Have you failed a squat?

LiftAllThePizzas
LiftAllThePizzas Posts: 17,857 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I'm sure at some point I will fail a squat, I tend to push myself like that. I'm curious what experiences people have had with squat fails. At what point did you fail and what happened? (Did it throw you forward or roll off your back, did you go sideways, etc.)
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Replies

  • maverick48
    maverick48 Posts: 69 Member
    I got stuck on the bottom and couldn't push up. It helps to have the catch bars up, otherwise I don't know what I would have done...
  • wellbert
    wellbert Posts: 3,924 Member
    I have an idea that I will, if I miss the stretch reflex at the bottom.
    I've only failed a squat twice - both times in a squat rack.

    Now that I squat without safeties (just a squat stand, nothing to bail the bar on) I have not failed a squat.
    Go figure.
  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    Yep. First attempt at 225. Went down, started pushing back up and nothing happened. Sank a bit further into it to get leverage and just dropped to the floor. It was set up perfect, so when I dropped the barbell went straight down the inch or two and landed on the pegs.
  • RedHotHunter
    RedHotHunter Posts: 560 Member
    I failed once, but I was lucky enough to be with my trainer at the time. We still laugh about it.

    It wasnt even that much weight at the time. I went low and simply "sat" there. He says in his mind he was proud of me for going low until a moment passed and he realized I wasnt coming back up. He simply took the bar and re-racked it so I could start over. Not dramatic but we always chuckle when we discuss my days as a beginner.
  • RunDoozer
    RunDoozer Posts: 1,699 Member
    I have failed a couple times but I always lift in a rack with safety bars. Basically i usually just get stuck at the bottom and can only make it a quarter at the way up so just end up lowering it to the bar and then going to my knees. Pain to unrack and then re rack tho lol
  • neandermagnon
    neandermagnon Posts: 7,436 Member
    yep, on my own, training at home. Not just once either. I work out next to the bed so I can dump the weight if necessary. Squat total fails result in me having to shuffle backwards until the barbell is close enough to the bed so I can dump it.

    I don't usually go to failure without my husband spotting me, I usually stop when the last rep is really, really, really extremely difficult and I can barely get up.
  • Spokez70
    Spokez70 Posts: 548 Member
    Early on before I worked out much in the way of form I got pinned under the bar a few times where I was just in bad position and just had to leave the bar on the safety rails. Fortunaly the rails were at the right height so it wasn't a dramatic event.
  • etoiles_argentees
    etoiles_argentees Posts: 2,827 Member
    Yes, first time and only 85 pounds, squatted to the ground and couldn't get back up. I do yoga so I can squat low quite easily but the safety bars were not set correctly and I got stuck.
  • LiftAllThePizzas
    LiftAllThePizzas Posts: 17,857 Member
    I got stuck on the bottom and couldn't push up. It helps to have the catch bars up, otherwise I don't know what I would have done...
    I think this will happen to me soon, since I'm starting to struggle at the bottom of my last rep. I have a squat rack too and have tested to ensure that I can safely and easily get out from under it. (Unless I somehow manage to fall sideways or roll the bar down my back.)
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    I got stuck on the bottom and couldn't push up. It helps to have the catch bars up, otherwise I don't know what I would have done...
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    It happens. When I'm going heavy I make sure I'm standing in the right spot for the rack to catch the weight and give me room to safely get under. Rolling it off your back and stepping forward is a true emergency option, but it's loud and unless your gym is empty it can be dangerous.

    Use one spotter for heavy sets, 3 spotters (1 behind and 1 on each end of the bar) for super heavy sets.
  • IronSmasher
    IronSmasher Posts: 3,908 Member
    I got stuck on the bottom and couldn't push up. It helps to have the catch bars up, otherwise I don't know what I would have done...
    I think this will happen to me soon, since I'm starting to struggle at the bottom of my last rep. I have a squat rack too and have tested to ensure that I can safely and easily get out from under it. (Unless I somehow manage to fall sideways or roll the bar down my back.)

    It was a few years ago, I'm not sure if I had a knee issue or was just tired. I stopped at the bottom, and had lower it onto the safety bars (which were only a few inches away). It was more of an issue of not rolling onto my butt than a safety issue.
  • etoiles_argentees
    etoiles_argentees Posts: 2,827 Member
    It happens. When I'm going heavy I make sure I'm standing in the right spot for the rack to catch the weight and give me room to safely get under. Rolling it off your back and stepping forward is a true emergency option, but it's loud and unless your gym is empty it can be dangerous.

