Catch position on the Clean

ncahill77

Does anyone know what the benefit of using the front squat racked hold to catch a power/hang clean is? I literally can not get my arms into that position, it's not a flexibility issue in my wrists, my forearms are longer than my upper arms and there is no way to get my arms parallel to the floor without putting the bar through my throat, obviously a non starter. I guess my question is will there be an issue catching the bar on my shoulder girdle but with a full grip and arms not parralel to the ground?

bumblebums

That's the sort of question I would post to the Starting Strength forum. But, I suspect that the power clean might not be a lift you can do with your anthropometry. Eventually, the weights get heavy enough that you wouldn't want to be catching the bar with your arms/wrists at all--the only thing they are supposed to do is guide the bar onto your delts as it lands.

P.S. I am assuming you're learning it from that book, and that you've played with grip width already.

ncahill77

Thanks, and that's kind of what I thought, at the weight I am using I can do it correctly without using my arms other than at the catch, but I see your point on not being able to do that with heavier weight. And no actually I just started incorporating them on a "whim", i.e. they kick my tail and are an excellent compound movement. I used to do them in way back in high school and college sports but we never did them correctly based on what I have read and watched.

bumblebums

Thanks, and that's kind of what I thought, at the weight I am using I can do it correctly without using my arms other than at the catch, but I see your point on not being able to do that with heavier weight. And no actually I just started incorporating them on a "whim", i.e. they kick my tail and are an excellent compound movement. I used to do them in way back in high school and college sports but we never did them correctly based on what I have read and watched.

Ah--well, I am using the Starting Strength method. Rippetoe acknowledges that it's a bit different from how many coaches teach the power clean, but I managed to figure it out and am increasing my weights slowly but surely.

By the way, I thought I had some weird proportions at first, when I tried doing a clean with a broomstick (against Rippetoe's advice in the book, but then I was impatient to try it at home). And I thought that I was one of the freaks he describes as having "exceptionally weird proportions" that make the clean impossible to rack. Then I tried it at the gym, and it actually worked. A wider grip was key for me. Also, the lift doesn't feel quite right until there was a bit more weight on the bar.

ncahill77

Mine is definitely a proportion thing, I can't do front squats with that hold either and I've tried with pvc as well, it's a no go, I can also bend my wrist back just past 90 degrees which should be plenty. I am using 145 right now so not too heavy but heavy enough to get a real feel on it. I am going to play around with flaring my elbows out which gives me some room to work but will leave me with just a couple fingers per each hand touching.

bumblebums

Mine is definitely a proportion thing, I can't do front squats with that hold either and I've tried with pvc as well, it's a no go, I can also bend my wrist back just past 90 degrees which should be plenty. I am using 145 right now so not too heavy but heavy enough to get a real feel on it. I am going to play around with flaring my elbows out which gives me some room to work but will leave me with just a couple fingers per each hand touching.

I have relatively long forearms compared to humeri, too, so I feel your pain. I would play with grip width, and if that doesn't help, then the snatch is the other option...

SideSteel

I actually don't have much to offer on this as I'm not all that familiar with the clean.
































But if you want to know about snatch, I'll be glad to help.

Sarauk2sf

I actually don't have much to offer on this as I'm not all that familiar with the clean.
































But if you want to know about snatch, I'll be glad to help.

Funny, I thought you knew just as much about the jerk.....

SideSteel

That too.

ncahill77

That little exchange just made my day!