Low Bar has helped me a tonne, I used to do High bar but it just never felt natural for me. Everything feels way more fluid low bar position, it's funny considering how much time I spent on high bar
have you tried low bar for a month? I used to swear high bar until training with it for awhile. Just a thought, throw it in your next block for a change or a second day of squats. Or just disregard my comment haha
I started with high bar, and i am still doing it. It's absolute quads killer and it's good thing to begin with as well. But of course when i tried low bar i could lift more weight so i am looking for training more low bar because of competing, but i still find high bar as my favourite.
Due to my advancing age, my shoulders and elbows are hot garbage - I've transitioned into using a SSB/Spider Bar for the majority of my training. I'll change back to low bar with a normal bar around 4 weeks ahead of a meet.
I say do them all....but paused ATG front squat ...I feel has helped me most as a non competing old guy who just wants to move well..combined with a variance of deadlifts you’ll never feel weak
@@SzatStrength Can you please explain to me why my low bar is weaker than high bar? When i squat low bar i tend to have a harder time being explosive on the way up and i squat about 10 kg more hig bar. Is it because of a weak posterior chain? Overall my squat is pretty weak i can only manage 150 kg :(
I don't know anyone who hasn't eventually had some sort of elbow issue after doing low bar squats. It's inevitable. What good is a 500 pound squat if you can't even lift a spoonful of Cheerios in the morning?
Very well explained. I workout with some people who only do high bar , and they always talk trash about my low bar. They don’t really grasp the concept of leaning over during the squat and why it is done. I get the high bar translate better to Olympic lifting, but what people tend to miss out on is that the low bar builds more absolute strength which is kind of the point of getting stronger.
Hi Juliana Low bar could be a bit difficult in the beginning but with practice, it would feel more natural. Here's another video that could be useful!! ruclips.net/video/bpHyfuQiNbg/видео.html
If you get elbow tendonitis with low bar, widen your grip. This was recommended to me by a physical therapist who is also a litter. I suffered with elbow pain for a year and widening the grip fixed my pain in a week...
How did you beat your quad tendonitis, or how are you managing it? Months ago I heard you talk about that your knees were kiling you? Has low-bar squatting helped with this or any other methods? Maybe you were doing too much volume?
In my personal experience High Bar with a slightly wider stance with abducted feet has been my power position. With low bar I lose so much tension out of the hole being I have to lean so far forward to stay over mid foot. But truly I feel SSB is the best overall squat variation.
High bar. For me, it's more natural, can go deeper, easier on the shoulders, and emphasizes the quads more (I use a two-day split)... plus I don't powerlift. I also don't mess around with any inferior versions, like front squats or zerchers. I do plenty of deadlifting volume and bent rows, so my posterior gets plenty of emphasis. I believe starting strength focuses on low bar because it's more powerlifting-oriented and its deadlifting volume is extremely low... low bar works the entire leg with less emphasis.
Nah man, I've done all of the squat variations and front squats are easily the hardest variation which is also why I prefer implementing them into my own training regiment over high bar, plus high bar is just a lot more uncomfortable for me personally but I can definitely go heavier on high bar than on front squats so saying front squats are inferior to high bar is somewhat inaccurate; however, if you are an olympic weightlifter then you probably should be doing more high bar and front squats than low bar.
I find that it’s hard for me to squat with high bar I think because I have long legs so I find it easier to do low bar but high bars knock me off balance mainly because I don’t have enough mobility as well however I would like to grow my quads so I think I’m going to high bar squat more thanks for the information man
For overall muscle development I will say high bar. Low bar can allow you to develop more strength but not my favorite if your ultimate goal is looking good and being strong.
I have a mild scoliosis in my lower back and could never move up much weight because the relatively upright back angle just didn't feel stable. Low bar feels more stable ironically, but possibly due to lower back and glute development. Anyway, great to the point video with good insight. Thanks!
High bar, low bar, front, zercher, each has great carry over to the next. If I can make my front squat stronger, chances are it makes my other squats stronger. After that it’s a matter of goals.
I started out doing high bar squats, 'cause those seemed better to me what with being less similar to deadlifts, but I started getting really bad headaches every time I squatted. Probably because my traps aren't very big, I think the bar might be pushing on a blood vessel or nerve or something. Since switching to low bar squats I've never had this problem again. Yeah it might not be as good for quad development but it allows me to do squats at all which I'm okay with.
Love the video. Been using low bar mostly myself, incorporating front squats on deadlift day as squat accessory. Might try alternating front and high bar now.
