Glen
Level 6 Valued Member
@Kettlebelephant
That's the thing. I didn't mention deadlifts. Nor did (I think) the original post.
It might be a person isn't or can't deadlift, perhaps because of injury, or their current cycle. Therefore, is after a squat that is going to give them the most bang for their buck in terms of all over strength and muscle development.
I have no bias in this, or preference, just trying to figure out the answer like everyone else.
If heaviest weight, most muscles and largest range of motion were the keys would we not benefit from dropping the squat altogether and focus on doing deficit trap bar deadlift - for me I get similar ROM to low bar squatting but shift a lot more weight.
This seems to be a focus on minutiae for me -choose a squat stance that suits your body and get stronger in it and results will likely be pretty close either way.
The one advantage I think low bar squatting offers the 'everyman' whose goal is to be strong for life it it better teaches someone how to optimise body position to maximally express force - strength is a skill and this skill translates to dealing with stuff in everyday life a little better IMO