Tall Vs Small

legend365

Is it harder for a tall person to squat than a small person to squat?

Been debating this with friends for years but never really came to an overall conclusion.

Brian?

I think so, but then I'm 6ft 2 so I'm biased.

Scuba Ste

I don't think being tall makes it mush harder to squat. More that having long legs and a short torso compared to someone with short legs and a long torso makes it harder to squat.

Being taller is going to mean you have longer legs than a shorter person with the same proportions so the short one has an advantage but I wouldn't say it makes it harder.

rubadub

Somebody posted about this guy in some other thread, Andrzej Stanaszek, holds many records.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zy9hIFIm1ZI

Scuba Ste

rubadub wrote:

Somebody posted about this guy in some other thread, Andrzej Stanaszek, holds many records.

What does that prove though.

Here's Chuck V a taller man squatting a bigger world record.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ek_UAJbyHc

Like I said there are advantages to being smaller but it doesn't necessarily make it easier. And I don't think powerlifting applies in this context. ALL powerlifters at that level are going to have similar proportions that are advantageous to squatting (at least the big squatters will).

For a 'normal' trainer squatting, being tall won't make it harder to squat. Being tall with long legs and a short torso will make it harder to squat.

Remmy

Scuba Ste wrote: »

What does that prove though.

Here's Chuck V a taller man squatting a bigger world record.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ek_UAJbyHc

Like I said there are advantages to being smaller but it doesn't necessarily make it easier. And I don't think powerlifting applies in this context. ALL powerlifters at that level are going to have similar proportions that are advantageous to squatting (at least the big squatters will).

For a 'normal' trainer squatting, being tall won't make it harder to squat. Being tall with long legs and a short torso will make it harder to squat.

Ah in fairness though Chuck V is still only 5:9.

Scuba Ste

Remmy wrote: »

Ah in fairness though Chuck V is still only 5:9.

You're missing the point. A small powerlifter is not evidence of smaller people finding squatting easier. A powerlifter twice as tall shows that.

And Chuck has a higher wilks score, so the taller guy is actually the "better" squatter.

Like I said talking about powerlifters in this context isn't appropriate because they are built for the sport.

rubadub

Scuba Ste wrote: »

Being taller is going to mean you have longer legs than a shorter person with the same proportions so the short one has an advantage but I wouldn't say it makes it harder.

Well I would have said the same thing as the beginning of that, but would have concluded that this was the reason it IS harder -so I think we are just coming from different angles on it. I was thinking of the sport, like if somebody asked "is it harder for a small person to play basketball than a tall one", I would say yes, and the fact there are usually tall players would be evidence to me, like gymnasts are short, and marathon runners are thin.

Scuba Ste wrote: »

You're missing the point. A small powerlifter is not evidence of smaller people finding squatting easier. A powerlifter twice as tall shows that.

He could be twice the height but is still pretty average height, below average Irish or American heights shown on wiki,

they have an interesting bit on various sports.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_height#Sports

In weightlifting shorter levers are advantageous and taller than average competitors usually compete in the 105 kg (230 lb) + group

Transform

might make it harder with the greater range of motion for a taller guy or girl but it has more to do with how well you squat really

Scuba Ste

rubadub wrote: »

Well I would have said the same thing as the beginning of that, but would have concluded that this was the reason it IS harder -so I think we are just coming from different angles on it. I was thinking of the sport, like if somebody asked "is it harder for a small person to play basketball than a tall one", I would say yes, and the fact there are usually tall players would be evidence to me, like gymnasts are short, and marathon runners are thin.

He could be twice the height but is still pretty average height, below average Irish or American heights shown on wiki,

I think you're mixing up powerlifting and squatting though. Powerlifting is a sport where height has advantages depending on weight classes, but most lifters in a weight class will be of similar height especially at the elite level so the advantages are not as relevant.

Squatting isn't a sport though it's an exercise and it's in that context that I'm saying being taller doesn't make it harder, long legs makes it harder.

In weightlifting shorter levers are advantageous and taller than average competitors usually compete in the 105 kg (230 lb) + group

That's what I'm saying, shorter levers, ie legs are advantageous but not necessarily height.

Btw I think that figure for Irish height is BS, that puts us as one of the tallest nations in the world. I see that the figure was self-reported, lying fcukers :pac:

The Guvnor

This is a debate which can take hours down the pub or when out with no clear conclusion!:D

My view is this:

• It's true a 5ft4in man will travel less actual distance to get to parallel than a similarly proportioned man of 6ft4.

• However as a percentage of their height they travel relative to their own bodies the same distance percentage wise.

Now it may well be the case that the shorter man has an advantage due to the weight travelling a few inches less but for 99.99% of us it really makes no difference.

I'm nearly 6ft3 and deadlift was my worst lift - I could actually bench more than I deadlifted.

BTW - if none of the above made any sense you can see the need for a few pints down the pub!:D

Kev M

As previously said it's more about proportions, not height. However generally shorter guys have better proportions than taller guys... Not always the case though.

Hanley

Please don't tell me it took 12 posts to get to relative limb length being the dictating factor?

Relatively short legs for your height = better squatter than someone with average or greater than average length legs, all other things being equal.

Scuba Ste

Hanley wrote: »

Please don't tell me it took 12 posts to get to relative limb length being the dictating factor?

Relatively short legs for your height = better squatter than someone with average or greater than average length legs, all other things being equal.

Nope, only took 3 .

rubadub

Kev M wrote: »

However generally shorter guys have better proportions than taller guys.

Exactly, I can't think of any tall guy I know with remarkably relatively short legs, or short guy with relatively long legs, most have similar enough torsos. So it makes sense to me that people would say tall people find it harder to squat, the OP's question seemed to me to be a general question and not some 100% irrefutable fact.

Scuba Ste wrote: »

Btw I think that figure for Irish height is BS, that puts us as one of the tallest nations in the world. I see that the figure was self-reported, lying fcukers :pac:

Weird thing to lie about Scotland & England also got 5'10" for younger people and it was not self measured.

I am 5'10-11" I never considered myself tall (lads in work have called me short-arse!) I would be well below average height in my work, I know lots of lanky lads would be bumping the average up.