leg press sucks

[rippedtrojan]

i did leg press for the first time in a loooong time (1+ year). i never liked them, but i had to do them today since we don't have any power racks at my gym (if you want to know why look up my gym is shitty thread on chat board). anyway i seem to feel it more in my knees. i think it would be bad for me if i went real heavy or did a lot of those. it's kinda cool you can do almost twice as much weight with leg press as you can squat. i got up to 500lbs for 8 reps. thought that was kinda cool

 

[Vortexx]

In an old interview with dorian yates, he states that after 8 years of heavy squatting he gave the leg press another change...

what he did was, he put backsupport in the most upright position and let kness touch his shoulders, this way not only the teardrops near the kness, but also the front-hip insertions get worked... Try them

Most people lay down the backseat too far, which is great to develope gluteus maximus and to put a lot of topque on your knees, but it's not that all good for legs....

 

[spatts]

I was just going to say to adjust the back pad too. Also, when I press my lower back doesn't even make contact with the pad. Make sure your knees aren't coing inward to press too, weak hips might make them do that. My max is 9 plates each side, and I've done 7 each side for 50 reps, but if the back position is off, 15 reps with 5 plates won't feel right.

 

[The Shadow]

The angle of the press also make a difference.

Is it a 45 or 60 Degree slide?

 

[rippedup]

It is actually not 500lbs you are pushing, but 500 times the cosine of the leg press incidence.

The 500lbs create a force - the weight, going vertically down.
And you would be pushing against the axial component of the weight.

 

[brian747478`]

I've been doing these with one leg, with 4 second negatives, feels totally different. I don't like loading the machine up myself, so I can use less weight and be more effective.
brian

 

[Hannibal]

It is actually not 500lbs you are pushing, but 500 times the cosine of the leg press incidence.

The 500lbs create a force - the weight, going vertically down.
And you would be pushing against the axial component of the weight.

Lets not make this any more complicated than it is...

 

[Doktor Bollix]

45 degree leg-sled sucks. Must have been specially constructed as an ego salver for those who don't know the difference between rolling a weight on wheels up a hill and actually picking the weight up and lifting it. Definitely does not suit all builds.

I like the 90 degree Nautilus leg press though, one leg at a time. Biomechanics much friendlier. Don't use it often, but for us tall guys who use a lot of back in our squats, its a good exercise to finish off the legs.

 

[spatts]

I agree 100%. When I did the 50 reps at 7es, it was with W6 over the Arnolds. He had the Nautilus leg press and I REALLY liked that positioning, It was like I was almost pushing straight up because my leg were forced back furthur at the hip crease. I don't leg press much anymore, but I wish our gym had that machine for those that do.

 

[b fold the truth]

Ummmm....you guys are doing leg presses???

B True

 

[spatts]

Who are you asking?

 

[brian747478`]

hey b,
i do a few. i've seen you do them once or twice, but it has been awhile

 

[b fold the truth]

It has been a long while...don't think I'll ever do them again. When selecting the exercises which will add mass and strength to my legs...I am just not for sure if leg press is the better choice over so many other exercises...

B True

 

[brian747478`]

what r some others that would work my legs good for mass without working my low back so hard?

 

[coolcolj]

single leg squats - stick your non working leg in front as you go down, hold a support for balance if you want. Intense contraction!
In the same way dumbells are better than barbells, so this exercise is better than regular squats

reverse lunge

bench stepups

 

[brian747478`]

b, u know i was only messing with you.
cool j, thanx for the advice, how exactly do you do a reverse lunge?
thanx, brian

 

[brian747478`]

b, u know i was only messing with you.
cool j, thanx for the advice, how exactly do you do a reverse lunge?
thanx, brian
hannibal, spatts, nice meeting you guys this weekend.

 

[coolcolj]

Well start with either dumbells or a barbell across your back.

Feet slightly apart - about 4-5 inches
take one big step back, but not too far.
All the weight should be centred on the front leg

Keep just the rear leg's toes lightly touch the ground for balance
then kneel down so that the front leg is about a 90 degree angle, don't touch the ground as per a normal lunge.

Then with all the weight on the front leg push yourself upwards and slightly forwards using only the front leg. Its a very similar movement to a sprint, so expect your hams to blow up quite a bit alongside with your quads, glutes and calves. If you want striations on your glutes this will do it

then return the rear leg to the start position as you pushup. Don't use your rear leg to help. I prefer to work only one leg at a time as opposed to alternate legs like some people do.
Gets your heartrate going like 20 rep squats!

This is a power exercise so load up heavy! If you want freaky hammies, this exercise will deliver!

 

[rippedtrojan]

Most people lay down the backseat too far, which is great to develope gluteus maximus and to put a lot of topque on your knees, but it's not that all good for legs....

sounds like my problem. my glutes are more sore than my quads today. and my knees hurt slightly (i can feel it while riding my bike some and climbing stairs).

 

[Peyomp]

I was getting all excited about being able to do 1000lbs on a 45 degree leg press in a few weeks and you've gone and shot me down. 1000 had a ring to it. Now I know it ain't shit. Damn.