20 rep squats

[mschatz]

These are awesome and i love them. Great test both physically and mentally, and no doubting that they work. but, considering that we are training for strength and usually working in a 3-5 rep range, why are squats the exception to the rule? For example, if someone came in spouting off about doing deadlifts light for 20 reps or benching 20 rep sets, i think we would probably advise him to increase the weight and lower the reps. So why is this not the same for squats?

 

[patrickodin]

I don't think there is anything wrong with doing 20 rep sets for other exercises every once in a while.

Anyway, I think that 20 rep squats sets are more practical than high rep sets for other exercises because your legs generally need more endurance than any other body part. In most sports, the leg muscles are the first to get tired because they are used the most.

 

[CelebritySexist]

Because you're doing a set of twenty singles, and they aren't light either. There's plenty of pausing going on.

 

[mschatz]

Because you're doing a set of twenty singles, and they aren't light either. There's plenty of pausing going on.

let me rephrase. They are lighter than youre normal working squat sets. My working sets are usually in the mid to high 200's for 3-6 reps, but my 20 rep sets drop down to 185 at most (so far) and this is more than sufficient to turn me into sweating, whining little girl

Also, yes theres pausing, but its not like youre resting. the weight is still there on your shoulders and ive had my shoulders/arms start to fall asleep from the lack of blood getting to them from holding the weights. So yes, i see youre point about singles, but all of your sets should be sets of singles, whether its 3 or 5 or 100. You should view each rep as the past, present and future of the set and worry about the next when it comes. i guess the point is that this is a completely unconventional set from what most of us normally do and i am wondering why it works so well, when a lot of the maxims that we hold to would seem to be against it

 

[graedy]

Because as the locked out position of the squat you can "rest" quite well while still having some serious pressure on your whole body. Try to recover in the locked out position with bench. With deadlifts you have no pressure between reps at all. I guess thats the difference and I hope somebody understand my weird writing.

 

[DEVILsSON]

I think deadlifts would work also...I find them to be much more taxing on the body than squats....

graedy there's a ton of pressure during deadlifts when its locked out.....same as when u're locked out on squats....for me the weight on deads is higher so it's not even close....

 

[Revok]

He means between reps, the bar is on the floor. Nobody rests between DLs while keeping hold of the bar.

 

[CelebritySexist]

Nobody rests between DLs while keeping hold of the bar.

Says you...get with the times!

*draws heavily on bong with free hand whilst other gets ripped out of socket holding a barbell in lockout*

 

[DEVILsSON]

I have done high rep sets before with decent amount of weight few years back....descent is a bitch....and I threw up on a couple times.....I held it whole way....sure if u set it down then it's not so bad....however if u are a man u hold on to the weight....lol

 

[gauntman]

I have done high rep sets before with decent amount of weight few years back....descent is a bitch....and I threw up on a couple times.....I held it whole way....sure if u set it down then it's not so bad....however if u are a man u hold on to the weight....lol

high rep dl seem like an interesting alternative to high rep squat. i too would like to puke on a bar.

do you recall about how much of your 1rm you used?

 

[Q mystic]

Says you...get with the times!

*draws heavily on bong with free hand whilst other gets ripped out of socket holding a barbell in lockout*

:icon_lol:

 

[graedy]

Ok. ´Never really thought about resting between reps in the locked position on DLs. But I guess you need straps for that as otherways your grip wil be your limiting factor no matter how strong he is.

 

[Tone C]

....and I threw up on a couple times....

Nice to know its happened a few times to you too....