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Quote from: ian459 on January 03, 2014, 08:50:37 pm

Cool post t0dday. What's the point of half squats/quarter squats if not for specificity to the movement of jumping? Just the fact that more resistance can be used?

Good question.  Snarky strength coaches would just rephrase the question as "What's the point of half squats/quarter squats" - nothing. 

But the point of half/quarter squats is the same as trap-bar deadlifts... To develop leg muscle and strength.   If an athlete can do full squats easily, has good form, etc then the only possible advantage is to a partial rep is like you said supramaximal loading.  However, a lot of athletes can't full squat much at all or end up relying on their back too much when full squatting.  Half squats and quarter squats might be better for these athletes if they can build leg strength and muscle faster with them.   You can easily add in a hamstring exercise for what half squats dont recruit as far as glutes/hams.  My problem with half squats was moreso that they aren't measurable than than that they are a inferior movement.   They lack measurability because it's hard to know whether you have PRed in the half/quarter squat or just raised your depth an inch.... Pin squats can keep the bar going down to the same height but then it's hard to measure whether you just bent your back a bit more to hit the pin....   I favor a box squat a bit more because measurability is slightly better that way, but basically if you can keep honest form then and prefer half squats can be really useful.

***One last point about specialization.   You should not underestimate the unfortunate lack of carry over that happens when you become a specialist.   You have put a lot of work into your squat...  If you take someone who hardly squats and he has similar bw to squat ratios... He will almost always be faster/stronger/etc.    Getting good at something unfortunately means it starts to provide less aid in similar movements.  You are now a specialized squatter and jumper.   So your 34 inch jump (or whatever your PR is) will translate to a lot less when you have to jump at an odd angle, weird plant , in traffic, or simply without the mental queuing that you have learned to do before you jump in practice... Your old 25 inch jump translated a lot better because you hadn't yet reached a level of specialization...   The guy who had trained his vertical from 15 to 25 inches probably saw your 25 inch jump and wondered why he couldn't use his 25 inch jump to rise up on his shot, block shots, etc.   It's an unfortunate thing that happens when we get really good at something..... but hey it's because you have finally gotten some athleticism !

Good stuff... you keep doing what you're doing because you're on the right path, especially recently.