    Use one spotter for heavy sets, 3 spotters (1 behind and 1 on each end of the bar) for super heavy sets.

    Mine wasn't even heavy. Stupid Yankees, I hate them. I was stuck and they were busy on their phones. So I went to the big boy gym (Powerhouse) and my trainer followed me home and stalked me. Bah! Sticking with yoga and bodyweight exercises.
  • jesz124
    jesz124 Posts: 1,004 Member
    Yup. I had just pushed up out of a squat and my legs just decided they didn't wanna play anymore. Kinda did a weird shoulder slump thing as I was half way up and managed to get the bar in the pegs. It was loud and a bit embarrassing but hey it happens to the best of them. I'm pretty sure I'll fail quite a few more in the future too. Lol
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    I have failed quite a few times - usually it's at the bottom so just sit down and the safety bars catch the bar. Once I failed and it kind of good morning'd - safety bars FTW again.
  • Kooraloo
    Kooraloo Posts: 362 Member
    Yep.
    Was having issues getting back up, stumbled, and ended up flipping the barbell over my head onto the safety rails. Was lucky I didn't get hurt...
  • xaMErica
    xaMErica Posts: 284 Member
    I fell on my butt... =p
  • sarahisme18
    sarahisme18 Posts: 574 Member
    I haven't failed yet, but I have felt once like I almost couldn't make it up. Nice to read this thread and remember what the safety bars are for! I was a little scared to go again in case I really couldn't make it up the next time. I know what to do now. Thanks!
  • Yanicka1
    Yanicka1 Posts: 4,564 Member
    Never but than again I am chicken **** when it come to squatting
  • shutupandlift13
    shutupandlift13 Posts: 727 Member
    Once a month at least. This is why its important to practice bailing out. Now that I lift in a power rack the safety bars always got my back. When I lift just off a pull up cage with j-hooks is when knowing how to bail out comes in handy. I really just straighten up my torso to let the bar start rolling off my shoulders/back and drop to my knees. Seems to work pretty well.
  • drchimpanzee
    drchimpanzee Posts: 892 Member
    Paid to poop but only farted?
  • RobynMWilson
    RobynMWilson Posts: 1,540 Member
    Since I work out at home alone and tend to have cats hanging around, I cannot afford complete failure so I stop when my form suffers or I can barely push out that last rep. Then I don't drop weights, hurt my knees or my cats lol
  • Spartan_Maker
    Spartan_Maker Posts: 683 Member
    Lots of times. I've never had a face plant. I just toss it backwards. It happens most often coming out of the hole with something that is greater than 90% of my 1RM.
  • koko12
    koko12 Posts: 81 Member
    i got stuck at the bottom. had the catch bars so just rolled the bar off my back
  • BurtHuttz
    BurtHuttz Posts: 3,653 Member
    tagging to read in detail later...
  • CakeFit21
    CakeFit21 Posts: 2,521 Member
    Of course, but I don't squat heavy without a spot. So, all is well.
  • VelociMama
    VelociMama Posts: 3,119 Member
    I failed on a hack squat machine early on. I had to evacuate from the bottom of the slide and unload. No harm done, but it was embarrassing.
  • sandradev1
    sandradev1 Posts: 786 Member
    yep, on my own, training at home. Not just once either. I work out next to the bed so I can dump the weight if necessary. Squat total fails result in me having to shuffle backwards until the barbell is close enough to the bed so I can dump it.

    I don't usually go to failure without my husband spotting me, I usually stop when the last rep is really, really, really extremely difficult and I can barely get up.


    I am so glad I am not the only one. I workout at home with squat stands too. I work between the bed and a bench with the aim of dumping on either/both. Unfortunately though, I did start to fail and my shoulders dropped and therefore I started to fall forwards into the squat stands. Thankfully I was still on lower weights and suddenly gained my balance again and found the umph from somewhere to stand up again and replace the bar. I deloaded for a few sessions and it was scary to attempt that weight again...but I did it.
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    ...Once I failed and it kind of good morning'd - safety bars FTW again.
    That was my failure experience. The hips/legs drove up, upper body went forward and it basically looked like I was doing a good morning with 245 pounds across my shoulders. Waited to hear the 'pop' or feel the pain, but luckily it didn't happen and I got the bar onto the catches before everything went kablooey. Don't ever want to repeat that one.
  • hyenagirl
    hyenagirl Posts: 206 Member
    I squat with bags of animal feed. If I can't do it, just lean back and let the feed fall off. Fall on top of feed bags.

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