High Bar vs Low Bar Squats

SQUATS:  High Bar vs. Low Bar?

So now that I have cover my opinion on squatting the next burning question on everyone’s minds is which squats are best, high bar or low bar squats.

Well that depends on what you are trying to achieve. Are you trying to be a better Olympic Lifter, or are you trying to squat your heaviest weight?

The biggest debate among weightlifters and Powerlifters has always been who the best squatters are. Let me break it down like this. Powerlifters squat heavier than weightlifters. Sorry weightlifters but Powerlifters do indeed squat more than us, a lot more. Yes I know what you are thinking; they wear squat suits and knee raps. Yes they do, but the fact still remains they squat a hell of a lot more than Olympic lifters do.

The biggest difference in my mind is the depth of the squat. Powerlifters only squat to parallel, or when the crease of the hips gets below the knees. That’s the laws of their competition. We can’t fault them for not doing a full squat.

Olympic lifters do a full squat. I mean full, ass to the grass, in the hole or the bucket squats. We do this because the lower we can squat, the less height we need to pull the bar in order to get under it for the snatch or clean. Olympic lifters only essentially need to squat a weight they want to snatch and clean. That’s does not mean we shouldn't squat heavy. You should, as heavy as you can.

So should Olympic lifters be doing a Powerlifting squat? Yes, sure, why not. Any time you can put a load on your back that is going to make you stronger for Olympic lifting it is a good thing.

Do it in conjunction with your regular deep squats, not as a replacement. I only do heavy Powerlifting style squats once a week. The other days its full back squats, front squats and overhead squats. Everything has its place, especially squats.

If you want to see how a Bodybuilder, Strong Man, Powerlifter and Weightlifter match up against each other check out this video: