# Pin squat in weightlifting shoes

**URL:** <https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/pin-squat-in-weightlifting-shoes/6385>\
**Category:** Training Q&A \[Moderated\]\
**Created:** [July 7, 2019, 12:50pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/pin-squat-in-weightlifting-shoes/6385 "2019-07-07T12:50:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Wik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a698b9/32.png) [@Wik](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Wik)\
**Post date:** [July 7, 2019, 12:50pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/pin-squat-in-weightlifting-shoes/6385/1 "2019-07-07T12:50:32Z")

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My pin squat in weightlifting shoe is just above parallel, which happens to be right at my sticking point. I might be able to lower the pins just below parallel if I take off my weightlifting shoes. Should I?

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**Author:** ![Jordan\_Feigenbaum](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.barbellmedicine.com/jordan_feigenbaum/32/1315_2.png) [@Jordan\_Feigenbaum](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Jordan_Feigenbaum)\
**Post date:** [July 7, 2019, 4:06pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/pin-squat-in-weightlifting-shoes/6385/2 "2019-07-07T16:06:12Z")

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It doesn’t matter at all. If you push your knees further forward you’ll be below parallel, regardless of footwear.

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**Author:** ![Wik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a698b9/32.png) [@Wik](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Wik)\
**Post date:** [July 7, 2019, 7:54pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/pin-squat-in-weightlifting-shoes/6385/3 "2019-07-07T19:54:39Z")

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Sorry, English is not my first language. What I meant was that the pin settings are set to far away from each others.  
This means that I am not able to hit the pins (without relaxing) when they are located below parallel. Since it is recommended that the pins are located below parallel, the only way I am able to do this is to either stand on something or take off my weightlifting shoes.

So am I better off squatting with shoes with the pin just above parallel, or without shoes with the pins just below parallel?

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**Author:** ![Jordan\_Feigenbaum](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.barbellmedicine.com/jordan_feigenbaum/32/1315_2.png) [@Jordan\_Feigenbaum](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Jordan_Feigenbaum)\
**Post date:** [July 8, 2019, 1:27am UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/pin-squat-in-weightlifting-shoes/6385/4 "2019-07-08T01:27:19Z")

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> [@Wik](#):
>
> Sorry, English is not my first language. What I meant was that the pin settings are set to far away from each others.  
> This means that I am not able to hit the pins (without relaxing) when they are located below parallel. Since it is recommended that the pins are located below parallel, the only way I am able to do this is to either stand on something or take off my weightlifting shoes.
> 
> So am I better off squatting with shoes with the pin just above parallel, or without shoes with the pins just below parallel?

No I understood 🙂 My answer is the same- it doesn’t matter. If you are \>1" above parallel, I’d stand on something. If you are \<1" above, I’d just push your knees further forward to achieve depth.