Em Jay just a month or so I started doing front squats on my deadlift day (I lift conventional), and sumo deads on squat day (squat low bar). Using them as accessories after doing primary lift to increase volume and hit new angles, as well as increase quad work. I do less sets and weight with the accessories as I'm already burnt from main lift. No idea if it's working yet, but I do not feel like it is detracting from my main lifts.
I too always did the high bar ones as its more natural. But I realised that i was seating the bar at just the top of my spine which was kinda making that first vertebrae pop out. Hence i switched to a lower bar! Its scary to see a lot of people just mistakenly settle that heavy bar on their spines.
Yes, but what about a saftey squat bar? I watched a video about Brad Shaw saying it's the only squat bar he uses now and doesn't feel as bad in the arms.
As someone who competes in both Cf and weightlifting I high bar cause I wanna squat like how I catch a clean or snatch I also break evenly at hips an knees starting my decents cause I hit A better depth and just feel more balanced An strong that way, I got short femurs and long torso so I squat so I always try an squat as Upright as I can
People are saying I'm doing low bar squat form with the bar to high up think I lean to forward so I think I'm going learn to low bar squat should I just do front squats straight after for the quads and is low bar better for most taller people cos it folds them up more
I'd have to disagree with the point that high bar is easier to start and get under the bar with. Honestly from my personal experience high bar was extremely uncomfortable position to squat in and get in and was weaker with high bar. Low bar was something that I was naturally comfortable with. Just like with dead lifting sumo is not comfortable for me to do. I prefer conventional dead lifting. So low bar squatting is all I do because I am able to progress and it works for me. No back problems for it no matter how far I go and I feel it is a safer position for the body in my opinion.
Awesome breakdown of the pros/cons for both. I enjoyed seeing a few of your jiu jitsu video’s recently so I was hoping to pick your brain about lifting and jiu jitsu. Do you recommend any specific programs to balance lifting and jiu jitsu? I did about 2 years of linear progression (stronglifts 5x5) before finding jiu jitsu a little over 7 years ago. Was 240lbs then and am now 185. I’m 5’11, so I feel better in the weight class for Jiu Jitsu competitions. I stopped lifting completely a year in to jiu jitsu and rode my strength gains up to this point. I just got my brown belt and want to add lifting to be strong in the weight class, and not feel as weak as I do now. Currently talked my wife into building a home gym ha. Plan is to get back on stronlifts, then give 5/3/1 a try after the beginner phase wears off. Also thinking of an in season/off season schedule around certain competitions. Do you have any advice?
Szat stronk. I have a request actually two requests : a) your thoughts on bodybuilding and b) COLLABORATION with Ricky De Bugez aka Sticky Ricky aka Eric the Bugenhagen. edit: new intro is high octane and dangerous. edit 2: i prefer high bar tbh, low bar doesn't feels good
I have a very hard time hitting parallel high bar and front squatting, due to my skeletal structure and mobility. Hitting parallel lowbar is no problem.
Julia Nunyabiz how’s your ankle mobility??? Just gonna assume you have pretty decent hip mobility but maybe not so good Ankle mobility to accomodate it when doing High bar
clint iacuone I think it is actually the opposite, and I have weak hip flexors. The main problem though is that I have extremely long turned in femurs where the connect to the pelvic bone (not sure how anatomy works there, but they're turned in) so my knees have two choices, forward or in. If I take a really narrow stance I can hit depth lowbar.
Sick new intro man! I have a question, what do you think about doing high volume (5x10 or more) llight to medium weight clean and presses with minimal rest (30-60 seconds) for conditioning?
How would you recommend finding the bar position for low bar? I want to incorporate / switch from high bar but feel like I don't have enough mass for the bar to rest on. Is that crazy or can it be true for a scrawny guy to not be able to make enough of a delt shelf? Thanks for any help. Love your stuff!
Hi Robert Feels less pressure on ankles when doing high bar but not significantly huge difference. Here's another video that could be useful!! ruclips.net/video/bpHyfuQiNbg/видео.html
I'm a high bar squatter for years but when I try to change to lowbar and do some reps with 60-70% it hurts my lower back..is this normal at the beginning switching to low bar?
Hi It is normal as the torso angle completely changes leading to bracing issues. Here's another video that could be useful!! ruclips.net/video/bpHyfuQiNbg/видео.html
Unless you're a competitive powerlifter don't squat low bar. Yes you can move more weight low bar but it's more about leverages not strength. Low bar squatting beats you up real good, your hips, lower back and elbows can not take a good amounts volume and frequency low bar. High bar is the superior squat hand downs
Where are the facts and studies that say low bar beats you up compared to high bar? They both have pros and cons I do not believe one is superior over the other.
