Adarq.org

Maybe a 3x squat in a smith machine is equivalent to a 1x free squat

http://www.strengthandconditioningresearch.com/2013/03/11/sprinters/?utm_source=getresponse&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=bretcontreras&utm_content=Military+Press+and+Back+Pain%2C+Differences+in+Sprinters%2C+Powerlifters%2C+%26+Oly+Lifters%2C+and+Training+the+High+School+Athlete

Definitely. These shoes will probably last more than I will in terms of injury/deterioration due to squatting.

I just don't get it. I mean you can "feel" if a weight is too heavy or not most of the time, and you can make a good judgement based on how your previous set's weight felt like.

So if my plan is to get a 160 kg squat PR and I barely lift up 140 in the set before my planned 160 kg PR set, then guess what - I won't try the 160 kg set. If I barely moved up 140 then why the heck would I risk the 160 one? And yes, it's still a big risk, safety pins or not.

Just use good judgement.

I understand getting pinned with a weight you've never tried before that seems like doable but who knows what can go wrong with that weight you have never tried before? (say your back is not strong enough despite knowing/feeling your legs being strong enough etc).

So I was totally expecting the possibility of getting pinned on my 160 kg squat attempt but other than that, good judgement always prevailed.

The same applies to benching without a spotter. I always stop 1-2 reps before failure, as soon as the last rep becomes slow. That's good for both safety and recovery/cns preservation.

Yup, ~38 inch jump.

Try some snatch grip deadlifts or straight leg deadlifts if you haven't yet.

Bingo!