Anyone else petrified to do squats with out a spot?

[RoadToRecovery]

The only exercise of my 5 days of lifting that i cant do with out a spot is squats. I never have one so I have to use the smith machine. I have this crazy phobia that Ill tip and come crashing down getting smashed in the head by a plate.

Also, what do you guys use for a bar pad? I cant see how some dudes dont use one.

[MuscleScience]

Yeah I had the same problem when I was like 14 then I manned up.....LOL

Sorry just kidding, anyway start out with light weights and gradually build up. It doesnt take long at all to get confident. As far as the pad goes I never have used it I just let the bar sit on my traps.

[pump.joe]

I never see guys spotting other guys on squats. (Well, unless they are hitting on each other.)

Start off with a weight that you don't feel tipsy with, and work your way up. Using the Smith machine means your legs are probably stronger than your core right now, so go light at first. When I transitioned from the Smith machine to free weight squats, I had to drop the weight quite a bit.

[DSM4Life]

Its all in your head. Smith squats, come on ! Just get on the bar and take it slow and you'll be fine.

My bar pad is my traps.

[pump.joe]

Oh yeah, I do think the pad helps when you are going heavy. You can use a towel if the gym doesn't have a foam pad.

[SMCengineer]

I use a spot only on my heavy set and just to guide the weight down when I fail, but I can and do squat without a spot all the time. I normally squat in the power rack so I just set the pins at a specific height in case I have to drop the weight. I personally never use a pad, I don't see the point in them cause you'll get used to the weight quickly.

[quadsofsteel]

when i squat, i usually just keep the bench parallel with my squatting position just in case i fail, i fall back to sit on the bench and then lift back up or get some help (rare). But the bench behind me has saved my ass more than once.

[RuhlFreak55]

i usually have to squat without a spotter.......so much better when i can workout with my bro though......i can't go over 405 without him spottin me.....crazy how ****ed up it makes me mentally. Like with 405 i can only do 5 good reps without a spotter and with a spotter i can rip off 8....and no the spotter doesn't even touch me~~~!!!! craziness...

[-DedicateD-]

I use a spot only on my heavy set and just to guide the weight down when I fail, but I can and do squat without a spot all the time. I normally squat in the power rack so I just set the pins at a specific height in case I have to drop the weight. I personally never use a pad, I don't see the point in them cause you'll get used to the weight quickly.

similar to what I do - i havnt used a pad or had a spot for squats in a very long time

[413]

hey man, i feel ya. i have the same kinda phobia. some of us who are more prone to occasional freakouts over nothing, like me, have those kind of weird anxieties sometimes. it happens. i've never had any trouble with squatting at all but every time i do i still have disastrous thoughts in the back of my mind.

for the same reason i never did skull crushers for a while because the name freaked me out. yeah, i'm a wuss.

[illwillogical]

I have fell down several times! I would be scared if there were no safety things to catch the bar. Then again, I injured myself pretty bad on them in High School, so I don't get to carried away with the weight and just use strict form. I don't like the pad, I like the pain!