Form critique thread, post your videos here.

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  • Sumiblue
    Sumiblue Posts: 1,597 Member
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    Ok, cool. Thanks!
  • amyinthetardis1231
    amyinthetardis1231 Posts: 571 Member
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    Very nervously putting myself out there....could I get some feedback on my squats, please? I think I squat high bar but I'm not really sure I could tell the difference. I've been doing SL 5x5 for about a month and am currently at 90 lb for squats. The program had me going up to 95 today but I felt like I was getting wonky in my last session so I decided to stay at 90 for a bit and get some feedback before proceeding. I've never posted a video before so please let me know if there's any problem with the links.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poWpRnpz4M0
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_aR_oO_Sxg
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loSocn2CK6E
  • TR0berts
    TR0berts Posts: 7,739 Member
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    Overall, those don't look bad. It appears to be low-bar, BTW.

    The one thing I think I saw was that in the middle of the 2nd and 3rd sets (or videos, at least), you had a rep that looked a bit different. It was rep 3, I think, but you seem to basically correct it for the rest of the set. You seem to come down straighter, which seems to throw you forward a little at the bottom - whereas the other reps have you leaning over a little more, and they seem smoother. While I don't know that I'd say there's anything "wrong" with it, I think it might throw you off.

    Actually, I just went back and looked at the first video again. It seems to me that your bar path isn't very consistent - some reps, you're more vertical than others. And it may just be fatigue in later sets which forces you to lean at the bottom. I'm not sure how to "fix" this, other than practice. I'm sure others will be able to help you with that, if needed.
  • rileyes
    rileyes Posts: 1,406 Member
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    Looks good to me. I did notice your heel lifting a bit. I wonder if you position your hands closer that may help keep your lats tight and keep you more stable.
  • amyinthetardis1231
    amyinthetardis1231 Posts: 571 Member
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    TR0berts, thank you for the response. I think some of the bar path inconsistency is because I thought I was doing high bar, so I was trying to be more upright but as I got tired, I leaned forward more. The sets I linked are 3, 4, and 5 of 5 at a weight I find challenging so fatigue is definitely a factor. If you think the bar position looks like low rather than high, I won't worry so much about staying upright. I can't get the bar very far down my shoulderblades at all due to shoulder and wrist problems, so I thought it was a high bar position.

    Rileyes, thank you also. I'll watch the heels next time. Unfortunately I can't bring my hands in any closer. I've tried, but I have wrist mobility problems and my shoulders feel pretty awful when I try to force my arms in closer. I'll focus more on the upper back tightness in general and see if that helps.

    Any other thoughts? SideSteel? Sara?
  • _benjammin
    _benjammin Posts: 1,224 Member
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    Looks pretty good Amy. Bar position is low, not high, so it is more difficult (unnatural) to stay upright and keep a straight bar path.
    You looked strong doing those and bar speed was pretty consistent.
    Hopefully @SideSteel will chime in and you can add weight with confidence.
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
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    I watch these yesterday and started to reply but never completed my post, oops.

    I think this is a good squat overall.

    If you can afford a squat shoe I have a hunch it will help significantly.

    Your deviation in bar path is very minor.

    If it were me, I would keep progressing if that's what your program calls for and you have the strength to do it.

  • amyinthetardis1231
    amyinthetardis1231 Posts: 571 Member
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    Benjammin and SS, thanks kindly. Squats shoes aren't in the budget right now but I'll definitely keep that in mind for down the road a bit. 95 lb on Monday it is :o:)
  • TR0berts
    TR0berts Posts: 7,739 Member
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    If you think the bar position looks like low rather than high, I won't worry so much about staying upright. I can't get the bar very far down my shoulderblades at all due to shoulder and wrist problems, so I thought it was a high bar position.

    The bar shouldn't be down your shoulderblades. With low-bar, it sits on your rear delts (the backs of the top of your shoulders), whereas high-bar sits up on your traps. So don't worry about trying to get the bar lower.

