after speacking from apractica;ponit of view it's better to have strength thoughtout a full range of motion the part of the way because what if you have to pick up something other then a barbellthats heavy,and have to squat down below parallel to lift it.you'dlook funny then
having problems lifting wouldn't you?
sotothe dude thats doing below parallel,keep it up.

We know that full ROM is best, but at what cost ? That's the real question.

[Doc.Sust]

We know that full ROM is best, but at what cost ? That's the real question.

if you wrap your knees, you wont pay for it in the future

[mmaximus25]

My personal feeing is body weight to light weight you should go far past parallel for a better stretch but when getting heavy, just under parallel is the place to be.

Everyone’s heavy and light days are different what is heavy for me might be light for you at the current or vise versa. I like well below parallel @ 225lb but at 315 and 405 I keep it at parallel. Shoot coming off a ham injury I'm still doing partials with 405 and haven't built the strength yet to dip my ass down to a legitimate parallel.

Most guys don’t even get close to parallel by the way

[Doc.Sust]

My personal feeing is body weight to light weight you should go far past parallel for a better stretch but when getting heavy, just under parallel is the place to be.

Everyone’s heavy and light days are different what is heavy for me might be light for you at the current or vise versa. I like well below parallel @ 225lb but at 315 and 405 I keep it at parallel. Shoot coming off a ham injury I'm still doing partials with 405 and haven't built the strength yet to dip my ass down to a legitimate parallel.

Most guys don’t even get close to parallel by the way

most BBers dont go below parallel, but all powelifters who compete certainly do

[xmenWolverine]

there is no evidence to show that parellel or going below have any significant difference. Most people in a gym don't even squat properly as it is. doing 1/4 squats. Get out of the gym.

[artica]

Depends, bodybuilding purposes? Definitely as the quad is developed further by creating deeper recruitment. Powerlifting? Hell yes, train deeper, once your competing parallel is simply that much easier. Recreational? do what you want.

[Doc.Sust]

Depends, bodybuilding purposes? Definitely as the quad is developed further by creating deeper recruitment. Powerlifting? Hell yes, train deeper, once your competing parallel is simply that much easier. Recreational? do what you want.

agree

[Doc.Sust]

there is no evidence to show that parellel or going below have any significant difference. Most people in a gym don't even squat properly as it is. doing 1/4 squats. Get out of the gym.

if you compete and you train higher or at parallel than you will squat high in a meet and your lifts wont pass. if you never plan on competing, than hit parallel and call it a day, if you ever though about a contest, practice below par

[Testostack]

bro seriously i think that after parallel its just waisted movement

If you can do it, go for it, your quads will be better extensed, and your leg will look thicker

That said, if you feel like your knees ain't gonna make it, stop at parallel.....jmo and xp

[Velkar182]

One thing that should be considered is that training high on the squat and developing big pounds sets you up for injury if you go too deep one time. A guy in my high school some years back contested that he had the schools biggest squat. At the time he went way above parallel with his 550 and I went deep with 485. When I demanded that he was a punk and had to go lower, he tore his hamstring and jacked up his knee. Not a great day for the phys ed teacher. I figure going light and deep in the off season can't hurt.

[mwolffey]

ass to calves imo

[Doc.Sust]

One thing that should be considered is that training high on the squat and developing big pounds sets you up for injury if you go too deep one time. A guy in my high school some years back contested that he had the schools biggest squat. At the time he went way above parallel with his 550 and I went deep with 485. When I demanded that he was a punk and had to go lower, he tore his hamstring and jacked up his knee. Not a great day for the phys ed teacher. I figure going light and deep in the off season can't hurt.

i do also believe training heavier higer off the pins or higher boxes. will make u a better squatter. partial squats are a must in my book, it depends on your goals, if it for functional training and strength than partials are great, if you are doing it more for BBing, than partials are a waste

[Phildude]

One thing that should be considered is that training high on the squat and developing big pounds sets you up for injury if you go too deep one time. A guy in my high school some years back contested that he had the schools biggest squat. At the time he went way above parallel with his 550 and I went deep with 485. When I demanded that he was a punk and had to go lower, he tore his hamstring and jacked up his knee. Not a great day for the phys ed teacher. I figure going light and deep in the off season can't hurt.

I bet you felt bad, but that shows him that half squats aren't real squats, and so is running your mouth...!!

I train below parallel, and when I went to my first thing, (intramural weightlifting) I was surprised how much I could get because I only had to go to parallel. My squats were much easier to do. Now if I could only find a technique like that for bench and deadlift...

[Doc.Sust]

I bet you felt bad, but that shows him that half squats aren't real squats, and so is running your mouth...!!

I train below parallel, and when I went to my first thing, (intramural weightlifting) I was surprised how much I could get because I only had to go to parallel. My squats were much easier to do. Now if I could only find a technique like that for bench and deadlift...

ifm you increase your arch with the press,pull your lats and traps together and put your pointer fingers on the rings,you will cut your travel distance in half. also learn to use your legs (leg drive) in the press without picking your ass off the bench, for the dead, i try sumo deads, it cuts the ROM in half,hard to get used to at first,but even the best conventional lifter can convert with time and practice