Posted: 3/13/2013 7:20:11 PM EDT
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I am 2 weeks into the starting strength program, was "offered" advice at the gym from a big guy who wanted me to know i should be "LOOKING UP" while squatting or i would hurt my back. I pointed out this is the opposite of what Rippetoe suggests in his book, and this guy keeps insisting that he is big and strong and therefore his word is gospel.
Now if you were to compare me in size and shape to this guy in the gym, he looked fit while I'm not, might be worth using his advice. Not sure how to react to this. Also just not sure about my form, afraid i am caving my back while rising up. Any ideas on corrections? last workout was 5x3x135. |
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I'm no expert, but I believe the pitfall of looking up is putting your back out of alignment which can lead to injury. Edit: Nevermind that, doing a quick search, the world record holder, Brian Carrol says he looks up during squats. Also, when you mean caving your back, do you mean you are leaning forward with your upper torso? |
| I just look forward or a little below parallel. You can keep your chest out without cranking your head up in an unnatural position. There are other exercises like deadlifts where you can keep your head up to keep your chest up and you don't have a ton of weight on your traps. |
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I'd suggest watching the EliteFTS series on youtube titled "So you think you can squat" I have Starting Strength and have done the program, but I found these videos more helpful than Rip's instructions in the book and video. I'm probably wrong, but I don't think it's too big of a deal. I have read different articles on EliteFTS.com that had contradicting statements on where to look. |
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I look up about 10 degrees. If I look ahead or down I usually end up getting too far forward. I'm doing starting strength and I may need to change where I'm looking. The weights are starting to get heavy and I can feel myself coming forward too much. I'm driving with my hips out of the bottom but my back angle does not stay the same (hips rise faster than bar/head). |
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I look up about 10 degrees. If I look ahead or down I usually end up getting too far forward. I'm doing starting strength and I may need to change where I'm looking. The weights are starting to get heavy and I can feel myself coming forward too much. I'm driving with my hips out of the bottom but my back angle does not stay the same (hips rise faster than bar/head). This was my problem as well, which is why I started looking up a bit more. |
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I keep my neck in a neutral position looking towards the floor about 15 ft in front of me. I just make sure to keep everything very tight on descent and start to exhale while still keeping everything tight when I start driving with my hips to get the weight back up. brb I don't squat in a rack brb my ass touches my calves when I squat brb warming up with 315 lbs
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I look up about 10 degrees. If I look ahead or down I usually end up getting too far forward. I'm doing starting strength and I may need to change where I'm looking. The weights are starting to get heavy and I can feel myself coming forward too much. I'm driving with my hips out of the bottom but my back angle does not stay the same (hips rise faster than bar/head). This was my problem as well, which is why I started looking up a bit more. Get your elbows under the bar more, keep your back tight, chest up. |
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I look up about 10 degrees. If I look ahead or down I usually end up getting too far forward. I'm doing starting strength and I may need to change where I'm looking. The weights are starting to get heavy and I can feel myself coming forward too much. I'm driving with my hips out of the bottom but my back angle does not stay the same (hips rise faster than bar/head). This was my problem as well, which is why I started looking up a bit more. Get your elbows under the bar more, keep your back tight, chest up. I appreciate it, but that's not an option for me. I have rotator cuff issues and can't grip a bar in the traditional manner when squatting. I have a pair of handles clamped to the bar (similar to a safety squat bar) that I hold on to. 
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: I look up about 10 degrees. If I look ahead or down I usually end up getting too far forward. I'm doing starting strength and I may need to change where I'm looking. The weights are starting to get heavy and I can feel myself coming forward too much. I'm driving with my hips out of the bottom but my back angle does not stay the same (hips rise faster than bar/head). This was my problem as well, which is why I started looking up a bit more. Get your elbows under the bar more, keep your back tight, chest up. I appreciate it, but that's not an option for me. I have rotator cuff issues and can't grip a bar in the traditional manner when squatting. I have a pair of handles clamped to the bar (similar to a safety squat bar) that I hold on to. http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/DSCN08106.JPG When I scroll that pic up or down it does some weird optical stuff, kind of cool. |
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I look up about 10 degrees. If I look ahead or down I usually end up getting too far forward. I'm doing starting strength and I may need to change where I'm looking. The weights are starting to get heavy and I can feel myself coming forward too much. I'm driving with my hips out of the bottom but my back angle does not stay the same (hips rise faster than bar/head). This was my problem as well, which is why I started looking up a bit more. Get your elbows under the bar more, keep your back tight, chest up. Thanks. I'll try this tomorrow. Looking ahead instead of at the floor seemed to help a little. |