  • canadianlbs
    canadianlbs Posts: 5,199 Member
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    ^^^ i find it more helpful sometimes to remember it's 'under the spine of the scapula'. 'rear delts' makes me think of the muscle belly, which gets me thinking i should move it lower than it needs to be.
  • amyinthetardis1231
    amyinthetardis1231 Posts: 571 Member
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    I need to review my anatomy to be clear on what's where. I guess high bar would be sitting virtually on top of your shoulders? Right on that bony spot at the back of the neck? I'm glad it doesn't have to go any lower than it is now because that would be a problem. As it is, where I've got it now is manageable.
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
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    Well, it's not on the bony spot, below that, sitting on the muscle of the traps, which are engage as your arms are up holding the bar.
    It is certainly more on top of the shoulders than low bar is, which isn't on-top at all.

    http://www.exrx.net/Muscles/TrapeziusUpper.html
    http://www.exrx.net/Muscles/TrapeziusMiddle.html

  • TR0berts
    TR0berts Posts: 7,739 Member
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    ^^^ i find it more helpful sometimes to remember it's 'under the spine of the scapula'. 'rear delts' makes me think of the muscle belly, which gets me thinking i should move it lower than it needs to be.

    Sure, but many (most?) people have no idea what the spine of the scapula is. And many who do probably don't know how to find it - so on the rear delts suffices.
  • amyinthetardis1231
    amyinthetardis1231 Posts: 571 Member
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    heybales wrote: »
    Well, it's not on the bony spot, below that, sitting on the muscle of the traps, which are engage as your arms are up holding the bar.
    It is certainly more on top of the shoulders than low bar is, which isn't on-top at all.

    http://www.exrx.net/Muscles/TrapeziusUpper.html
    http://www.exrx.net/Muscles/TrapeziusMiddle.html

    Thanks!
  • anferkneez
    anferkneez Posts: 11 Member
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    Hello all happy new year. Im looking for some guidance on my form. Im starting the 5x5 program and dont want to half *kitten* it. 1st vid is squat.

    https://youtube.com/watch?v=hAAKVXxd34w&feature=youtu.be

    2nd is dead lift. I know you cant see my footing. I guess the next time I record I will get a better shot.

    https://youtube.com/watch?v=fj5SQa9-fGc&feature=youtu.be




  • Cherimoose
    Cherimoose Posts: 5,209 Member
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    anferkneez wrote: »
    Hello all happy new year. Im looking for some guidance on my form. Im starting the 5x5 program and dont want to half *kitten* it. 1st vid is squat.

    https://youtube.com/watch?v=hAAKVXxd34w&feature=youtu.be

    2nd is dead lift. I know you cant see my footing. I guess the next time I record I will get a better shot.

    https://youtube.com/watch?v=fj5SQa9-fGc&feature=youtu.be

    It's best to use a weight that's challenging. This brings out form issues the best.

    Personally i wouldn't look forward for either exercise, because it tends to mess up form. A good way to break the habit is to bite the collar of your shirt. Or close your eyes. :+1:
  • anferkneez
    anferkneez Posts: 11 Member
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    Cherimoose wrote: »
    anferkneez wrote: »
    Hello all happy new year. Im looking for some guidance on my form. Im starting the 5x5 program and dont want to half *kitten* it. 1st vid is squat.

    https://youtube.com/watch?v=hAAKVXxd34w&feature=youtu.be

    2nd is dead lift. I know you cant see my footing. I guess the next time I record I will get a better shot.

    https://youtube.com/watch?v=fj5SQa9-fGc&feature=youtu.be

    It's best to use a weight that's challenging. This brings out form issues the best.

    Personally i wouldn't look forward for either exercise, because it tends to mess up form. A good way to break the habit is to bite the collar of your shirt. Or close your eyes. :+1:

    Thanks I just wanted to make sure my form was somewhat decent before throwing weights on and I am also looking straight into a mirror.
  • AigreDoux
    AigreDoux Posts: 594 Member
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    Here is a squat video from this morning. Anything majorly wrong?

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KiCvpaK-yN8
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
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    AigreDoux wrote: »
    Here is a squat video from this morning. Anything majorly wrong?

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KiCvpaK-yN8

    I'd like to see you squeeze your shoudlerblades together a bit harder and keep your chest up/out a bit more to increase upper back tightness.

    One way to do this is to pretend you're showing your shirt to the mirror.
  • AigreDoux
    AigreDoux Posts: 594 Member
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    Thanks, have been working on that. May be a little kyphotic to start with though.

    Quick deadlift check.

    https://youtu.be/Z_Qv5N_ZSL4