What to do with my new rack and bench?

[BassBomb]

I just picked up a barely used squat rack off kijiji and bench

I need to get a new bar to fit regular size weights at huge width. The rack came with an Olympic bar but I have only regular weights and am not buying any new ones.

I tried to do a squat or two just to see how it is... am I supposed to use the adjustable black sections (to the back end) or do I use the white ones (where the bar sits right now?)

Problem with the black in the rear is the knee guard for the pulley attachment gets in the way of the feet.

Problem with front is its a little tall for my size, however that might just be ok with practice?

in summary:
Which spot do I place my bar?
Which direction do I face when doing a squat?

 

[Exodist]

Nice. I am gonna have to build me a rack after I move next year for barbell squats. But wheres the bench you mentioned?

 

[alkemyst]

The white in front can hold the bar but the black ones are safer to use...it's easily to miss those smaller clips.

The other bars are safety spotters.

They do make non-olympic bars in various lengths. They are hard to find locally.

 

[BassBomb]

The white in front can hold the bar but the black ones are safer to use...it's easily to miss those smaller clips.

The other bars are safety spotters.

They do make non-olympic bars in various lengths. They are hard to find locally.

I have found some retailers selling that kind of bar, just need to pick one up and find a good price.

I didn't realize the white clips are smaller!

When using the black clips, which way should I face? The problem I had with those clips is the little kneeguard on the floor attached to the lat accessory was getting in the way of my foot placement

Sorry I forgot to put the bench in the picture..

The equipment is Parabody "Serious Steel" squat rack w/ lat attachment, and incline/decline bench w/ leg extension

 

[alkemyst]

You can face either way. I didn't see that lat stuff...imho that is a poor design, personally I'd see if I could get the same legs with holes in the as the back legs for the front.

 

[bononos]

To use the white hooks face the white hooks, to use the black hooks, face the black hooks. The black hook thingys are adjustable for your height so use them, its no fun struggling to rack weights. If the knee thing is blocking you then remove the contraption if possible.

The bar at the bottom (which would be at your feet if you were facing the black hooks) is normally behind me on the safety cage I use so I don't face the risk of tripping over.

 

[bononos]

You can face either way......

Don't you think its dangerous having back up while racking/unracking? Never seen it done like that anywhere unless they were just warming up with very light weights.

 

[Pantlegz]

you want to walk back when you're unracking and forward when you're racking. Mainly because after a set of heavy squats you don't really want to fuck around trying to rack the weight just a few steps forward. Being able to see where the weight it resting is also helpful.

Is the pulley in the way when you're squatting or just when you unrack the weight? if it's only when you unrack it I wouldn't worry about it, just take a few steps backwards. If it's in the way in the middle of the rack, something is very wrong.

 

[Pantlegz]

Don't you think its dangerous having back up while racking/unracking? Never seen it done like that anywhere unless they were just warming up with very light weights.

Unracking heavy weight and taking a few steps backwards is fine. I don't have a problem with almost 500lbs on my back, if you can't take a step with it you shouldn't attempt to squat it.

 

[bononos]

Unracking heavy weight and taking a few steps backwards is fine. I don't have a problem with almost 500lbs on my back, if you can't take a step with it you shouldn't attempt to squat it.

Yes what I meant to say was face the black hooks, walk back to unrack and forward to rack.

 

[MotF Bane]

I think I see bolts holding that knee attachment. Get rid of it. The benefits of a good squat will outweigh everything you could do with that pulley.

Alternatively, take a couple steps back, squat, then couple steps forward to rack it again.

Use the black hooks, the white hooks are just storage.