Squat suit

[Ski]

Okay, bought a Titan Centurion squat suit for a contest I plan to go to in October.
I tried the suit today and I'm having a tough problem going to the bottom, well parallel or slightly lower.
I do 475 x 5 with no suit and only wraps with no problem but with the suit, at 500lbs, I get to about 3/4 the way down and start to wobble from front to back till I get all the way to parallel. Then I can press it straight up no issues. I have the strength, I do 1200lb leg presses on the leg sled press for 8 reps 3 sets so I figure I should be good for a 600lb squat with a suit.

I never used a squat suit so that is part the problem, I think, and the weight is not too much since I weigh 237lbs, oh I'm 51 years old too if you are wondering.
So my stance is slightly wider than shoulder width and toes pointed slightly out say about 10 to 20 degrees out from in front of me.
Any thoughts or ideas what I should try?
I'm thinking next week to try about a 45 degree angle and another inch wider on my stance but I'm leary on this since I am still recouping from a torn groin in January.
Any one use this type of suit and have experience?

[Sonny]

Okay, bought a Titan Centurion squat suit for a contest I plan to go to in October.
I tried the suit today and I'm having a tough problem going to the bottom, well parallel or slightly lower.
I do 475 x 5 with no suit and only wraps with no problem but with the suit, at 500lbs, I get to about 3/4 the way down and start to wobble from front to back till I get all the way to parallel. Then I can press it straight up no issues. I have the strength, I do 1200lb leg presses on the leg sled press for 8 reps 3 sets so I figure I should be good for a 600lb squat with a suit.

I never used a squat suit so that is part the problem, I think, and the weight is not too much since I weigh 237lbs, oh I'm 51 years old too if you are wondering.
So my stance is slightly wider than shoulder width and toes pointed slightly out say about 10 to 20 degrees out from in front of me.
Any thoughts or ideas what I should try?
I'm thinking next week to try about a 45 degree angle and another inch wider on my stance but I'm leary on this since I am still recouping from a torn groin in January.
Any one use this type of suit and have experience?


This might sound funny but the problem is bascially that you are not using enough weight. You have probably the best single ply suit on the market but a difficult one to get used to. Pretty much any high end suit you should not be able to hit parallel first session. It sounds like you are fighting to get down and you are losing your arch. you will need to learn to sit back in the suit. Did you have straps up? How tight is the suit, what size do you have? did you get the wide stance version or regular? Keep your form and do not worry about depth yet, don't fight it down or force it down. It takes some time to get used to and it is a different than raw squatting. Looking at your numbers you are likely good 530-540 with just wraps if you hit 475x5. I think 600 is a reachable goal but it takes training in it to get it, it will not happen just by putting it on.

[Ski]

Thanks Sonny.
I thought it might be that and that I need to add weight but first time using it I was unsure.

Did you have straps up?

Only on the 500lb attempts, 400 and 300 no.

How tight is the suit, what size do you have?
Not too tight I can almost get the suit on my self and can get the straps up myself too, with difficultly. the suit size is 46, it is the "meet" one, I didn't want to try the "Competion" one, thought it would be too tight.

Did you get the wide stance version or regular?
Regular.

I figured I would have to get use to it but it shocked me with the wobble.
I'm 12 weeks out from the competition so I have some time.

One more question what is a good Deadlift suit, I heard Metal gear is really good.

Thanks Again,
Ski

[Sonny]

Did you have straps up?

Only on the 500lb attempts, 400 and 300 no.

****Here is a suggestion. You need to warm up before putting on the suit. Ex. go up to at least 365-405 then put it on. go to 455 then higher. 300/400 is way to light and you are not warming your legs/back up. Good to wait until last set or two for the straps or as needed. it will change the groove when they are up so get used to it.

How tight is the suit, what size do you have?
Not too tight I can almost get the suit on my self and can get the straps up myself too, with difficultly. the suit size is 46, it is the "meet" one, I didn't want to try the "Competion" one, thought it would be too tight.

****I am around your weight, little heavier,compete at 220#, but taller. I have about 27.5 inch quads and I wear a 44. I would think at your height the straps are loose. When you get used to it, get them shortened. Get some suit slippers they are cheap and worth it, makes it a lot easier. Your next one get smaller, but good to start off with one that is not going to kill you. lol!

Did you get the wide stance version or regular?
Regular.

****then a little wider than shoulder width sounds good, not ultra wide of course.

I figured I would have to get use to it but it shocked me with the wobble.
I'm 12 weeks out from the competition so I have some time.

*****you may want to consider descending faster if you are really slow. you have plenty of time. I have a meet planned for Oct too. Where is yours? pm me if you want to. Would be funny if it was the same.

One more question what is a good Deadlift suit, I heard Metal gear is really good.

****metal may work for you but the sizing will probably need to be altered. stalky guys tend to fit into them easier but I never heard anyone not needed to alter them, the proportions just are not right. do you go sumo or conventional? then maybe I can give you some ideas.

[Ski]

Do you go sumo or conventional?
Conventional.
I tore a groin muscle in January this year so I'm still leary in my stance. Been doing snatch grip deadlifts to try to increase my max lift (my conventioal max lift max is 500 for 2 reps for 3 sets).

[Sonny]

Do you go sumo or conventional?
Conventional.
I tore a groin muscle in January this year so I'm still leary in my stance. Been doing snatch grip deadlifts to try to increase my max lift (my conventioal max lift max is 500 for 2 reps for 3 sets).

You will not likely get much out of a suit lifting conventional so it is up to you if you want to drop the cash. I cant pull in a really tight suit but some people like them. I pull in a cheap champion suit-lol! i get pretty much nothing from it but it keeps me tight and supports my hips/groin area and does not throw my form off, so it has been working for me. Tough call but if I was going to get one get it made for you. Titan will do that. The others say they do but you get stock sizes sewed together.

You are going to put up some very good numbers come October!

[Ski]

Well I tried squating this week and went raw on 135x10, 225x10, 315x5 and 405x5 and then put the suit on for 495.
I took a wider stance and was almost able to go to parallel without wobble but I did wobble. I hurt my bicep tedon again so I could't try it again had to leave and ice the bicep and take some pills.
I still go down too slow and that is the problem, I have to setup faster go down faster in the suit.

[Sonny]

Well I tried squating this week and went raw on 135x10, 225x10, 315x5 and 405x5 and then put the suit on for 495.
I took a wider stance and was almost able to go to parallel without wobble but I did wobble. I hurt my bicep tedon again so I could't try it again had to leave and ice the bicep and take some pills.
I still go down too slow and that is the problem, I have to setup faster go down faster in the suit.

sounds like you are getting there. few more times should do it. watch that bicep...