Arms in Snatch & Clean Pulls - Guide & Slide
When you do snatch and clean pulls, avoid stiff arms.
Stiff arms will make the bar swing away at the top because it’s the only place the momentum can move it.
Keep your arms relaxed as you extend, then move your elbows up and out slightly at the top to keep the bar against your body as it continues rising with its momentum.
Stiff arms may not make the bar swing away—if you pull perfectly vertically, especially if you don’t get much acceleration at the top, you may be able to absorb the momentum with just a shrug. However, this just avoids exposing the problem—it doesn’t solve it.
Training pulls with stiff arms is practicing to snatch and clean with stiff arms, and the problem won’t be hidden by limited acceleration and elevation anymore.
Doing pulls from power position is the best way to learn to feel a good finish with pulls—you’re set up to push vertically with the legs, the bar is against the body, and it’s easy to feel what it takes to keep it there.
Stiff arms will make the bar swing away at the top because it’s the only place the momentum can move it.
Keep your arms relaxed as you extend, then move your elbows up and out slightly at the top to keep the bar against your body as it continues rising with its momentum.
Stiff arms may not make the bar swing away—if you pull perfectly vertically, especially if you don’t get much acceleration at the top, you may be able to absorb the momentum with just a shrug. However, this just avoids exposing the problem—it doesn’t solve it.
Training pulls with stiff arms is practicing to snatch and clean with stiff arms, and the problem won’t be hidden by limited acceleration and elevation anymore.
Doing pulls from power position is the best way to learn to feel a good finish with pulls—you’re set up to push vertically with the legs, the bar is against the body, and it’s easy to feel what it takes to keep it there.
