Quote:
Originally Posted by PerfectMartini
If you can't go below parallel because you somehow sense that if you go lower you won't get back up then assuming it is safe for you to fail a squat then I would say put on the heavier weight, go all the way down and see what happens.
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This is the time to find a good spotter. Sometimes it's fear that keeps us from going full ROM with a heavier load than we've tried before. The confidence a good spotter can provide might make all the difference.
I shoot for hips below the knees on every rep. I don't like the term "ass-to-the-grass" because it implies sitting on your calves. Never relax in bottom position. Keep the tension in your muscles, even if you do have the flexibility to touch your hamstrings to your calves without losing your lumbar arch.
Remember the overall guideline for squat depth: Go as low as possible without changing your lumbar spine or tucking your tailbone under.
Disclaimer: I know it's just terminology and using ATG lets others know you're doing a full Olympic-style squat, so I don't think that everyone who said is relaxing at the bottom. It's just one of my pet peeves.