Thread: Good Form For Squats...Conflicting Info, Help?

Not an exercise that I would recommend you getting advice, on how to do it correctly, in here. The entire movement should be observed by a qualified trainer (IMO). It's very difficult on how to instruct someone to keep their SPINE straight throughout the movement.

The type written word leaves too much to interpretation, right or wrong, in my opinion.

I agree and squats are almost always done incorrectly. And more importantly, they are the one exercise that should never be done incorrectly. That being said, if there is a personal trainer there at the gym, pull them aside and ask them to show you how and to watch you do one to make sure you're getting in right.
From what you've described, you have the right idea. But without seeing you do one, there's no way to know if you're doing it correctly. Try not to arch your back. Try not to do anything with your back actually. It's all in your hips. If you have them tilted forward (tailbone tucked) it will keep your back in the right position. Be sure that your chest is up and pointed forward, keep your knees behind your toes and your chin behind, or inline with your knees.

I have been doing squat with my fiancee and and his workout buddies, and they freak out if I don't have the right form on anything. They have me keep my back straight, feet shoulder width apart, and lowering and raising with your legs. You also don't want extend your legs all the way(or so they tell me), that could be bad. I haven't had any problems with it, hope you don't either.

I try to use a smith machine feet slightly forward push through the heals make sure the knees never pass over your toes. Drop your butt so that your thighs are parallel to the floor. Feet close together works your outer thighs slightly more futher than shoulder width apart works more of the inner thigh. i would press on your inner heals and flex my legs together while doing the slightly wider stance