Szat Strength I don't need to sight a study to know this because I squatted low bar for over two years. The general athlete is not going to see any carry over to their sport putting an extra 10% on the bar then increase their leverage with an awkward low bar position. Low bar is for powerlifters because every kilo matters on the platform, the high bar back squat is for every other athlete on the planet because weight on the bar isn't everything unless your a powerlifter or an ego lifter. Don't squat low bar kids! Inferior
johnyvodka keep telling myself what, it's the proven and commonly accepted truth, you're the one reaching here by making a ridiculous blanket statement.
Low Bar has helped me a tonne, I used to do High bar but it just never felt natural for me. Everything feels way more fluid low bar position, it's funny considering how much time I spent on high bar
Low Bar seems to always cause Elbow Tendon Pain.
It's a much bigger problem than people admit.
High bar or low bar... Which do you use more? Drop it below. Love your support and talk. Any haters, eat them for me. Thanks.
Szat Strength Always been a high bar guy, just feels better to me.
have you tried low bar for a month? I used to swear high bar until training with it for awhile. Just a thought, throw it in your next block for a change or a second day of squats. Or just disregard my comment haha
If Coach Joe recommends it, I'll give it a shot! I shall let you know how it goes and as always, I appreciate all your hard work brudduh!
I started with high bar, and i am still doing it. It's absolute quads killer and it's good thing to begin with as well. But of course when i tried low bar i could lift more weight so i am looking for training more low bar because of competing, but i still find high bar as my favourite.
Due to my advancing age, my shoulders and elbows are hot garbage - I've transitioned into using a SSB/Spider Bar for the majority of my training. I'll change back to low bar with a normal bar around 4 weeks ahead of a meet.
I say do them all....but paused ATG front squat ...I feel has helped me most as a non competing old guy who just wants to move well..combined with a variance of deadlifts you’ll never feel weak
All squats lives matter
I say lets all do Walkin Lunges across the White house lawn
@@SzatStrength Can you please explain to me why my low bar is weaker than high bar? When i squat low bar i tend to have a harder time being explosive on the way up and i squat about 10 kg more hig bar. Is it because of a weak posterior chain? Overall my squat is pretty weak i can only manage 150 kg :(
@@SzatStrength back squat lives matter
I don't know anyone who hasn't eventually had some sort of elbow issue after doing low bar squats. It's inevitable. What good is a 500 pound squat if you can't even lift a spoonful of Cheerios in the morning?
I’ve never had elbow problems with low bar. Been doing it for years. Wrist pain comes and goes though
High bar is harder on the knees, low bar is like a therapeutic massage for the knees. Front squats feel fantastic.
Very well explained. I workout with some people who only do high bar , and they always talk trash about my low bar. They don’t really grasp the concept of leaning over during the squat and why it is done. I get the high bar translate better to Olympic lifting, but what people tend to miss out on is that the low bar builds more absolute strength which is kind of the point of getting stronger.
Dante Machado low bar is for showing off, most of the best powerlifters train high bar and then switch to low bar a few weeks before a meet
I like high bar..but can lift more weight on low bar
the dude who lifts ggs
ye
I can rack pull more than I deadlift
I’ve been doing high bar, and my coach showed me how to do low bar... I’m struggling with low bar but I’ll continue to practice !
Hi Juliana
Low bar could be a bit difficult in the beginning but with practice, it would feel more natural. Here's another video that could be useful!!
ruclips.net/video/bpHyfuQiNbg/видео.html
If you get elbow tendonitis with low bar, widen your grip. This was recommended to me by a physical therapist who is also a litter. I suffered with elbow pain for a year and widening the grip fixed my pain in a week...
How did you beat your quad tendonitis, or how are you managing it? Months ago I heard you talk about that your knees were kiling you? Has low-bar squatting helped with this or any other methods? Maybe you were doing too much volume?
In my personal experience High Bar with a slightly wider stance with abducted feet has been my power position. With low bar I lose so much tension out of the hole being I have to lean so far forward to stay over mid foot. But truly I feel SSB is the best overall squat variation.
High bar. For me, it's more natural, can go deeper, easier on the shoulders, and emphasizes the quads more (I use a two-day split)... plus I don't powerlift. I also don't mess around with any inferior versions, like front squats or zerchers. I do plenty of deadlifting volume and bent rows, so my posterior gets plenty of emphasis. I believe starting strength focuses on low bar because it's more powerlifting-oriented and its deadlifting volume is extremely low... low bar works the entire leg with less emphasis.
