Front Squat Questions

[JLO]

I started Fat Loss II today. Woo Hoo!!! I really enjoyed the workout. I have a question on the front squat, though. When I was doing the front squat I really felt a strain on my forearms. I wasn't grabbing the bar, I had it on my finger tips like the book says. As a matter of fact, for the last two sets the bar was resting just on my middle three fingers (and my shoulders, of course).

My questions are: Am I doing something wrong here? Do I just need to work on stretching my forearms? Is this forearm strain part of the front squat? Aaaaargh! Help!!!

[Cynic]

It sounds like you're doing them correctly. If you've never done them before, then your forearms will hurt from the stretch.

I'd recommend stretches where you pull your hand back, as if holding the bar in place.

[JLO]

Thanks for the quick response, Cynic. You are correct in that I've never done them before. Well, I actually did them once and stopped because I was worried about the same strain on my forearms. I hadn't done them since.

[Cynic]

I was in the same shoes. In fact, I was told to start doing front squats to correct my poor back squat form. It was a pain in the forearms.

Like I said, start stretching your hand. Use one hand to hold the other into place and keep it there for 30-60secs at a crack.

[Alcoholiday]

do a search on the training forum for front squats. There is a thread i started where i posted some good pictures on a better way to hold the bar, to make sure you have it in the right spot. By doing this, i was able to front squat with a clean workout comfortably where i couldn't previously.

[Columbus_George]

Advanced Fitness has a device called a Sting Ray that is designed for Front Squats. I bought one of these along with the Manta Ray (used for back squats) and they work great. I couldn't do a front squat without the Sting Ray as the bar hurt my arms too much...

Sting Ray by Advanced Fitness, Inc.

[brian robinson]

Straps are another alternative.

[Lisa~]

Front squat forum discussions:

This one shows alternate grip options and moves into a discussion of foot position.
Front Squats

This one links Gayle Hatch’s videos and discusses how to improve your clean grip.
http://forums.jpfitness.com/new-rule...-cant-get.html