Quote:
Originally Posted by LancelotsLover
My gym has this type of squat rack as well. I have figured out that when squatting, if I get the barbell down to almost touching the safety bars, I am at parallel. If I want to go lower, I have to back out of the cage altogether. I only do that with warmup sets, though. I can squat ATG with an empty barbell, but I never try that with my work sets.
We also have a contraption that I have inferred is what people on here call a "power cage". It's four uprights with holes in them to adjust the rest bars to different heights, and there are two poles which I guess act as the safety bars down lower. With this cage, I guess you have to stay within the cage when squatting, because the barbell is too long to go out of it. I haven't figured out how to use it for ATG squats, because the safety bars are too high for me to squat all the way down without hitting them.
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The safety bars should be adjustable fairly low. There are usually enough holes for the bars to adjust plenty low enough for a deep squat. I think for me my bars are in the 4th or 5th hole up from the bottom. At the lowest setting, when I rest the barbell on the safeties, the barbell is just above my knees (used for rack pulls though, not squatting).
In the regular squat rack, the A-frame style, I do have to step completely out of the rack to get deep enough without the barbell smacking the side bars. I will only use that one for the front squats using lighter weights. I don't love it...if I can I prefer to do all squatting in the power cage.