Ask Powerlifter - Gents and gals of all goals welcome

..

I'm looking to start my creatine course in a couple of weeks, does creatine need a shaker? or do you just mix it with cold water in a glass?

I just put the powder in my mouth and wash it down with water. Most people just mix it into a suspension. Don't dissolve it as 1. it takes too long and 2. the creatine will degrade in solution.

My grip is beginning to fail me on the deadlift (sumo). I'm doing Madcow 5x5 and I'm up to 130kg on my max set and on the last 2 repetitions, the double overhand grip doesn't feel very secure and it's a real battle to hold on to the bar. But the lift is actually quite smooth and fluid; it's just that my grip is weak. Is there an easy way to strengthen the double overhand grip or should I just switch to the hook grip now? I don't like the mixed grip.

How do I figure out the optimal stance for the sumo deadlift? I feel like my stance is optimal but, on the other hand, it looks fairly narrow compared to what I have seen online.

I also want to learn the snatch. Firstly, I need to build up shoulder mobility by shoulder dislocates; is this the best way? Secondly, how do I figure out the optimal grip width for the snatch? I'm pretty sure that you have to figure it out by setting your grip such that the bar hangs at a certain position relative to your body.

Thanks for any help.

...

If you had to pick 2 assistance excercises for squat and 2 for deadlift, what would they be?

Squat -

Pause Squats
Depending on weakness either front squats or glute ham raises (for me front squats)

Deadlift -

Partial Deadlifts
Powercleans

how much can you partially deadlift matt?

and if there was a 500kg barbell, do you think you could unrack it on your shoulders and quarter squat it?

xx

i want to use my physique to get girls, what works best in your opinion? tight clothes or bulky clothes? telling them how much i squat?

i want to use my physique to get girls, what works best in your opinion? tight clothes or bulky clothes? telling them how much i squat?

Having a large wallet if you're after the shallow type of girl who must have a guy have this or that physique.

Not sure if I've asked you about this already

Anyway, sometimes when I squat, the bar goes on an angle. Now I don't feel anything when doing this, no discomfort, and my bar placement is fine. When I put the bar on my back I make sure its even etc

here's a video which shows it



My bro read somewhere that it could be shoulder inflexibility?

How do I stop my hips coming up before my torso in the squat? It happens when it gets heavy. I was thinking about driving with the heels and that seemed to help but not entirely.

Yeah it is, several people in the gym do it. You need to work on your rotor cuffs and try shoulder dislocations with a band/rope to start with.
You can usually see by where the elbow is (and the angle of it) that the arms are uneaven.

Its quad weakness (vs your back strength), lighten the load and do it properly, add in front squats if you can to help target the quads