Paused Squat/Comp. Squat

Hey BBM crew,
Question about Paused Squat/Comp. Squat ratio

I have noticed that my 2ct Pause squat for the entire time I’ve been training, has been very close to my Comp. Squat.
Example : When my Comp. Squat was around 315 for 1@8 I could do a 2ct paused 295 for 3x4 all @8 w/o any issue.
Another recent time, I easily was able to handle 315 4x4 all @8 for 2ct paused again with no issue, yet my Comp. Squat was at 345 for 1@8 that same week.

Could this be indicative that I’m not taking advantage of the “bounce” out of the hole on a comp. squat making the gap between the two lifts more narrow?
Or is this a somewhat normal occurrence that I’m reading too much into?

Side note, I have been using the 12wk strength/press program and have gotten awesome results, adding 45lbs to my total within the past 6mo so thanks!

EAV,

I would see if any of the following apply to you:

  1. Are you pausing for a full 2s? At a dead stop? Post a video.
  2. Are you’ using a belt on the paused squat?
  3. Are you not using a belt on the comp squat?
  4. Is the depth different between the two?
  5. Are you less fatigued on days you’re paused squatting?
  6. Do you have a mental block with comp squats?

What do you think?

Dr.Feigenbaum,

Thanks for the reply.

  1. Reviewing some videos, I would say it’s not a true 2 second, but I would call it a dead stop, and it seems long enough to have the paused effect, I’ll try to post below.
  2. I haven’t used a belt during a paused squat as indicated by the program notes.
  3. I use a belt during my comp. squat 1@8, working sets, and warm-ups.
  4. Looking at the below examples, I don’t see a depth discrepancy, but they are being filmed from different angles/heights.
  5. The variable fatigue makes the most sense to me, even so, this narrow difference has been the case for all of my 1.5 years of training, of course w/ massive variations in fatigue, days of the week, time of training, etc. So I’m not sure if that completes the picture.
  6. Comp. squats have been a bit of a mental issue w/ me, mostly since it has yet to progress at the arbitrary rate that I want it to, recently though I have made significant gains on it. Also, paused variations have always had a positive mental effect on me because of the confidence boost I get from just being able to hold the weight in space so “easily” if that makes sense.

330 Comp. Squat Single @ 8 12/10/18 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E30lOOl3GrY&feature=youtu.be
290 Paused Squatx4 12/07/18 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgLNLykiPRI&feature=youtu.be

315 Paused Squatx4 01/26/19 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmqmFGiBOVQ&feature=youtu.be
335 Comp. Squat Single @ 8 01/22/19 https://youtu.be/Jk6ggz5rg3Y