Technique Tuesdays

kettlebell swings

Technique Tuesday: 2 More Tips for Better Kettlebell Swings

Kettlebell swings are the best. They’ve got a place in nearly any program for any goal. I’ve talked about them before (here and here), but figured I’d dedicate this Technique Tuesday to fixing the “squat swing”. Sometimes you see lifters do their kettlebell swings with too much knee motion in relation to their hips. Check out …

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push-up

Technique Tuesday: Push-Up Variations for Cranky Wrists, Elbows and Shoulders

Chances are if you’ve trained hard for any period of time, you’ve done a push-up and experienced pain or discomfort in your wrists, elbows or shoulders. That’s not surprising since you’re asking some relatively small joints to support a lot of weight. Luckily, we’ve got a few variations to help ease the pain. Check out this …

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in-season training

Technique Tuesday: Exercise Selection for In-Season Training

We train mostly baseball players at Cressey Sports Performance, so I’m designing a lot of in-season training programs lately. Our primary goal for in-season athletes is to optimize recovery while still maintaining a training effect (i.e. don’t make them tired but don’t let them get weaker), which takes careful exercise selection. This week’s Technique Tuesday talks …

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scoop toss

Technique Tuesday: Coaching Hip Rotation During the Med Ball Scoop Toss

The rotational med ball scoop toss is a staple exercise for our CSP athletes because it develops power in the transverse plane to help our guys and gals throw harder and hit bombs at the plate. And while many of these athletes succeed because of superb hand-eye coordination, they need to learn to use their …

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scapular position

Technique Tuesday: Scapular Position During Pressing Exercises

Scapular position during pressing exercises is crucial for strength and shoulder health. Should your scaps stay locked in one position? Should they move around? Some of both? The answer depends on what pressing exercise you’re doing. There are some crucial differences between barbell/dumbbell presses and push-ups, landmine presses, etc. This week’s Technique Tuesday explains.   …

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lightning deadlifts

Technique Tuesday: Lightning Deadlifts for Explosive Bar Speed

Lightning Deadlifts are one of my favorite drills to build explosive bar speed off the floor. It combines accommodating resistance (i.e. the weight gets heavier toward lockout) and post-activation potentiation (i.e. the second rep is lighter so you can lift faster), so it utilizes two excellent means of improving bar speed. If you’ve got chains and some …

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thoracic flexion

Technique Tuesday: Thoracic Flexion and Rotation for Pitchers

It may not feel like it with up to 2 feet of snow in Massachusetts today, but baseball season is right around the corner. This week’s Technique Tuesday features a drill we use with our pitchers to work on thoracic flexion and rotation during the follow through position. Many thoracic mobility drills work on rotation in …

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glutes

Technique Tuesday: How to Use Your Glutes During the Squat Setup

The glutes play a vital role in a proper squat. They’re involved in extension, external rotation and internal rotation of the hip, all of which happen at some point during the squat. They also posteriorly tilt the pelvis, which is what happens when you “squeeze” your glutes. I used to cue this for lifters all …

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