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How to do front squats/ push press without dying?

rainbowbow
rainbowbow Posts: 7,489 Member
edited December 2024 in Social Groups
All jokes aside for the push press I'm deathly afraid of holding the barbell/weights above my head. Is there anyway to drop the weight back to your shoulder should you fail on a rep or say your arms give out?

Front squat... I'm afraid of losing my balance and totally eating it. Also holding the barbell with the tips of my fingers?

I have read, watched, and seen a lot of instructions on how to do this properly. I'm being kinda chicken-ey to try it.

Any advice VERY appreciated! <3

Replies

  • tross0924
    tross0924 Posts: 909 Member
    You'd be surprised how controlled you can lower when you fail on a press. You fail while going up so the bar isn't going to be at max height anyway. But either way you need a spotter or emergency catch rails that stop the bar from going below a certain point.

    As for the front squat, you should have the same spotter or catch rails.

    You can also grip the bar like this -

    squatfro.jpg

    That's a little uncomfortable on some peoples wrists though. They do sell some straps if you're really worried about it but honesty, worst case scenario, let go. A giant clang is better than a f'ed up back.
  • MisterDubs303
    MisterDubs303 Posts: 1,216 Member
    I must be a freak, but I cannot do a front squat. My arms are too stiff or something, but the position just doesn't work. The bar reaches my face with my arms bent back like that (esp. since you are supposed to keep your elbows up somewhat). Can't work it to get the bar under my chin/onto my shoulders, and that's if my hands could even stretch to my shoulders. I've thought about just using lighter weights to simply start stretching to that position.

    So instead, I just use the cross-arm position for front squats. I don't know what it's really called, but it works.

    I actually love the push press. Just don't lift so much that you're afraid of an accident. If you can do your target amount of reps, you're not going to tragically fail on one more. Like @tross said, you might have to lower it quickly and steadily, but it's not like you're going to have some kind of catastrophe.
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