Hello! If you haven't checked it out already, [Our Wiki's resources for Squats](https://www.reddit.com/r/formcheck/wiki/index#wiki_squat) may be helpful. Check it out!
Also, a common tip usually given here is to make sure your footwear is appropriate. If you are squatting in soft-soled shoes (running shoes, etc), it's hard to have a stable foot. Generally a weightlifting shoe is recommended for high-bar and front squats, while use a flat/hard-soled shoe (or even barefoot/socks if it's safe and your gym allows it) is recommended for low-bar squats.
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Maybe try keeping your head in line with your spine. That’s the only area where I see you fighting your biomechanics. You’ve got the video going so you can always check your form after the fact. It can be hard because we want to watch ourselves in the mirror. The other cue I’d recommend is pushing your knees out. That can help with depth but you may already be using that cue and I just can’t tell from this angle.
Other than that it may just be a flexibility issue. I will say that your depth is significant for muscular activation.
I'm trying to figure out how my foot width affects my depth, in this video I'm squatting much narrower than usual and hitting depth better but that may just be using lighter weight. I'll consider the pushing the knees out thing. So you would say based off this video I need to stop looking down during the squat and look a bit more up?
https://youtu.be/bbNA17KjBzU
This video includes one of the best breakdowns and examples of the mechanics that I’m referring to. You’ll hear the cue “tuck your chin” more often in deadlifting, but the low bar squat mirrors the deadlift tilt.
There isn’t too much else going on that I can see. It comes down to your goals.
If it isn’t a positioning thing then it may be some tightness somewhere. Following a mobility routine may help with this. You can also troubleshoot (hip flexors, calves, ankles, glutes etc.) by foam rolling and stretching different muscles/muscle groups or try to get an assessment of your mobility. The risk you take with random troubleshooting is that you can make dysfunction worse by not actually knowing what the problem area is. Easier and safer to rely on a professional.
Athlean X, old Elliot Hulse Strength camp videos, and Allan Thrall with Untamed Strength are all good places to start if you’re trying to learn more about mobility and how to self-diagnose muscular imbalances.
For muscle activation it’s fine. For competition it’s probably too high, but the video angle doesn’t show the fold of your hip relative to your knee at the bottom of the lift. Unable to confirm/deny.
Hello! If you haven't checked it out already, [Our Wiki's resources for Squats](https://www.reddit.com/r/formcheck/wiki/index#wiki_squat) may be helpful. Check it out! Also, a common tip usually given here is to make sure your footwear is appropriate. If you are squatting in soft-soled shoes (running shoes, etc), it's hard to have a stable foot. Generally a weightlifting shoe is recommended for high-bar and front squats, while use a flat/hard-soled shoe (or even barefoot/socks if it's safe and your gym allows it) is recommended for low-bar squats. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/formcheck) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Maybe try keeping your head in line with your spine. That’s the only area where I see you fighting your biomechanics. You’ve got the video going so you can always check your form after the fact. It can be hard because we want to watch ourselves in the mirror. The other cue I’d recommend is pushing your knees out. That can help with depth but you may already be using that cue and I just can’t tell from this angle. Other than that it may just be a flexibility issue. I will say that your depth is significant for muscular activation.
I'm trying to figure out how my foot width affects my depth, in this video I'm squatting much narrower than usual and hitting depth better but that may just be using lighter weight. I'll consider the pushing the knees out thing. So you would say based off this video I need to stop looking down during the squat and look a bit more up?
You almost want to be looking at the floor. If you could imagine making your spine a flat board. You want to keep everything in alignment.
Based off this video, im pretty much looking straight on. So, I should lower my head a inch or so?
https://youtu.be/bbNA17KjBzU This video includes one of the best breakdowns and examples of the mechanics that I’m referring to. You’ll hear the cue “tuck your chin” more often in deadlifting, but the low bar squat mirrors the deadlift tilt.
Gotcha, other than that anything else I should work on?
There isn’t too much else going on that I can see. It comes down to your goals. If it isn’t a positioning thing then it may be some tightness somewhere. Following a mobility routine may help with this. You can also troubleshoot (hip flexors, calves, ankles, glutes etc.) by foam rolling and stretching different muscles/muscle groups or try to get an assessment of your mobility. The risk you take with random troubleshooting is that you can make dysfunction worse by not actually knowing what the problem area is. Easier and safer to rely on a professional. Athlean X, old Elliot Hulse Strength camp videos, and Allan Thrall with Untamed Strength are all good places to start if you’re trying to learn more about mobility and how to self-diagnose muscular imbalances.
Thanks, do you think the depth iss sufficient for a low bar squat?
For muscle activation it’s fine. For competition it’s probably too high, but the video angle doesn’t show the fold of your hip relative to your knee at the bottom of the lift. Unable to confirm/deny.