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powerhouse972
New member
Does it make a difference? Some people say it makes your traps bigger, but i always thought it was just a pain tolerance thing for football.
Squatting with or without pad
- Thread starter powerhouse972
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StickFigure
New member
powerhouse972 said:
I've always hated the barpad! Even at over 525#, it just gets in the way. And NO, that's not inflated BS #'s! If you have well developed traps there should be enough padding there that you shouldn't need the "pussypad". Of course I'll probably get flamed by those who feel they have to use the pad but I'm not trying to start any shit, that's just my opinion.
I've never heard anything about it making your traps bigger. That wouldn't even really make sense. The only way to make your traps bigger is to work them directly.
the pad sits the bar too high on your traps, which shifts the centre of gravity forward, so you tilt forward at the bottom, that is if you squat deep enough to call it a squat. There is a groove at the bottom of the traps where the bar fits perfectly.
It wont make any difference on your traps, but the pad isnt nececcary, i squat 455-465lbs for reps, and dont even feel it
It wont make any difference on your traps, but the pad isnt nececcary, i squat 455-465lbs for reps, and dont even feel it
S
Stryker1992
Guest
Bro, do not be a pussy! Come on man, f the pad! You can go without it. The pad makes everything out of wack as needsize says.
I suppose you are afraid of needles,
just kidding but f the pad!
I suppose you are afraid of needles,
just kidding but f the pad!
TheAssholeFomerlyKnownAsDBBT
New member
powerhouse972 said:
never use the pad, just get used to the bar ...you will...
StickFigure
New member
stryker1992 said:Bro, do not be a pussy! Come on man, f the pad! You can go without it. The pad makes everything out of wack as needsize says.
I suppose you are afraid of needles,
just kidding but f the pad!
I sure am glad I'm not the only one who feels this way!!! I'm sick of hearing all these weak ass personal trainers at the gym telling their clients, (whiny voice)"...you need to use a bar pad so you don't damage your neck..."!
U
Ulcasterdropout
Guest
I use the pad on the smith machine hahaha
I tried it and couldn't get used to it. Just straight bar for me.
I tried it and couldn't get used to it. Just straight bar for me.
season7445
New member
I agree, no pad. For one i also concur ( word of the day i hope it is spelled right!) with the fact that it messes with your center of gravity, throwing off your balance. I think it just feels more solid with it resting on your traps. Anyways i guess i just restated what everyone else said! 
soflaguy
New member
I don't think there is anything manly about willingly wanting to crush capillaries in your back, though I do think the foam pad is too thick to control the weight.
I prefer the middle ground and that is wrapping a towel around the bar. It doesn't leave welt marks on back and at least for me offers more support than the bar alone.
Then again, I also like to wear gloves too so I can focus on the lifts not whether my hands might slip off the bar....guess that makes me a pussy.
I prefer the middle ground and that is wrapping a towel around the bar. It doesn't leave welt marks on back and at least for me offers more support than the bar alone.
Then again, I also like to wear gloves too so I can focus on the lifts not whether my hands might slip off the bar....guess that makes me a pussy.
Nah...lift however you want...Fuck what people think.
soflaguy said:I don't think there is anything manly about willingly wanting to crush capillaries in your back, though I do think the foam pad is too thick to control the weight.
I prefer the middle ground and that is wrapping a towel around the bar. It doesn't leave welt marks on back and at least for me offers more support than the bar alone.
Then again, I also like to wear gloves too so I can focus on the lifts not whether my hands might slip off the bar....guess that makes me a pussy.
BobbyJenious
New member
The pad definatly throws of your form to a degree, it's only foam and a lot of times does not rest evenly on your back which always leaves room for uneven or improper weight distribution. Just my 2 though.
hammertime30
New member
don't think it makes a scientific difference, however I hate pads especially the maxithins!!! 
supreme
New member
Definately does make a biomechanical difference as Needsize pointed out: shifts the center of gravity forward, makes it hard to maintain trunk angle, alters nuation & counter-nuation, disrupts bar path of motion, may induce cervical strain and excess external rotation of the shoulder.
The short version : pad f'in SUCKS
Some alternatives to the pad: build trap mass; learn correct squatting technique; wear a sweatshirt, try using a manta-ray to hold the bar or hang with the women on the smith machine & leg extension.
