Does it matter if you use a pad when barbell squatting?

[Maximilian]

Or is it one of these things that dosent really matter, just sort of do what works for you?

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Don't use one. The places where the bar rests will get to a point where you will not notice it anymore. Very amateur to wear one.

 

[Whisper]

It also seemed to make the whole exercise feel more unsteady, at least for me. I used one years ago way back when I first started squatting, but as OILFIELDTRASH said, after a couple weeks, using the bar alone won't be uncomfortable anymore. I say the earlier/sooner you get used to not using the pad, the better.

Besides, I just look at any abrasions I might get on my back as badges of squatting honor. Same goes for scratches on my shins from DLs.

 

[Maximilian]

Damn... i like using this pad, bare bar hurts. Oh well im only just starting week 4 of SL 5x5 so ill give it a shot without the pad next workout.

 

[classy]

Nothing wrong with it, either way. If you need it so the bar feels comfortable then use it. I have seen many very good squatters use one, I don't but its fine to do so.

 

[Koing]

Nothing wrong with it, either way. If you need it so the bar feels comfortable then use it. I have seen many very good squatters use one, I don't but its fine to do so.

Hmmmm...not seen any good squatter use one. Well I saw a mate of mine that use to not use one and then use one and I was like WTF?! I hadn't seen him in a while and haven't trained with him for years. He use to be able to BS 200kg legit. Then I saw him a few months back BS 140kg with a PAD ON THE BAR. I was like WTF?

I have NEVER seen any good squatter put a pad on the bar.

You will get use to the feeling of the bar on the back of your traps.

Koing

 

[Humpy]

Whether it looks amateur or whatever to someone else doesn't matter in the slightest. Using one doesn't mean that you can't be a "good squatter" lol.

Use it if you want. If you keep lifting you will eventually grow out of it because at around 300 lbs they start to squish down so much that they are no longer comfortable and it feels more secure without it.

 

[brad310]

there is a reason good squatters dont use one. it takes away from the transfer of power. Yes you will quickly not notice it...but the reason for NOT using it is so the bar doesnt slide, or have any 'wiggle'.

Think about why you would wear a squat shoe versus a tennis shoe. The tennis shoe, while yes works, adds an unnecessary amount of instability through how much it compresses and makes your foot less stable. Squat shoes by comparison are solid. So in the same train of thinking, you would not choose to introduce a peice of equipment into the lift that destabilizes the thing under a load. Yes you can do it and yes it works, but a serious educated lifter would not choose to do so.

PS - They're called Man-pons.

 

[Humpy]

there is a reason good squatters dont use one. it takes away from the transfer of power. Yes you will quickly not notice it...but the reason for NOT using it is so the bar doesnt slide, or have any 'wiggle'.

Think about why you would wear a squat shoe versus a tennis shoe. The tennis shoe, while yes works, adds an unnecessary amount of instability through how much it compresses and makes your foot less stable. Squat shoes by comparison are solid. So in the same train of thinking, you would not choose to introduce a peice of equipment into the lift that destabilizes the thing under a load. Yes you can do it and yes it works, but a serious educated lifter would not choose to do so.

PS - They're called Man-pons.

If you mean that a good squatter is only someone who squats heavy weight, then sure, all of that is true.

I've seen plenty of old ladies at the gym squat 95 lbs while using a bar pad who have much better form than some of the people there who might use a term like "man-pon". They are are serious, educated lifters who are good squatters and don't give a crap about "transfer of power", special shoes or any of that other stuff.

I'm just assuming, as always, that the OP is a 67 year old lady.

 

[z1ggy]

Stop using it. It's okay for maybe the first few times you ever squat, to get used to the feeling of weight on your back, but overall it lessens the feel you have between you and the bar.

It hurts because you either have 0 trap muscle for it to rest on, or you are holding the bar on your back in the wrong location.

On weeks 4 of 5x5, you should only be squatting 105. If you can't hold 105lb on your back with out pain....something is probably wrong with how you are doing it.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Read about low bar squats. No pad needed.

 

[KIAman]

At light weights it dont matter but it gets dangerous at heavy weights because the pad makes the bar slip off your back and is squishy.

 

[Corporate Thug]

Don't use one. The places where the bar rests will get to a point where you will not notice it anymore. Very amateur to wear one.

Oh noes! Hopefully the big strong pros at the gym haven't seen me use mine and don't think less of me! I don't know what I would do if they did...

 

[Corporate Thug]

Whether it looks amateur or whatever to someone else doesn't matter in the slightest. Using one doesn't mean that you can't be a "good squatter" lol.

Use it if you want. If you keep lifting you will eventually grow out of it because at around 300 lbs they start to squish down so much that they are no longer comfortable and it feels more secure without it.

Dude, take out your gym contract and read the fine print...they all have clauses that lets them terminate membership and charge you a hefty fee if you use a pad...

