WTF, breaking parallel on the Squat!

[21infantry]

Been watching some Power Lifting meets recently. 99% of lifters don't break parallel. In fact my coach told me I was squatting to deeply, told me to learn how to make it appear Im just at parallel. Supposedly this is sought after to train close or at Parallel.

[NorwichGrad]

Depends on the PL fed. Also depends if the meet is gear or raw. Also depends on many other factors.


That's why I chose weightlifting instead.

[Marius_Ursus]

Yeah, train to hit parallel if you're training to compete in PL (in most organizations as NG pointed out).

Train for your goals.

[DuracellBunny]

Compete IPF, problem solved.

[induced_drag]

Been watching some Power Lifting meets recently. 99% of lifters don't break parallel. In fact my coach told me I was squatting to deeply, told me to learn how to make it appear Im just at parallel. Supposedly this is sought after to train close or at Parallel.

Much more common in equipped lifting where the gear can make it hard to hit depth.

Also the race to have their feds hold "record setting" events loosens up the judging in some ways. GOOD feds have consistent judging. Take that as you want.

[Jtbny]

Idk I've been to 6 or so meets and haven't seen this as an issue. I've actually seen quite a few get red lighted for what appeared to be a good depth squat.

Wraps can make it tougher to get to parallel and even worse for those who don't normally get there in their training. Squat suits are even worse from what I've seen.

Depends on what your goals are. If you are chasing weight your coach is on point IMO. Getting too low (I'm a below parallel squatter myself too) leaks energy and makes the lift harder.

[21infantry]

https://www.********.com/1746850539/...007644/?type=2


This is where he wants it?

[Jtbny]

https://www.********.com/1746850539/...007644/?type=2


This is where he wants it?

That looks high for a raw lifter. IMO if that's your depth you're leaving it in the hands of the judges to make a call. I'd rather not leave any doubt and get lower.

[21infantry]

That looks high for a raw lifter. IMO if that's your depth you're leaving it in the hands of the judges to make a call. I'd rather not leave any doubt and get lower.

I thought so myself, but he drew a line on the crease of my hip and the end of me knee and said it was actually below parallel. I can get about 2 inches below depth and hit about 335 but at this height hit about 370 so the depth does play a big part in the weights Im lifting. Anyway I agree its dangerously close either way.

Screw it Ill try to hit a tad lower without going to deep. Am I the only one who finds it difficult to perfect depth for the optimal performance? Thanks JTBY for the reply, really appreciate it.

[21infantry]

Compete IPF, problem solved.

Not aware of IPF in Germany? The meet I will doing is just a local state Power Lifting Fed here in Baden. Nothing serious yet, my first meet.

[NorwichGrad]

Compete IPF, problem solved.

This ^^.. IPF is considered the 'gold standard' in PL..


OP - If you're in Germany, there are lots of IPF meets there..

[Jtbny]

I thought so myself, but he drew a line on the crease of my hip and the end of me knee and said it was actually below parallel. I can get about 2 inches below depth and hit about 335 but at this height hit about 370 so the depth does play a big part in the weights Im lifting. Anyway I agree its dangerously close either way.

Screw it Ill try to hit a tad lower without going to deep. Am I the only one who finds it difficult to perfect depth for the optimal performance? Thanks JTBY for the reply, really appreciate it.

Good luck at your upcoming meet! Make sure to post some vids man. Would love to see them.

[DuracellBunny]

Not aware of IPF in Germany? The meet I will doing is just a local state Power Lifting Fed here in Baden. Nothing serious yet, my first meet.

IPF is the closed thing to a world body for PL. As far as judging, drug testing etc, they are the strictest people out there. Countries have their own PL affiliates to IPF. IPF used to be single ply, but they started a raw division 5 or 6 years ago.

If you compete in IPF, NOBODY will question your lifts. IPF are anal about depth, ass coming off the bench, feet being flat on the floor for bench etc

[Garage Rat]

As Norwich said it depends on the org.
Around my area the USPA,AAU and USAPL are all tough orgs when it come to squat depth.
The rule being the crease between your quad and abdomen has to be lower than the top of your knee.
From there its a judgment call.
Some refs are tougher than others even though they are suppose to be looking at the same thing.

[DuracellBunny]

As Norwich said it depends on the org.
Around my area the USPA,AAU and USAPL are all tough orgs when it come to squat depth.
The rule being the crease between your quad and abdomen has to be lower than the top of your knee.
From there its a judgment call.
Some refs are tougher than others even though they are suppose to be looking at the same thing.

I think the USAPL is the IPF affiliate isn't it?

[NorwichGrad]

I think the USAPL is the IPF affiliate isn't it?

This is correct.

Kinda like USAW is the US affiliation under IWF..

[21infantry]

Researched the IPF here in Germany, the Association is actually called the German Powerlifting Federation, unfortunately for me most of there events are Northern Germany. I will compete in the German Powerlifting Union, which is tied to some British Federation. After reviewing there rules it seems that they judge a squats depth in the middle of the hip not the crease. If I translated correctly which is a big maybe, reason for this is to have a standard that is common between all 4 categories.