Squat Technique for Powerlifting
Build a repeatable squat from setup and bracing through depth, ascent, and competition commands.
Cris RosaPublished
Written by Cris Rosa.
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A competition squat is a repeatable sequence: create tension before the unrack, keep the bar balanced over the foot, reach legal depth, and finish under control.
Setup and unrack
Choose a bar position you can brace against, set the hands as close as your shoulders allow, and stand the bar up before taking the smallest useful walkout.
Descent and depth
Break at the hips and knees together. Keep pressure through the whole foot and descend until the hip crease is clearly below the top of the knee.
Common faults
A shifting mid-foot, lost brace, or changing bar path usually deserves attention before another cue is added.
[PH] Add Cris's original fault-and-correction squat footage before M9.
Keep learning
More from this part of the Powerlifting Library.
Bench Press Technique for Powerlifting
Set your position, control the pause, and press with a repeatable competition-standard bar path.
Read articleDeadlift Technique for Powerlifting
Create tension from the floor, keep the bar close, and finish a competition-standard deadlift without wasted motion.
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