5X5 Squat Question

[preppypyro]

Im pondering starting the 5x5, and I was just curious if a guy could do front squats, instead of low bar's or high bar's and still be successful? (I read the sticky, and know the guy said to do low or high bars)

The reason why I ask, is I work out at home, and I dont have a squat rack in my house, and wont likely be building one anytime soon. Dropping the weights on the floor is a big no no, so it gets pretty tricky to swing the weights from my back, back over to the front, to set them down.

 

[zhangmaster12]

yes, front squats are fine. but do glute hams or some other hamstring/glute exercises.

You dont need a rack to squat. Go to your local hardware store and buy a pair of sawhorses. Problem solved.

 

[Bounz]

well if you ever find yourself with a alot of weights that you cant powerclean, you can pick one side of the barbell all the way up, dip under and put it on ur traps, then lift it

from what i know, front squats are ok

 

[preppypyro]

Thanks for the replies fellas.

zhangmaster, good idea on the sawhorses, except that actually creates a bigger problem for me. See I was "smart" and married this woman, and this woman is one that doesnt like shit like that in our new house haha. Excellent idea though, but if she wouldnt raise such a stick i would just weld together a rack and set that downstairs, but it is what it is!

Also great advice bounz, the problem for me really is moreso of putting the bar and weights down after.

Im gonna try the front squats and see how things go. Thanks again for the help.

 

[koef]

Fronts are not substitute for back squats. But you can do it temporarly.

Make some squat stands, its easy. The commitment needed to train well is far greater than the commitment to make some sort of stand.

 

[immovablestone]

and this woman is one that doesnt like shit like that in our new house

You tell this uppity Mrs. of yours that Crom demands you back squat, and that her understanding is not required, merely her acceptance...

 

[Long Dark Blues]

I'm assuming you're gonna clean the weight so you can front squat. But, what are you going to do once you reach a weight that you can't clean, but can front squat? I'd just opt for some squat stands if you don't want to get a squat rack or a power cage. The squat stands are portable and can be put away when not in use.

 

[Oblivian]

As long as you are doing Deadlifts, there is nothing wrong with substituting Front Squats for Back Squats. It's not an ideal situation, but you can still gain a lot of strength this way. The big thing that you will run into is that once you do get a rack, your Back Squat will be lagging.

I was in the same situation as you until I got a sumo rack a little less than a year ago. I'm just now getting comfortable with weight on my back again for Back Squats. You'll become very proficient at Front Squats, so your Back Squat and Front Squat #'s will be similar once you are able to Back Squat.

Do you have a bench? If the weight got heavier than something I could Power Clean, I would unrack from the bench and back out of it.

For me, the progression of items I bought for a home gym went like this: Horse stall mats then bumper plates then sumo rack. The horse stall mats will protect the floor on Deadlifts and if you do have to chuck the weight at some point. The bumpers add even more protection, and I needed weight anyways.

 

[preppypyro]

You tell this uppity Mrs. of yours that Crom demands you back squat, and that her understanding is not required, merely her acceptance...

:icon_lol: Oh man i wish it worked like that!

Superking, I have thought about what you mentioned, but I have a ways to go before I get there. See I was one of those kids that got a weight bench when I was 12 years old, and all I ever really did was bench pressing, arm curls and some military press with it. So I have the strength to clean quite abit, for awhile till my legs match up, and surpass. I also could do like Oblivian suggested (for the time being) and use my bench.

I should have mentioned that I will be building a mini gym of sorts in my 40x60 shop, but just looking for what will work in the meantime. (most likely wont be building the shop till at least next summer)

I will also look into some portable racks, I didnt figure they made some that could be put away very easy, so thanks for the tip there.

 

[WhiteLightning**]

That sounds terrible.