Squat and Power Clean Form Check

[smalls21]

Set 1 of Squats http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WboPgNnxxeU
Set 2 of Squats http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5XqULSvmRY
Set 3 of Squats (is this the correct positioning for the bar on my back and hand placement, etc.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QcMNX7bhaM

Set 1 of PC http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lR1wdrY6pJI
Set 2 of PC http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUUwYfNAyE4
Set 3 of PC http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kdbW121f7c

How do they look? Feedback?

I am having a hard time figuring out where to place the bar on my back for low bar squats.

*It looks like there is a mirror in front of me, but I'm really off to the side of it, so I'm not using the mirror!

[Tom Campitelli]

Your bar placement looks about right. There's a little shelf that develops between your scapular spine and the posterior deltoid when you get the bar on your back. That's where it will be most stable. Do you have the book? It is addressed in there.

Squat looks pretty good, but you still have the forward knee travel at the bottom. The knees need to stay in place from halfway down to halfway up. You need to stay solid at the bottom and continue to sit back before the ascent. Fix that and you are golden.

From what I could tell on power cleans, you look okay. However, the videos are shot so that it is difficult to see what is going on, so I may be missing something.

[Tom Campitelli]

Also, you may want to slow your descent on the squat slightly. That may help with keeping the knees in place.

[Carnivroar]

Yes slow your descent. Your knees look like they're going to blow out.

[smalls21]

Yes slow your descent. Your knees look like they're going to blow out.

Haha you are probably right. I noticed this too. I think I was trying to focus on powering up out of the squat position, which led me to rush through it. I'll work on taking my time! Thanks!

[MikeC1]

Straighten your right wrist on the squat. You have the bar on the right place on your back. If you do feel it mashing into any bones though, then lower the bar a bit so that it has a little muscle to wedge into. Maybe it's the angle, but sets 2 and 3 of the PC look better than the 1st. Do you hook grip? Are you able to point your elbows out more in the rack?