WOOT.......just got my top squat bar!

[pumping4life]

I've been lifting on and off since 7th grade (mostly on). Up until a few months ago I didn't have the equipment to safely do squats. I could never get comfortable with them, though, mostly due to my shoulders. I recently found a good deal on a Top Squat bar by Dave Draper. It arrived just this afternoon.

Boy is it nice. Super comfortable. Puts your hands where you want them. Fits the bar very tightly (Jesup Oly bar). This thing is a real keeper. Unfortunately, I just did legs last night so won't really give it a run-through until next week.

I know there are other posts about this product, but wanted to share my thoughts and excitement. If you have any questions, throw them at me.

[captmorganm6]

I've been lifting on and off since 7th grade (mostly on). Up until a few months ago I didn't have the equipment to safely do squats. I could never get comfortable with them, though, mostly due to my shoulders. I recently found a good deal on a Top Squat bar by Dave Draper. It arrived just this afternoon.

Boy is it nice. Super comfortable. Puts your hands where you want them. Fits the bar very tightly (Jesup Oly bar). This thing is a real keeper. Unfortunately, I just did legs last night so won't really give it a run-through until next week.

I know there are other posts about this product, but wanted to share my thoughts and excitement. If you have any questions, throw them at me.

Gotta post a pic when you get new equipment or it don't count

[animalfan]

Gotta post a pic when you get new equipment or it don't count

exactly. gotta give us gear whores something to lust after. even if we have it, when someone else has it we still drool.

[pumping4life]

After this post (#30) It will be easier to post a pic. I'll snap some tomorrow and upload them.

[4MEandThem]

I am interested too after spending way to much for a SSbar from NYBB.

[pumping4life]

Here we go. If you want any other pics/angles, send out your requests.

[4MEandThem]

How much? What bar is it on? Where purchased?How does it stay on?
Where do you live? What time do you leave for work?When do you return?

[HardKore79]

Do you have any dogs? Does your neighbor has any dogs? Does your wife and kids ever leave your house?

[pumping4life]

How much? What bar is it on? Where purchased?How does it stay on?
Where do you live? What time do you leave for work?When do you return?

Got it off a guy on ebay shipped for 142.50. He was kind enough to send a forearm blaster, wrist straps, and Lynx grips. That is Jesup's top-end Olympic bar. There is a dense polyurethane around the metal that firmly holds the bar in place. Illinois, along the Mississippi. Between 6:30 and 8:30. Between 5:30 and 8:00.

[pumping4life]

Do you have any dogs? Does your neighbor has any dogs? Does your wife and kids ever leave your house?

No, but I wish I did. Yes. No, I keep them locked up, but away from the equipment.

[animalfan]

looks like a nice gym! i see a rack, ghr, leg press/hack squat, all with just a quick glance.

[pumping4life]

looks like a nice gym! i see a rack, ghr, leg press/hack squat, all with just a quick glance.

More pics here,
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showpo...postcount=2018

and here,
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showpo...postcount=2019

And since you mentioned something about being a gym whore. I have a little gym porn story to share. I caught a nice deal on 345# oly weights a couple weeks ago. Unfortunately, they had not been well-cared for despite being in another decent home gym. As a result, they had quite a bit of rust. While cleaning them up I got to see a bunch of.................




























BARE METAL!

[animalfan]

BARE METAL!

fapfapfapfapfap

edit: i guess i've seen your gym before, just didn't recognize it from the "new" angle. looks like you've got everything you need and then some. very nice!

[PullBig]

I thought I saw my old tds rack.

[morderstwo]

Here we go. If you want any other pics/angles, send out your requests.

top idea.
, how does it bolt on, is it like a ring clamp? id imagine that it would have to be on very tightly to avoid rotating

[pumping4life]

top idea.
, how does it bolt on, is it like a ring clamp? id imagine that it would have to be on very tightly to avoid rotating

It's made to fit on a 1 1/16" bar. The polyurethane holds on with friction. You can put a smaller bar on and there are velcro straps that will prevent the bar from falling out. I have a slightly larger bar and it fits in REAL tightly. You can apparently trim some of the polyurethane to allow for thicker bars. I can't imagine trimming enough for a fat bar, though.

I know that holding on to a bar with friction doesn't seem ideal, but the angle at which the bar slides in when you hold it for a lift prevents any drops. You would have to crank the handles up over your head to drop the bar out.

[animalfan]

i think i've read that there are velcro straps that wrap around it, too. maybe the man you bought from lost them or didn't use them? check dave draper's site.

[kelt_22]

I have one and I dont have any straps. I did not get mine new though.

[animalfan]

I have one and I dont have any straps. I did not get mine new though.

well, i guess i could be wrong. i've seen pics of one with straps on it, maybe whoever owned that one just put them there.

[pumping4life]

i think i've read that there are velcro straps that wrap around it, too. maybe the man you bought from lost them or didn't use them? check dave draper's site.

As I mentioned, there are straps. Mine did come with them. My bar fits tight enough that I shouldn't need them.

