stepping out when squats get heavy?

[liquidmonkey]

just curious if there is a sure fire method how one should step out from the squat rack when using heavier weight (120kilos which is getting heavy for me)?

at the moment,
- get under the bar and lift
- take small steps backwards with feet less than shoulder width apart
- once where i want to be, i rotate on the heel and balls of my feet out very slowly until a wide stance.

then when walking back in, i do that in reverse (obviously).


the only other way i could see is to step out then lift each foot outwards but that seems to add sideways pressure on the knee joints.

i guess, i want to avoid any undue strain on my knee areas.

[K Y L E]

I'm at the same area you're in. I just get a solid base under the bar, and drag my feet back to where I want to be. My gym has rubber mats as flooring by the squat area and it just happens that there's a line where one mat touches another, and I know that that is my spot to focus on putting my feet

[chris mason]

No particular technique, do what works for you.

[Yosh86]

I like to take only one step back with each foot. All you have to do is get the bar away from the uprights so there is no need to walk several steps away. Less steps helps me keep everything tight too.

Also adjust the rack height so it is low enough where you aren't straining to get the bar unhooked. Many times I see guys at the gym even going on tippy toes to unrack/rack the weight. Heavier weights compress your body down more than normal so what seems fine standing there is different with heavy weight on your back.

[liquidmonkey]

thanks for the replies.
really like the tip of not needing to step too far back. i'll taking just on step next time.

and yeah, i have the rack height low enough and totally made that mistake (having it too high) in the start but its all good now
same applies to bench really.