I've wondered for years why these gems left most commercial gyms. I know Lee Haney much preferred them to conventional barbell squats. I've done leg presses before when I played high school football but it was always those crappy angled ones at 45 degrees. But I know many of my dads old school friends swear by the vertical ones from back in the day. So I decided to purchase one a month ago and give it a fair go.
And I must I have been much impressed by them. They mimic squats much more precisely than the ****ty angled versions at most gyms. And as for me personally I have always had a problem feeling my quads being worked during squats. Even with front squats. Not so with my vertical squat rack. My legs are trembling and pumped once I'm done with my leg workouts nowadays. I know there are concerns about undue pressure to the lower back while doing these but I believe good form will take care of this. You have to keep you back flat against the pad and not round your lower back which some people do when hey are attempting to push heavier weight than they are capable of.
All in all this thing is the cornerstone of my leg workouts nowadays and has been a solid investment. I now believe the reason that most commercial gyms do not have vertical leg presses anymore is because they make you WORK. None of that noobs loading up the leg press with 800lbs **** like you see with angled and/or horizontal leg presses. 200lbs is 200lbs on the vertical version and many people's ego's would be substantially hurt by that fact.
But anyways just wanted to hear from the rest of my more seasoned lifters on this subject.
NOTE: "I don't want to hear from new lifters claiming that the squat is best bull****". We've heard that false absolute more than enough over the years here. I'm interested in others opinions who have actually TRIED vertical squats and at least gave them a fair shot.
Let's begin gentleman....
|
Thread: Ode To The Vertical Leg Press
-
01-24-2008, 03:40 PM #1
- Join Date: Aug 2004
- Location: Texas, United States
- Age: 44
- Posts: 21,176
- Rep Power: 1375
The Vertical Leg Press: A Forgotten Old School Favorite
Last edited by DiamondDelts; 01-24-2008 at 04:53 PM. Reason: messed up
-
01-24-2008, 03:44 PM #2
DD -
Do you have a pic of the machine? All I've seen is the 45 degree ones where you load the plates.
Thanks!
-C10PR's ... Goals @ 160 lbs. Bodyweight:
Bench Press - 250 ... 315
Squat - 275 ... 400
Trap Dead - 400 ... 480
Bent Over Row - 195 ... 315
Military Press - 150 ... 160
Pull-Up - BW+150 ... BW + 180
Dip - BW + 170 ... BW + 200
-
01-24-2008, 03:49 PM #3
- Join Date: Aug 2004
- Location: Texas, United States
- Age: 44
- Posts: 21,176
- Rep Power: 1375
-
01-24-2008, 03:51 PM #4
- Join Date: Jun 2006
- Location: United States
- Age: 39
- Posts: 12,125
- Rep Power: 6347
squats/front squats + any other variation of a squat is better. including curls.
If what I see does not amaze me, I am not looking hard enough.
The more you learn, the more you realize you don't know.
__________________
My Powerlifting Journal: http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?p=189654831
My YouTube Vids: http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=ajcharmoz
-
-
01-24-2008, 03:55 PM #5
-
01-24-2008, 04:21 PM #6
you know whats ironic is just last saturday me and a couple guys i usually do leg day with went over to the smith machine to mimic exactly what you're talking about. just had to have one person make sure the bar didnt rotate to catch the rungs but we used a bench and pushed with the bar near the curve in your foot...i would recommend not doing this with flat shoes though....just a thought.
-
01-24-2008, 04:29 PM #7
-
01-24-2008, 04:33 PM #8
-
-
01-24-2008, 04:37 PM #9
-
01-24-2008, 04:37 PM #10
-
01-24-2008, 04:44 PM #11
-
01-24-2008, 04:45 PM #12
- Join Date: Aug 2004
- Location: Texas, United States
- Age: 44
- Posts: 21,176
- Rep Power: 1375
Don't make me devour half of your delicious beety little head again.
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/attach...1&d=1198316034
-
-
01-24-2008, 04:46 PM #13
-
01-24-2008, 04:49 PM #14
-
01-24-2008, 04:49 PM #15
-
01-24-2008, 04:50 PM #16
-
-
01-24-2008, 04:52 PM #17
-
01-24-2008, 04:53 PM #18
-
01-24-2008, 04:54 PM #19
-
01-24-2008, 05:00 PM #20
-
-
01-24-2008, 05:10 PM #21
- Join Date: Aug 2004
- Location: Texas, United States
- Age: 44
- Posts: 21,176
- Rep Power: 1375
None at all bro. I LOVE it.I use a wide stance for my inner quads and a close stance for my outer quads/overall quad sweep. I also do them one leg at a time to really focus on working the target muscle. I could never do one legged squats. I really feel my quads working when doing these. I never really felt anything while doing back squats. Front squats were a little better but very uncomfortable and I am not sure there worth the pain in the ass. It's also great for overhead calf raises as well. I would have to say all in all this is one of the best machines I have ever used.
-
01-24-2008, 05:10 PM #22
I've never used a vertical leg press. My school's gym does have this though: seems to move nicely in an arc and it really blasts my quads.
I basically use that as a cornerstone to my leg workouts (I still do BB back squats and other exercises). DD have you used one of these? It doesn't move on a set plane, AFAIK/can feel but seems to move in an arc. Like I said I feel it really well in my quads, and hamstrings when bringing my heels to my ass.
-
01-24-2008, 05:14 PM #23
- Join Date: Aug 2004
- Location: Texas, United States
- Age: 44
- Posts: 21,176
- Rep Power: 1375
-
01-24-2008, 05:18 PM #24
- Join Date: Nov 2003
- Location: Glendale, Arizona, United States
- Age: 39
- Posts: 978
- Rep Power: 456
We had one in our high school gym and it was awesome. I haven't seen one since. My university just built a $26,000,000 gym on campus and we still don't have one of those. I'm like you, I still do squats, but only because it's those or leg press and I hate that thing. I'd kill to have one of those machines though.
-
-
01-24-2008, 05:25 PM #25
-
01-24-2008, 05:27 PM #26
-
01-24-2008, 05:33 PM #27
-
01-24-2008, 05:34 PM #28
-
-
01-24-2008, 05:41 PM #29
- Join Date: Aug 2004
- Location: Texas, United States
- Age: 44
- Posts: 21,176
- Rep Power: 1375
The rollers are VERY smooth. Though they did need to be sprayed with some silicon lubricant when I first put it together. Been smooth as butter ever since. The height placement/safety pins are very easy to use just pull the handles to the side when you are ready to unrack and lift the weight then turn the handles back inward to rerack the weight once your done with your set. Weight posts allow anything fromt the 45's on down.
-
01-24-2008, 05:42 PM #30
Bookmarks