 

[RearAdmiral]

I personally don't use one. I squatted 285 yesterday and the area where the bar rests isn't usually what hurts heh.

 

[Zivic]

Oh noes! Hopefully the big strong pros at the gym haven't seen me use mine and don't think less of me! I don't know what I would do if they did...

if I went to your gym and saw you squatting with the pad, I would think less of you...and I would likely say something to you.


regardless of that making me a dick, nobody that squats decently uses a pad. it is for true novice people.

 

[Maximilian]

Well i am "true novice people" when it comes to squatting

That said, today i gave it a shot without the pad, im on 57.5kg at the moment and it was okay, hurt more than usual with the gnurling digging in a bit but yeah i can feel the where the bar is supposed to be. Ill see how i go without the pad from now on.

 

[Saint Nick]

I think it's okay to use the pad while you develop your traps/deltoids. I understand that it really doesn't feel very good when you first start out. Find out if you can work up to squatting without it, maybe every few workouts or so. Eventually you won't have a need for it as you will have appropriate muscle to hold the bar

 

[Corporate Thug]

if I went to your gym and saw you squatting with the pad, I would think less of you...and I would likely say something to you.


regardless of that making me a dick, nobody that squats decently uses a pad. it is for true novice people.

Sorry to tell you buddy, but most people at the gym (including myself) don't give a fsck what you think of them...this isn't high school.

If you think your time is best spent telling people at the gym not to use a pad, then go for it. If you have a chance, video the responses with your phone so we can see the eye rolls.

Waiting for the bb.com-like "pussy pad" comments...

 

[surfsatwerk]

Sorry to tell you buddy, but most people at the gym (including myself) don't give a fsck what you think of them...this isn't high school.

If you think your time is best spent telling people at the gym not to use a pad, then go for it. If you have a chance, video the responses with your phone so we can see the eye rolls.

Waiting for the bb.com-like "pussy pad" comments...

In life a person is free to make all kinds of choices. There are legitimate reasons why using a pad is a bad idea, like poor form and having the bar slide off your back. Do what you want, in the grand scheme of things it isn't a big deal unless you drop the bar or quit squatting because poor form is causing you issues.

 

[Corporate Thug]

In life a person is free to make all kinds of choices. There are legitimate reasons why using a pad is a bad idea, like poor form and having the bar slide off your back. Do what you want, in the grand scheme of things it isn't a big deal unless you drop the bar or quit squatting because poor form is causing you issues.

I know about the poor form argument, but it really depends on the person/circumstances. I've seen people squat with a pad with excellent form and I've seen people squat without a pad with terrible form. I think the bar plays a marginal factor in form (not necessarily a non-factor). Some of the squatters I see don't even come close to being parallel so there are bigger fish to fry!

Also, personally, I think the pad helpful until you really are able to develop your traps. Once you do so, I can how the pad becomes less of factor.

As usual, to each their own.

 

[Zivic]

Sorry to tell you buddy, but most people at the gym (including myself) don't give a fsck what you think of them...this isn't high school.

If you think your time is best spent telling people at the gym not to use a pad, then go for it. If you have a chance, video the responses with your phone so we can see the eye rolls.

Waiting for the bb.com-like "pussy pad" comments...

You not giving a sh1t is why I will be bigger and stronger than you. The responses are usually the people taking the pad off, not them rolling eyes at me. I do legit squats with decent weight and a lot of people ask me to critique their form at my gym... First thing I say is get rid of the pad. Second thing is get rid of the air soled sneakers.

Heck I give people at my gym grief about wearing gloves when they lift. Guess I am just very high school

edit:

today just for fun I heckled the guys using the smith machine...

 

[Humpy]

if I went to your gym and saw you squatting with the pad, I would think less of you...and I would likely say something to you.

...I will be bigger and stronger than you... a lot of people ask me to critique their form at my gym...

 

[Zivic]

laugh all you want... :thumbsup:

if you are ever in the twin cities area, let me know and we can meet up and push some weight around.

 

[Corporate Thug]

You not giving a sh1t is why I will be bigger and stronger than you.

Me not giving a shit also applies to not giving a shit about who is bigger and stronger than me, although I'm sure losing the pad is the single most important factor is getting bigger and stronger.

Are we going to compare our CPU overclocks next to see whose faster?

The responses are usually the people taking the pad off, not them rolling eyes at me. I do legit squats with decent weight and a lot of people ask me to critique their form at my gym... First thing I say is get rid of the pad. Second thing is get rid of the air soled sneakers.

Well, it's one thing to critque people when asked...it's another thing to go heckling people...

Heck I give people at my gym grief about wearing gloves when they lift. Guess I am just very high school

So enlighten us...why are the gloves a crutch? I just came back from the gym where one of the regulars was putting up 315 on the bench press WITH GLOVES! Next time, I want to tell him why he's doing it wrong...

today just for fun I heckled the guys using the smith machine...

Good use of your time...