James Barrows front squats are in no way inferior to back squats
Nah man, I've done all of the squat variations and front squats are easily the hardest variation which is also why I prefer implementing them into my own training regiment over high bar, plus high bar is just a lot more uncomfortable for me personally but I can definitely go heavier on high bar than on front squats so saying front squats are inferior to high bar is somewhat inaccurate; however, if you are an olympic weightlifter then you probably should be doing more high bar and front squats than low bar.
Front squats are not inferior...
..Front Squats are awesome
I find that it’s hard for me to squat with high bar I think because I have long legs so I find it easier to do low bar but high bars knock me off balance mainly because I don’t have enough mobility as well however I would like to grow my quads so I think I’m going to high bar squat more thanks for the information man
Lowbar involves quads just as much iam tall and do only lowbar
I've been low baring it this whole time. great video! I'm going to start alternating low to high and high to low. mind blown.
Thanks for giving us great content. There are few like u in the fitness industry and u are appreciated. Thank u.
For overall muscle development I will say high bar. Low bar can allow you to develop more strength but not my favorite if your ultimate goal is looking good and being strong.
I have a mild scoliosis in my lower back and could never move up much weight because the relatively upright back angle just didn't feel stable. Low bar feels more stable ironically, but possibly due to lower back and glute development. Anyway, great to the point video with good insight. Thanks!
Intro is awesome!! Great job man. You just keep getting better and evolving!
High bar, low bar, front, zercher, each has great carry over to the next. If I can make my front squat stronger, chances are it makes my other squats stronger. After that it’s a matter of goals.
Roger Leonard
I found the front squat didn't carry over to my back squat at all but sure as hell made my deadlift stonger
johnyvodka I found it made my core much stronger as well as my quads. But that’s me.
same...if my frontsquat goes up both my backsquat and deadlift goes up too
I started out doing high bar squats, 'cause those seemed better to me what with being less similar to deadlifts, but I started getting really bad headaches every time I squatted. Probably because my traps aren't very big, I think the bar might be pushing on a blood vessel or nerve or something. Since switching to low bar squats I've never had this problem again. Yeah it might not be as good for quad development but it allows me to do squats at all which I'm okay with.
Love the new Intro
Love the video. Been using low bar mostly myself, incorporating front squats on deadlift day as squat accessory. Might try alternating front and high bar now.
let me know how it goes!
Em Jay just a month or so I started doing front squats on my deadlift day (I lift conventional), and sumo deads on squat day (squat low bar). Using them as accessories after doing primary lift to increase volume and hit new angles, as well as increase quad work. I do less sets and weight with the accessories as I'm already burnt from main lift. No idea if it's working yet, but I do not feel like it is detracting from my main lifts.
New intro is fire bro. Great job. Also, your sleeves are dope. Looking forward to getting mine done.
I too always did the high bar ones as its more natural. But I realised that i was seating the bar at just the top of my spine which was kinda making that first vertebrae pop out. Hence i switched to a lower bar! Its scary to see a lot of people just mistakenly settle that heavy bar on their spines.
WOW! An unbiased and mature comparison between the low & high bar. Could this be?
High bar! Love your squating style 👍
Love the intro bro
Thanks dude! Stepping the editing game up!
very informative.following from Azerbaijan
Yes, but what about a saftey squat bar? I watched a video about Brad Shaw saying it's the only squat bar he uses now and doesn't feel as bad in the arms.
Excellent content my man! Two stubby thumbs way up!!!
Stubby thumbs are better than no thumbs
As someone who competes in both Cf and weightlifting I high bar cause I wanna squat like how I catch a clean or snatch
I also break evenly at hips an knees starting my decents cause I hit
A better depth and just feel more balanced
An strong that way, I got short femurs and long torso so I squat so I always try an squat as
Upright as I can
People are saying I'm doing low bar squat form with the bar to high up think I lean to forward so I think I'm going learn to low bar squat should I just do front squats straight after for the quads and is low bar better for most taller people cos it folds them up more
I'd have to disagree with the point that high bar is easier to start and get under the bar with. Honestly from my personal experience high bar was extremely uncomfortable position to squat in and get in and was weaker with high bar. Low bar was something that I was naturally comfortable with. Just like with dead lifting sumo is not comfortable for me to do. I prefer conventional dead lifting. So low bar squatting is all I do because I am able to progress and it works for me. No back problems for it no matter how far I go and I feel it is a safer position for the body in my opinion.
Lower back discomfort/ lumbar rounding in a lowbar setup. Advice?
