Power Clean & The Back Angle

[Scott Beall]

As I train clients, and watching videos of their lifts in slo-mo, I'm trying to get a feel for proper back angle of the Power Clean when the bar is at knees (to get a proper amount of "whip" from the torso's angular velocity).

I know that anthropometry will affect back angle, but generally speaking, what should the back angle be at the knees?
Or should I focus more on back angle at the jump?

[Mark Rippetoe]

Since the acceleration occurs before the "jump", the ROM around the knees is where the back angle is most critical. Are you asking for a number? Degrees? Anthropometry makes that variable hard to pin down, but think with me: where should the shoulders be, and what does that do to the back angle?

[Scott Beall]

The shoulders should be forward relative to the bar. This would create a more horizontal back angle.

But I'm not sure this is enough to let me know if they are horizontal enough.

[Mark Rippetoe]

Look for the arm angle and the shin angle.