Squat Pillar # 1 | The Set Up | JTSstrength.com

Summary by Krater

Chad Wesley Smith and Marisa Inda present the first installment of a five-pillar series on squat technique, focusing on the three steps of the setup: hand position, squeezing to the middle, and pushing elbows under the bar.

From the video

Answers: How do I set up properly for a barbell back squat?

• squat setup
• barbell back squat
• hand positioning for squats
• upper back tightness in squats
• elbow alignment in squats

Exercises

• back squat · barbell

What it concludes

• A proper squat setup starts with hand placement as close as your shoulder mobility allows, provided the elbows remain inside the hands.
• Step two of the setup requires squeezing everything to the middle by pulling scapulae together and bringing elbows slightly behind the body.
• Step three requires pushing the elbows under the bar to maximize lat and upper back tightness.
• Fixing upper back tightness and setup technique is the first step to resolving forward leaning issues in the squat.