starting strength gym
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 13

Thread: Form checks

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Posts
    1,130

    Default Form checks

    • starting strength seminar december 2024
    • starting strength seminar february 2025
    • starting strength seminar april 2025
    I finally found a way to record my workouts, and found to my horror that I'm deadlifting like this:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-yy-Vuhyd8
    It's not a particularly heavy weight; I've comfortably lifted a bit more in the past. I've gotten to around this point several times, before deciding that I needed to deload and fix the back rounding. Turns out it's worse than I thought. I'm not sure whether it's a strength issue or a flexibility issue. Or maybe it's just a bad starting position. Any suggestions for how best to proceed?

    Here are some squats:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYuQowxjTnM
    I think I know what's wrong with these, but perhaps some more experienced eyes can tell me if I'm worrying about the right things. It looks like my center of gravity is drifting forward at the bottom, even though it doesn't feel like the weight is on the ball of the foot. Could this be because I'm too bent over?

    And presses:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4InkKCUhJVY
    Some grip issues here because of a minor wrist injury, and they look a bit wobbly. Anything else I need to fix?

    Thanks!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Chicago, IL
    Posts
    2,150

    Default

    Deadlifts: You need to raise your chest up. Your back isn't set at all. Also, try pointing your toes out a little

    Squat: Looks good, but is the weight shifting to your toes on the way up. Also, it may be my decision but you may not be raising your chest up enough on the way so that you're performing a good morning.

    Presses:
    Looks good from I can see, however the bar path seems a little vertical, like you're hooking it back to your chest when the way down.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Posts
    1,130

    Default

    Thanks for the suggestions. I don't think the weight is going all the way onto my toes when I squat, but it's quite possibly going past mid foot. I'll work on back extension and hip angle to fix this.
    Last edited by Scrofula; 12-07-2009 at 04:22 PM.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Mid-Atlantic
    Posts
    1,623

    Default deadlift

    you have some pretty substantial lower back rounding. Have you tried the method described in SS:BBT to learn the feel for a properly-extended back?

    Lay on the floor, face down, clasp your hands behind your head, raise head and legs off the the ground.

    :50

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8u899wRnwqs

    post vid after you do this

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Posts
    88

    Default

    Hey Scrofula - I sent you a PM.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Posts
    1,130

    Default

    Thanks folks. pbjorge12 gave me several useful suggestions, and the back extension methods suggested by stronger helped too. I'll record my deadlifts this weekend.

    In the mean time, here are some power cleans:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1YmJZjuYuE

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Nashville, TN
    Posts
    1,231

    Default

    You're jumping forward to catch it in the rack. Why do you think this might be? I'll give you a clue: look at how horizontal your back is right before your hips start opening, then think about where this puts the bar relative to your scapula.

    -Stacey
    Last edited by nisora33; 12-10-2009 at 08:09 PM. Reason: To make my post clearer

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Chicago, IL
    Posts
    2,150

    Default

    Cleans looks good, but the angle makes it tricky to see the whole thing.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Posts
    1,130

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by nisora33 View Post
    You're jumping forward to catch it in the rack. Why do you think this might be? I'll give you a clue: look at how horizontal your back is right before your hips start opening, then think about where this puts the bar relative to your scapula.
    It looks like my hips might be starting too low. I'm pushing the bar several inches forward as I get into position, and then having to pull it back before I jump. I just found this problem described in BBT.

    And yeah, I'll try to record it from a couple of angles next time. I have a sneaking suspicion my arms might be bending early to compensate for the back angle, because that's the only way I can think of to get the bar to the jumping position while I'm bent over like that.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Nashville, TN
    Posts
    1,231

    Default

    starting strength coach development program
    Quote Originally Posted by Scrofula View Post
    It looks like my hips might be starting too low. I'm pushing the bar several inches forward as I get into position, and then having to pull it back before I jump. I just found this problem described in BBT.
    Your hip position at set-up wasn't what I was referring to. The key to understanding what's the matter is what I said originally about the scapula-bar relationship at the moment when your hips start to open. Freeze-frame the video if you have to, young padawan.

    -S.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •