Quagmire911
Master Don Juan
I agree fully that if someone can back squat safely and effectively then they should. However, that does not mean that the front squat cannot be utilized effectively in a training program even if you can perform the back squat safely. I make this point above and we agree on that.
The only real issues in your reply were the IA thing which I think Simon covered, and your opinion that it is an easier lift. To me they are both of equal difficulty, to Stronglifts they are harder, and you say they are easier. Where does this leave us? At a conclusion we all know: That different lifts work differently for different people. Differently
. And you will not know whether the front squat is useful for you and gives good carryover for you, unless you try. I am about to embark on this endeavor, so we will see how it works for me. In an ideal situation both would be included in the training program.
I was a bit puzzled by this however:
"Quag, Warboss Alex has never been in support of substituting the the back squat long term, it is the bread and butter."
This is why I said you didn't really read my post. I think I put forth the point quite strongly that the two should be used. The term I used was "dropped for a while" in relation to the front squat being used instead. But I then went on to say "If the back squat is giving you pain the front squat is a viable solution until you are able to fix the problems with the back squat." Also, if you have stalled on the back squat, then like Alex says the front squat is a viable alternative to get past the wall. At no point however did I say that you should drop them altogether or for a long time, say 6 months or more. And I did not say that this was Alex's opinion, on the contrary I know what you say to be true.
IF however you have a guy that will never hit ass to grass in the back squat because of his limb/torso ratio the front squat may be a long term alternative. Box squats and wide stance squats would also be useful in this case.
On the topic of growth it comes down to this: For optimum results the Front squat+Back squat will provide better overall stimulus than the back squat alone.
That is all.
The only real issues in your reply were the IA thing which I think Simon covered, and your opinion that it is an easier lift. To me they are both of equal difficulty, to Stronglifts they are harder, and you say they are easier. Where does this leave us? At a conclusion we all know: That different lifts work differently for different people. Differently
. And you will not know whether the front squat is useful for you and gives good carryover for you, unless you try. I am about to embark on this endeavor, so we will see how it works for me. In an ideal situation both would be included in the training program.I was a bit puzzled by this however:
"Quag, Warboss Alex has never been in support of substituting the the back squat long term, it is the bread and butter."
This is why I said you didn't really read my post. I think I put forth the point quite strongly that the two should be used. The term I used was "dropped for a while" in relation to the front squat being used instead. But I then went on to say "If the back squat is giving you pain the front squat is a viable solution until you are able to fix the problems with the back squat." Also, if you have stalled on the back squat, then like Alex says the front squat is a viable alternative to get past the wall. At no point however did I say that you should drop them altogether or for a long time, say 6 months or more. And I did not say that this was Alex's opinion, on the contrary I know what you say to be true.
IF however you have a guy that will never hit ass to grass in the back squat because of his limb/torso ratio the front squat may be a long term alternative. Box squats and wide stance squats would also be useful in this case.
On the topic of growth it comes down to this: For optimum results the Front squat+Back squat will provide better overall stimulus than the back squat alone.
That is all.