S
The short version : pad f'in SUCKS
Some alternatives to the pad: build trap mass; learn correct squatting technique; wear a sweatshirt, try using a manta-ray to hold the bar or hang with the women on the smith machine & leg extension.
S
Last edited:
StickFigure
New member
supreme said:
I Agree with the underlined!!! Beautifully stated!!
small but working on it
New member
personally, I have seen a lot of you bros in pics and if my back and shoulders were that big, I too could go without a pad. My back is the size of a wittle girls. I do use the manta-ray and it works for me. Call me a pussy but my back thanks me the next day for using the manta-ray.Once I get huge, I will be saying yeah, fuck the pad and the ray. 
StickFigure
New member
small but working on it said:personally, I have seen a lot of you bros in pics and if my back and shoulders were that big, I too could go without a pad. My back is the size of a wittle girls. I do use the manta-ray and it works for me. Call me a pussy but my back thanks me the next day for using the manta-ray.Once I get huge, I will be saying yeah, fuck the pad and the ray.
Even though I don't use either, I have tried the Ray and I felt it was more beneficial for stability than usefull as padding. Do what you gotta do I guess but start hitting those heavy shrugs and upright rows HARD and make those traps grow baby!!
super_rice
New member
when i started squatting i needed a t-shirt or a towel or something (this was around 135#). hurt like shit. then i started doing heavy deads. a week or two later or squats and deads, i got rid of the pad, never to look back.
pad shifts your center of gravity and also, for me, makes me uneasy about it slipping off and causing some major damage.
imho, full oly squats, and heavy deads fix all problems, and aid each other. if i wasn't so self conscious, i'd get rid of my upper body workout altogether and just clean/snatch, squat, and dead.
pad shifts your center of gravity and also, for me, makes me uneasy about it slipping off and causing some major damage.
imho, full oly squats, and heavy deads fix all problems, and aid each other. if i wasn't so self conscious, i'd get rid of my upper body workout altogether and just clean/snatch, squat, and dead.
Beachbum1546
New member
i actually have no pain or discomfort squatting with just the bar. i guess i found the perfect groove.
the guy on the couch
New member
it's all about position. i think you should make sure your form is correct.
Bad form:
http://www.nismat.org/traintip/snowboard/squat.jpg
Good form:
http://femuscle.free.fr/nicole_luster/squat.jpg
your lower back and abs should be tight causing a slight arch in the lower torso. your entire midsection should be a rock. this forces you place the bar on your traps instead of your lower neck.
as mentioned previously, i would avoid the pad at all costs. it's just too easy for that thing to slip down your back and cause more trouble. work the back out (deads, lat pulls, etc) and lose the pad.
Bad form:
http://www.nismat.org/traintip/snowboard/squat.jpg
Good form:
http://femuscle.free.fr/nicole_luster/squat.jpg
your lower back and abs should be tight causing a slight arch in the lower torso. your entire midsection should be a rock. this forces you place the bar on your traps instead of your lower neck.
as mentioned previously, i would avoid the pad at all costs. it's just too easy for that thing to slip down your back and cause more trouble. work the back out (deads, lat pulls, etc) and lose the pad.
ChinkNasty
New member
without...I guess I just have this natural groove that my traps form and the bar rests nicely across my back wihtout even touching my shoulders
Longhorn85
New member
When my wife and I do squats, the pad goes on for her set, comes off for mine...
StickFigure
New member
the guy on the couch said:
Good choice of pic for the "good" squat position example!!
K for that bro!
Mike_Rojas
New member
just say no
bignate73
New member
there are 2 natural grooves. a high bar, and low bar. even if you havent that much muscle, the high bar shouldnt bother you. If you have some development, low bar shouldnt be a problem either.
the pad is nice if you dont want "bites" from the bar i guess. but it shifts the bar up throws off your bar path and offers some instability when holding it. Sounds good for people not handling any weight, any sort of weight on the bar, and I want it pinned to my body, not floating on some foam.
the pad is nice if you dont want "bites" from the bar i guess. but it shifts the bar up throws off your bar path and offers some instability when holding it. Sounds good for people not handling any weight, any sort of weight on the bar, and I want it pinned to my body, not floating on some foam.
TRUEsoldier
Banned
I'm not a big guy at all, and I would never use the pad, I think its a mental thing, you want to belive it helps, but is much more of a pain in the ass than help!!!
