Thread: Need help from people with experience on barbell back squats

Originally Posted by CJthehuman

Okay so I'm having problems doing barbell back squats but it's what I assume is a bit of an unusual problem. I'm more than strong enough to do the weight but I can't get my hands/arms to stretch back far enough to get the bar to rest on my shoulder blades. Now I know it's not a strength problem because I can do 340lbs on a machine squats for 5 reps with no problem. And I can do barbell back squats with just the bat and no weight BUT I can't get the bar in the right spot even with no weight on it. Like I tried the barbell with 0 weight and I could easily do the squat motion but the barbell was literally resting on my neck. And I knew it would be a terrible idea to try an even close to challenging weight like that. So can someone recommend maybe some stretches or something for me to do to fix this problem. All I can really think to do is keep doing my workouts on the machine then when I'm done with that literally just go hold the barbell without even doing an exercise so that maybe I will get more limber and work up to being able to get it in the right spot. I've never seen anyone else have this problem and I'm it a huge guy at all I weight 177lbs so I'm not having the problem for a reason like I'm so muscular I can't scratch the middle of my back or anything like that.

Shoulder rotation exercises,
band face pulls, shoulder dislocations, static stretching even for short times.
Also don't try and wrap your thumb, thumb less will let you get back easier, and just max width the grip for now.