Awesome breakdown of the pros/cons for both. I enjoyed seeing a few of your jiu jitsu video’s recently so I was hoping to pick your brain about lifting and jiu jitsu. Do you recommend any specific programs to balance lifting and jiu jitsu? I did about 2 years of linear progression (stronglifts 5x5) before finding jiu jitsu a little over 7 years ago. Was 240lbs then and am now 185. I’m 5’11, so I feel better in the weight class for Jiu Jitsu competitions. I stopped lifting completely a year in to jiu jitsu and rode my strength gains up to this point. I just got my brown belt and want to add lifting to be strong in the weight class, and not feel as weak as I do now. Currently talked my wife into building a home gym ha. Plan is to get back on stronlifts, then give 5/3/1 a try after the beginner phase wears off. Also thinking of an in season/off season schedule around certain competitions. Do you have any advice?
Szat stronk. I have a request actually two requests : a) your thoughts on bodybuilding and b) COLLABORATION with Ricky De Bugez aka Sticky Ricky aka Eric the Bugenhagen.
edit: new intro is high octane and dangerous.
edit 2: i prefer high bar tbh, low bar doesn't feels good
Reached out to him and never heard back
he is an elusive creature after all
I have a very hard time hitting parallel high bar and front squatting, due to my skeletal structure and mobility. Hitting parallel lowbar is no problem.
Julia Nunyabiz how’s your ankle mobility??? Just gonna assume you have pretty decent hip mobility but maybe not so good
Ankle mobility to accomodate it when doing
High bar
clint iacuone I think it is actually the opposite, and I have weak hip flexors. The main problem though is that I have extremely long turned in femurs where the connect to the pelvic bone (not sure how anatomy works there, but they're turned in) so my knees have two choices, forward or in. If I take a really narrow stance I can hit depth lowbar.
Love that new intro!
Good work on the intro. You should put that deadlift PR at Neversate in there.
I messed up.
My elbows flat out insist on high bar these days
I get wrist pain with low bar. Is that common?
New intro damn!! High bar all day, tried low bar couple of times ,motion didnt feel natural
Give it more time
Whatever works
Sick new intro man! I have a question, what do you think about doing high volume (5x10 or more) llight to medium weight clean and presses with minimal rest (30-60 seconds) for conditioning?
You are the man!
No no you are
Awesome intro!
thank you!
like the intro!
Awesome!!!
The intro was great!
Glad you like it! I like it too!
How would you recommend finding the bar position for low bar? I want to incorporate / switch from high bar but feel like I don't have enough mass for the bar to rest on. Is that crazy or can it be true for a scrawny guy to not be able to make enough of a delt shelf? Thanks for any help. Love your stuff!
Love the intro
i hate deadlift but i like squats so i do lowbar 😌
Do you think one is easier on the ankles than the other?
Hi Robert
Feels less pressure on ankles when doing high bar but not significantly huge difference. Here's another video that could be useful!!
ruclips.net/video/bpHyfuQiNbg/видео.html
I'm a high bar squatter for years but when I try to change to lowbar and do some reps with 60-70% it hurts my lower back..is this normal at the beginning switching to low bar?
Hi
It is normal as the torso angle completely changes leading to bracing issues. Here's another video that could be useful!!
ruclips.net/video/bpHyfuQiNbg/видео.html
Power!
That intro tho
like it?
Fuck yeah man!
Collab with Kristin Graham...she is a strongman/Crossfit/bathing suite model...she is a strong woman...she is in Jersey or somewhere like that
I'll check into it
Low bar feels more balanced to me.
Nice inf.
thank yaa
Low bar all the way. High bar feels so unnatural.
Damn fly...
Unless you're a competitive powerlifter don't squat low bar. Yes you can move more weight low bar but it's more about leverages not strength. Low bar squatting beats you up real good, your hips, lower back and elbows can not take a good amounts volume and frequency low bar. High bar is the superior squat hand downs
Where are the facts and studies that say low bar beats you up compared to high bar? They both have pros and cons I do not believe one is superior over the other.
Szat Strength
I don't need to sight a study to know this because I squatted low bar for over two years. The general athlete is not going to see any carry over to their sport putting an extra 10% on the bar then increase their leverage with an awkward low bar position. Low bar is for powerlifters because every kilo matters on the platform, the high bar back squat is for every other athlete on the planet because weight on the bar isn't everything unless your a powerlifter or an ego lifter. Don't squat low bar kids! Inferior
johnyvodka simply not true. It 100% depends on how you're built.
Julia Nunyabiz
Keep telling yourself that
johnyvodka keep telling myself what, it's the proven and commonly accepted truth, you're the one reaching here by making a ridiculous blanket statement.
Ssb all day..
First