legs not parallel doing squats

[calveless wonder]

Ever since i started squats way back i've been having incredible difficulty getting my legs parallel during squats. I think it has alot to do with my legs being long and my torso being very small. it is virtually impossible to get my legs parallel even with my ass practically a half inch off the ground.

what can i do to improve this? and is it ok if i dont go all the way parallel?

 

[bignate73]

i dont think i understand. if your legs are near touching (low as you can go), you have to be parallel.

ensure that the crease of your hip, is below the top of your knee and you should be parallel.

 

[calveless wonder]

i dont think i understand. if your legs are near touching (low as you can go), you have to be parallel.

ensure that the crease of your hip, is below the top of your knee and you should be parallel.

tried it....i guess i'm kind of near parallel but not until i get about i get my ass an inch away from the ground at which point i have very little stabilization of my body....

you think it could be a hip flexibility issue?
anyway to improve hip flexibility?

 

[B0ARDIN087]

u cant get parallel to the ground?? unless u have inch high shins and ur getting an inch from the ground tahts impoossible.

 

[b fold the truth]

How far fwd are your knees in comparison to your toes...when at the bottom position.

B True

 

[calveless wonder]

How far fwd are your knees in comparison to your toes...when at the bottom position.

B True

hrmm...

good point.usually my knees are slightly ahead of my toes... t

 

[b fold the truth]

hrmm...

good point.usually my knees are slightly ahead of my toes... t

OUCH!!! Your knees are WAYYY too far fwd. They should be a good bit behind your toes...mid foot at max. You have to sit BACK...not down!!!

B True

 

[calveless wonder]

OUCH!!! Your knees are WAYYY too far fwd. They should be a good bit behind your toes...mid foot at max. You have to sit BACK...not down!!!

B True

sweet, thanks bro.....i always feel like i'm gonna lose my balance though especailly with 300+ lbs on my back....

how do i prevent this?

 

[b fold the truth]

sweet, thanks bro.....i always feel like i'm gonna lose my balance though especailly with 300+ lbs on my back....

how do i prevent this?

Practice...

What kind of shoes are you wearing? I feel better doing close stanced high bar squats in a pair of shoes with a hard sole and some sort of heel..

B True

 

[coolcolj]

depends how long his thighs are, not all people can keep the knees behind the toes, not that there is anything wrong with that

IMO

You need to keep the bar over your heels, then you won't lose balance. bar goes down in a staright line
If you squat in a rack and face away from the mirror it will be much easier to do this, as you can use your peripheral vision and align the bar with the power rack uprights as you go down

 

[calveless wonder]

depends how long his thighs are, not all people can keep the knees behind the toes, not that there is anything wrong with that

IMO

You need to keep the bar over your heels, then you won't lose balance. bar goes down in a staright line
If you squat in a rack and face away from the mirror it will be much easier to do this, as you can use your peripheral vision and align the bar with the power rack uprights as you go down

yeah, i honestly think i can't get my knees behind my toes...........why does this happen? because of a large thigh or is it small thigh in proportion to your shins?

Cool, are you saying that i should turn the opposite way from the mirror?

btw thanks for all the advice guys, i appreciate it

 

[coolcolj]

relatively long thighs means you will have longer overhangs - knees and hips. You can sitback more to try an compenstate, but that means more forward lean etc

yes, looking at the mirror makes for worse form. You can feel your body better without the mirror.
When you look at the mirror you end up doing all kinds of things to make yourself look better in the mirror etc
Also you will unconsciously try and stay more upright so you can actualy look at the mirror, this will make you teeter on your heels sometimes and fall back.
Falling forwards is a mirror thing too.

You will lift more weight/reps without the mirror too - true

 

[Mike_Rojas]

I don't train with a mirror, I use a video camera. Much more reliable to check your form with.

 

[bignate73]

do you mean.....perpendicular?

if your ass is by the ground....your thighs are at least at parallel to the ground.

if you mean you cant keep your shins vertical then thats another story.