Weight plates under feet for Squats

[Antz1980]

What is the purpose of placing small 5lb weight under the back half of your foot when doing Squats?

[mybody001]

there are many theories about this, some include people with short torso, some suggest it is to emphasize the glutes. but this is a good read.

http://www.davedraper.com/squatting-...sed-heels.html

[Leyton Stone_old]

It helps with balance. It also shifts the tension to favour the quads over the glutes.

[JoeyDaFool]

you'll really feel it in your quads the next day as well as feeling an incredible burn in your quads during the exercise

[heidt410]

The objective is to make you lean back on your heals

[boooosted]

ive heard it works the outer quads more, but that was a quote from jay cutler in M+F so who knows.

[newbreedfreak]

I do that so I can focus the tension on my quads. More of a burn that doing it on a flat surface to me anyway.

[clusternakker]

I do it because my achilles tendons are about as flexible as steel.

[porcupinetree]

I don't do it.

During my first year of training, I was using a belt, a pad on my shoulders, and a block of wood under my heals.

Someone came up to me and said something like "You don't need those things. You aren't even squatting that much weight anyways. But if you get used to using those things now, you will always need them. If you get used to not using them now, you will never need them."

I heeded the advice and haven't used any of those aids since.

[crupiea]

Its easier then taking the time to learn them correctly.

[Antz1980]

I haven't squatted much in training in the past. I've just had about 6 months off for several reason s and now i'm getting back into the swing, and wanting to try new things. I think i'll squat normally for 4-6 weeks then use the plates under my heels. Thanks all. Any other alternatives or additions would be greatly appreciated!

[floydj57]

As they approach the bottom of the squat most people's backs will round if their hamstrings are not flexible enough. Lifting up the heel lets you get lower before the rounding occurs. It also puts a little more emphasis on quads also.

A more stable alternative is to get some lifting shoes that have a little bit of a heel in them.

[Dominik]

A more stable alternative is to get some lifting shoes that have a little bit of a heel in them.

^^^ What he said.

There's a good reason why weightlifters wear shoes with some heel elevation (see below). They help you to squat deeper with a close stance and more upright torso position.