Need help with squat form

I've been watching Alan thrall videos. He just put on a new squat video. I have a similar issue! Just got the Adidas powerlifting shoes. I am hoping it helps with balance and mobility

If you lower the weight, or don't use any weight at all and just do bodyweight squats can you get at or below parallel? I would just say that just because you're not squatting ATG doesn't mean you aren't still benefiting from it. If your ankles are preventing you from going parallel or lower I just wouldn't push it, some people's bodies (my own included) just can't safely go that low.

Smidge22 wrote: »

I have been lifting for about 8 years. I have been having trouble with my squat. I am able to squat heavy but can not seem to get completely parallel. I have no trouble picking the weight up or actually squating it. I am about a inch above parallel. I spoke to a trainer and he said that the problem may be that my ankle flexibility is not flexible enough. He said that my form is perfect though. I was wanting some input from different people. Has anybody experience this before or that could help. I also have a problem of leaning forward but keeping a big chest and head up.

If you are not going past parallel, that's not a squat. Lower the weight, even if you just do body weight squats. Work on form first, then weight. I would seriously question a trainer that doesn't know that in order for a squat to be considered a squat, you have to past parallel.

As others asked - can you hit parallel with lighter loads? Can you hit parallel with that weight for one rep, but not multiple reps? It might be flexibility, it might be that you just need to alter your stance some*, or it could be something else entirely. As also mentioned, post videos - one from the side, one from the back (or front) to youtube or instagram and put the links here.


* I relatively recently found that I had to narrow my stance a little in order to assure I hit parallel consistently. I also found that I sometimes - on higher rep sets - cut a rep or two a little short in the beginning, as I mentally screw myself by thinking that I have to conserve some energy for more reps, although I can bang out one rep at higher weights easily.

If ankles not flexible enough - might try either a slightly wider stance, or toes/knees pointing more outwards so the ankle doesn't have to bend as much.

Those solutions didn't work for me as it hurt knees more, so I needed 1/4 inch heel lift suggested above, so just have board now.
Oh, and my attempts to keep at doing it the "right" way caused all sorts of imbalances in the most injury prone down position and achilles issue knocked me out for months. (I suppose trying to keep up with running/biking perhaps didn't help either though)

So a video straight from side pointing to bar path (mid-foot), and from behind (to see shifts to the side) will be very useful for your review.

And ignore people saying it's not a squat because it would not pass powerlifting competition. How narrow minded.

As a powerlifter, I have to go below parallel and I was having issues being consistent. I bought lifting shoes, did hip and ankle mobility, box squats, belt squats etc. I was barely able to get through the 2 meets I competed in, but as soon as I got back in the gym, somehow the squat that got me 3 white lights was gone. So I decided to find a coach, someone impartial to look at my form. He made some minor adjustments and things seems to be going well so far. Maybe check around for a lifting coach, if you train with other lifters, they may know someone, that's how I found mine.

BabyBear76 wrote: »

Smidge22 wrote: »

I have been lifting for about 8 years. I have been having trouble with my squat. I am able to squat heavy but can not seem to get completely parallel. I have no trouble picking the weight up or actually squating it. I am about a inch above parallel. I spoke to a trainer and he said that the problem may be that my ankle flexibility is not flexible enough. He said that my form is perfect though. I was wanting some input from different people. Has anybody experience this before or that could help. I also have a problem of leaning forward but keeping a big chest and head up.

If you are not going past parallel, that's not a squat. Lower the weight, even if you just do body weight squats. Work on form first, then weight. I would seriously question a trainer that doesn't know that in order for a squat to be considered a squat, you have to past parallel.

I'm not expert, but I don't know if I agree with the above statement. Past Parallel can actually mess up your knees if not careful and using heavy weight which you should do with squats, well not too heavy or you can hurt yourself.

oh ok. thanks!