For my squat, I decided to increase 20 pounds this week. This is because of the strongman competition I am talking about. I got 5 more weeks to max, and then take a week off for the competition.
I wear wraps when I do my max squat for the week. I know a lot of people out there don't wear knee wraps until competition but my reasons are that knee wraps give me a confidence boost. I have been going to the same gym for almost 3 years and I have not seen anyone squated more than 315. In short, I train by myself and I treat my knee and wrist wraps as training partners. They are dependable, always there for me, and psychologically supportive.
Will it limit my gains? I don't know. I read Rickey Dale Crain's Xtreme Squatting book, and he said to wear it regardless what kind of weight you are squatting. Why? Because of the protection it gives is far more important than the weight you push.
As you know, knee wraps is suppose to artifically help you push your max squat up. I have heard it gives you an extra 10 to 50 pounds, depending on individual opinion. See the problem? Its all individual opinion and I have not seen any scientific evidence concerning it...
So to wear or not to wear...its up to you. There will be people out there that will say you are hampering your ability to push more weight, but will you be effected by such comments? People might laugh at you but its your squat, and you are the person that is doing it. Its no one, but you, the equipment and the bar.
