squatting stance

[mynemaborat]

what is the difference between spreading your feet wide apart while squatting (wide stance), or keeping only a narrow gap between ur feet (narrow stance). i think i read somewhere that you're meant to use a wide stance? the reason i ask is because at my gym i have to do squats on this squat machine thing, and there isnt enough room to allow me to spread my feet. i have to keep my feet pretty much at the same distance as shoulder width.
now in my experience doing this, i have found that it is much harder to squat with a narrow stance, u really feel it more in ur quads, so i'm thinking that it takes some of the weight off your glutes or lower back and puts it all on ur quads... does anyone know what i'm talking about? is it ok to use a narrow stance?

[spitfiredealer]

Try the search function.
But to answer you question narrow stance will hit the outer quad where a wide will place more stress on inner and hamstring and glutes.

[nico_icecold]

Try the search function.
But to answer you question narrow stance will hit the outer quad where a wide will place more stress on inner and hamstring and glutes.

This^^

[SuffolkPunch]

I heard the wide stance is for powerlifters using squat suits. Rippetoe advocates a shoulder width stance for raw lifters. Just don't let your knees drift inwards - imagine there is a bar seperating them

[Inertiatic]

Starting Strength, 2nd Edition, page 13:

"We will use a fairly neutral foot placement, with the heels about shoulder width apart, the toes pointed out at about 30 degrees. Excessive width tightens the hips at the bottom, and excessive narrowness prevents adductor stretch and causes the quads to jam against the belly in heavier trainees, both of which prevents proper depth. Many people use too narrow a stance, so make sure you're wide enough to permit a good position at the bottom."

If you're forced to use a narrower stance, it's not going to kill you, but get as wide as you can (without being too wide, which shouldn't be a problem seeing as how you had to ask this in the first place) and shove those knees out!

[FryDude]

When I do it wide it kills my hips.