Front squats vs back squats

[Polska]

Which squat do you prefer for maximum quad development?

[SmittyTheOX]

Back squats with a closer stance.

You can use more weight and hit them a lot harder

[operationgetbig]

i like to do regular squats. i also do aleast a couple sets of front squats. they force u to keep good posture cause u cant really lean forward with front squats.

[SmittyTheOX]

Safety bar squats will do the same thing as far as posture goes

[almostgone]

I think both are really the key, but I will say it took me SEVERAL lifting sessions with a dry bar to get my form correct for front squats.

AG

[anabolictonic]

yer i find it very hard to keep my balance doing front squats - to the point where i just dont do them. I should try them on a smith machine i think

[reardbandit]

Front squats are a nice change of pace, keep things fresh and keep you from stagnating. I saw a video where Coleman was front squatting like 500 lbs, and he's got nice quad development (that's a joke). I think you can incorporate both for maximum results. I've even seen some guys use dumbbells for squat movements

[FireGuy]

Conventional squats for sure, I rarely do fronts but prefer the Smith Machine when I choose to do them.

[Narkissos]

yer i find it very hard to keep my balance doing front squats - to the point where i just dont do them. I should try them on a smith machine i think

The fact that you can't keep your balance shows that you should continue to do them... not switch to an easier alternative.

[Narkissos]

Personally I do both.

...sometimes in the same workout.

Sometimes I have a workout based around either... sometimes I use neither.

I believe that one should *not* limit oneself to any specific manner of training. Angles and subsequent stimuli can make a huge difference.

[reardbandit]

Try them for a while, see what you think. Nark said it best, in that if you ahve a hard time, keep doing them. You know as well as any of us that if something is difficult, that means you are gaining from it. Anyone can do a back squat, and a lot of guys can do them heavy, but it takes some time to develop the strength, coordination, and balance to do 400 lb fronts

[anabolictonic]

alrighty il get stuck into em today in my leg workout

[Narkissos]

Try them for a while, see what you think. Nark said it best, in that if you ahve a hard time, keep doing them. You know as well as any of us that if something is difficult, that means you are gaining from it. Anyone can do a back squat, and a lot of guys can do them heavy, but it takes some time to develop the strength, coordination, and balance to do 400 lb fronts

Shit... I can't even IMAGINE how 400 lbs must feel on the front squat.

315 chokes the shit out of me.

[lostcause]

i do both. i like front squats bc i am able to get deeper, below 90, with them and reg squats bc i can use alot heavier weight. the grip was hard for me to learn with front squats, but after u get it u got it.

[reardbandit]

Shit... I can't even IMAGINE how 400 lbs must feel on the front squat.

315 chokes the shit out of me.

Hahaha I ain't saying I can do that, not even close. I can swing you about 250 on a good day on fronts. I'd drop 400 right into the rack. 315 is pretty impressive for a front squat though. Good work

[pk420]

You should be doing both front and back squats. Brady Quinn does more front squats, google that man...hes huge.

Apparently front squats give you a more core workout. But again do both. Three weeks front, three weeks back squats. and dont forget to throw in some king deadlifts

[kaptainkeezy04]

I feel front squats work my quads much better than regular squats, but I get more overall leg development from back squats.

[almostgone]

Shit... I can't even IMAGINE how 400 lbs must feel on the front squat.

315 chokes the shit out of me.

LOL...and here I am bitching about using a dry bar just to get my form right.

AG

[BgMc31]

You should be doing both front and back squats. Brady Quinn does more front squats, google that man...hes huge.

Apparently front squats give you a more core workout. But again do both. Three weeks front, three weeks back squats. and dont forget to throw in some king deadlifts

Please tell me you aren't talking about the football player, Brady Quinn, right? He isn't huge at all!!!

Anyway, check out the leg development of olympic lifters, they all have huge quads because the do mostly all front squats.

Personally I do both and yes 405lb front squat almost had me shittin on myself!!! LOL!!!!

[Tarheel]

Squats are better for overall leg development but fronts sure seem to stress my quads better...If I had a choice, regular squats all the way!

[pk420]

Please tell me you aren't talking about the football player, Brady Quinn, right? He isn't huge at all!!!

Anyway, check out the leg development of olympic lifters, they all have huge quads because the do mostly all front squats.

Personally I do both and yes 405lb front squat almost had me shittin on myself!!! LOL!!!!

6"3, 235 pounds at 5% body fat during the season isn't big "at all"?? Shit, I have A LOT of work to do then.

...Im going to go eat right now

[DSM4Life]

The only problem i find with front squats is holding the damn bar up with heavy loads.

[pk420]

The only problem i find with front squats is holding the damn bar up with heavy loads.

I use to have that same problem. Putting three plates on each side doing front squats was a mission! until I got a pointer...I use to hold the bar with my left hand on my left should and my right hand on my right shoulder

The techniques that I found works well is crossing your arms, holding the bar on you right shoulder with your left hand and vise versa. If you keep your elbows up and parallel to the ground with your head looking at the ceiling as well...I find it balances very well.

http://www.formerfatguy.com/sunrider...ront-squat.jpg

Almost like that guy, elbows a bit higher and it will just sit there

Good luck guys

[hankdiesel]

I do them both. Alternate every week. The week I do front squats I'll do 5 sets followed by 5 sets of hack squats. I think my quads get hit harder then, rather then the other week when I do 7 sets of back squats followed by 4 sets of leg press.

[BgMc31]

The only problem i find with front squats is holding the damn bar up with heavy loads.

Use lifting straps. I'll try to find a video of what I mean. I have zero wrist flexibility so it's hard for me to hold the bar with heavy weight too, so I listened to some other strongmen friends of mine who had the same problem and they all use the lifting straps. It enables you to keep your elbow high and which is essential to holding the weight and keep proper posture while squatting.

Ok...I've found the pic. Here it is.

[quarry206]

6"3, 235 pounds at 5% body fat during the season isn't big "at all"?? Shit, I have A LOT of work to do then.

...Im going to go eat right now

well 6'3'' 235 is not huge, and he is not 5% BF.. with that being said i do think Brady Quinn is not an out of shape guy, he is very in shape and as far as QBs go has a big chest and some muscle.. but not huge when talking about muscle mass or in reference to BB work outs