[kelt_22]

well, i guess i could be wrong. i've seen pics of one with straps on it, maybe whoever owned that one just put them there.

No, Like I said mine was not new and it looks like they may come with them or at least be a add on.

[Wildtim]

Lets just link to the seller/inventor of these.

http://www.davedraper.com/mm5/mercha...oduct_Code=TTS

[kelt_22]

Lets just link to the seller/inventor of these.

http://www.davedraper.com/mm5/mercha...oduct_Code=TTS

LOL. that is why you get paid the big bucks.

[otrebmu]

looks comfy, congrats.

[T. Bone]

I've been looking at the top squat today, along with SSBs and the manta ray, trying to figure out the solution to my dilemma.

For years I squatted with the bar up high on my traps, and over the years, as I went heavier, the weight was pushing down directly on my spine and giving me tons of lower back problems. Being an idiot, I ignored this until it was basically too late and I had done a fair amount of damage to my lower back.

I didn't want to quit squatting, though, so I lowered the bar on my back, which took all the pressure off my lower back but now put tons of pressure on my shoulders and elbows as I struggled to keep the bar from sliding all the way down my back. Eventually I ended up with a shoulder injury that kept me away from squats for a few months.

So now I'm wondering what the solution is if I want to keep squatting. Seems like everyone recommends something different.

[pumping4life]

This will allow you to put the bar lower on your back. You can either just start with the top squat low or you can push the handles up and it will roll down your back a bit. I would recommend starting low as squatting feels better with the handles perpendicular to the body or a little below this, IMO.

[animalfan]

I've been looking at the top squat today, along with SSBs and the manta ray, trying to figure out the solution to my dilemma.

For years I squatted with the bar up high on my traps, and over the years, as I went heavier, the weight was pushing down directly on my spine and giving me tons of lower back problems. Being an idiot, I ignored this until it was basically too late and I had done a fair amount of damage to my lower back.

I didn't want to quit squatting, though, so I lowered the bar on my back, which took all the pressure off my lower back but now put tons of pressure on my shoulders and elbows as I struggled to keep the bar from sliding all the way down my back. Eventually I ended up with a shoulder injury that kept me away from squats for a few months.

So now I'm wondering what the solution is if I want to keep squatting. Seems like everyone recommends something different.

do you have any way to post vids? if you can, post a video of yourself squatting, your form may be off.

[PullBig]

I've been looking at the top squat today, along with SSBs and the manta ray, trying to figure out the solution to my dilemma.

For years I squatted with the bar up high on my traps, and over the years, as I went heavier, the weight was pushing down directly on my spine and giving me tons of lower back problems. Being an idiot, I ignored this until it was basically too late and I had done a fair amount of damage to my lower back.

I didn't want to quit squatting, though, so I lowered the bar on my back, which took all the pressure off my lower back but now put tons of pressure on my shoulders and elbows as I struggled to keep the bar from sliding all the way down my back. Eventually I ended up with a shoulder injury that kept me away from squats for a few months.

So now I'm wondering what the solution is if I want to keep squatting. Seems like everyone recommends something different.

I would agree with Animal. I have a shoulder problem right now ans squat with a SS bar because of it. Have you tried stretching it or going to a chiro about it.

[T. Bone]

Here's a video from last summer:




I think my form is okay there, given the weight I'm using. As I said, it's mostly just how I'm built. If I have the bar up high on my traps, it presses down on my spine a lot and causes extreme lower back pain.

I don't have any vids of me doing squats with low-bar placement, but I don't think it would look much different. My legs and back are capable of handling more weight with the bar lower, since it's lower to my center of gravity, however my shoulders and elbows will scream in agony, trying to keep the bar from rolling down my back. At first I thought maybe it was just an issue of getting used to the new position and stretching out my shoulders, but my shoulder injury flared up in January, four months after I switched the bar position, and is still not fully healed.

I've been to a physical therapist for both my back and my shoulder. Back diagnosis was possible pinched nerve/bulging disc. Some of my back problems also have to do with sitting at a computer all day, bad posture, flat feet, etc. But those things don't cause the extreme pain of having the bar up high.

Shoulder problem has been diagnosed as sub-acromial impingement with some additional aggravation due to pre-existing shoulder arthritis. Makes me sound like an old man, but I'm only 29. Problem is that bad shoulders and bad backs run in the family. My father started having back problems around my age and my sister who is two years younger had shoulder surgery at 24.

I stretch regularly, based on the programs outlined in physical therapy. They help, but they are not going to help me regain the cartilage I have lost in my shoulder. All I can do is modify my routine in order to help manage my pain/discomfort. My main goal is to continue to stimulate muscle growth without doing any further damage to my joints.

[animalfan]

yea, your form looks pretty good to me. i'd say that you need something to help you out. a manta ray is the cheapest, and holds the bar high on your shoulders/traps. my safety squat bar does, too, and has alot of padding. it's very comfortable to me, but a regular bar doesn't bother me. i haven't used a top squat, so i can't comment on the comfort of it.

good luck to you bro, i hope you come up with something. i'd probably start with a manta ray, keep an eye on ebay for all 3, though.