What is a Hang Snatch? | Olympic Weightlifting Technique

What is a hang snatch? How is it different from a power snatch, hang power snatch, or snatch?

FIGURE 1: THE LIFT STARTS WITH THE BAR HANGING IN THE HANDS (SINCE “HANG” IS PRESENT).

As in our snatch and power snatch articles, let’s break this down simply and quickly, and for a demonstration with explanation, watch the included (and short) video.

“Hang” is Present
We begin by examining the words present or not present in the name of the lift. The word “hang” is present, so the hang snatch starts with the barbell hanging in the hands (Figure 1). Usually, the lift will start somewhere around the middle or lower part of the thigh, but you can also start a hang snatch from a lower or higher position.

Again - and this is the important part - a hang snatch simply starts with the bar hanging in the hands, and thus the lift does not start with the bar resting on the floor.

figure 2: THE LIFT IS RECEIVED IN A FULL DEPTH overhead SQUAT (SINCE “POWER” AND “SPLIT” ARE NOT PRESENT).

No “Power” or “Split”
The words “power” and “split” are absent, so the lift will not be received overhead in the power position (i.e., a partial depth overhead squat), nor will it be received in the split position (i.e., with one foot in front of the torso and one foot behind the torso). By default, this means the lift will be received in a full depth overhead squat (Figure 2).

So . . . What IS a Hang Snatch?
Thus, a hang snatch is a lift wherein the bar starts hanging in the hands and is then accelerated upward, imparting enough momentum to the bar that the bar continues upward, whereupon it is then locked out overhead (AKA “received,” “racked,” or “caught”) in a full depth overhead squat position before it is then stood up.

As always, we hope this helps you get stronger and live better.

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What is a Power Snatch? | Olympic Weightlifting Technique

What is a power snatch? How is it different from a hang snatch, hang power snatch, or snatch?

FIGURE 1: THE LIFT STARTS WITH THE BAR ON THE FLOOR (SINCE “HANG” IS NOT PRESENT).

Let’s break this down simply and quickly, and for a demonstration with explanation, watch the included (and short) video.

No “Hang”
We begin by looking at the words present or not present in the name of the lift.

The word “hang” is not present, so the power snatch doesn’t start with the barbell hanging in the hands and instead - by default - starts with the bar sitting on the floor (Figure 1).

figure 2: the lift is received in a partial depth overhead squat (since “power” is present).

“Power” is Present
The word “power” is present, and “power” refers to a landing position (AKA receiving position) - specifically, a partial squat landing position.

As a result, this means that the lift will be caught or received in a partial depth overhead squat position (Figure 2).

So . . . What IS a Power Snatch?
Thus, a power snatch is a lift wherein the bar starts on the floor and is then accelerated upward, imparting enough momentum to the bar that the bar continues upward, whereupon it is then locked out overhead (AKA “received,” “racked,” or “caught”) in a partial depth overhead squat position before it is then stood up.

As always, we hope this helps you get stronger and live better.

(Some links may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, Testify earns from qualifying purchases.)

If you found this helpful, you’ll love our weekly email. It’s got useful videos, articles, and training tips just like the one in this article. Sign up below, and of course, if you don’t love it, you can unsubscribe at any time.

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What is a Snatch (AKA Squat Snatch or Full Snatch)? | Olympic Weightlifting Technique

What is a snatch? How is it different from a power snatch or hang snatch? What is a squat snatch? What is a full snatch? Let’s dive in, and for a demonstration with explanation, watch the short video at the end of this article.

FIGURE 1: THE LIFT STARTS WITH THE BAR ON THE FLOOR (SINCE “HANG” IS NOT PRESENT).

No “Hang”
We begin by looking at the words present or - in this case - not present in the name of the lift.

The word “hang” is not present, so the snatch doesn’t start with the barbell hanging in the hands and instead - by default - starts with the bar sitting on the floor.

No “Power” or “Split”
The words “power” and “split” are also absent, so the lift will not be received overhead in the power position (i.e., a partial depth overhead squat), nor will it be received in the split position (i.e., with one foot in front of the torso and one foot behind the torso). As a result, and again by default, this means the lift will be received in a full depth overhead squat.

figure 2: THE LIFT IS RECEIVED IN A FULL DEPTH overhead SQUAT (SINCE “POWER” AND “SPLIT” ARE NOT PRESENT).

The fact that the snatch is received in a full depth overhead squat is why the lift is also sometimes referred to as a full snatch or a squat snatch.

So . . . What IS a Snatch?
Thus, a snatch is a lift wherein the bar starts on the floor and is then accelerated upward, imparting enough momentum to the bar that the bar continues upward, whereupon it is then locked out overhead (AKA “received,” “racked,” or “caught”) in a full depth overhead squat position before it is then stood up.

As always, we hope this helps you get stronger and live better.

(Some links may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, Testify earns from qualifying purchases.)

If you found this helpful, you’ll love our weekly email. It’s got useful videos, articles, and training tips just like the one in this article. Sign up below, and of course, if you don’t love it, you can unsubscribe at any time.

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Power Snatch vs Squat Snatch vs Split Snatch: Which Should YOU Do?

In weightlifting (AKA Olympic weightlifting), there are 3 different landing positions for the snatch, and each has its unique advantages. We cover each version as well as why you might want to perform it.

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The Snatch & Clean: Stay Over the Bar!

DON’T CLEAN LIKE THIS DOOFUS.

(A Blast from the Past article originally posted on 03/11/22)

When learning to snatch and clean (sometimes even after we’ve learned!), a common error is that of pulling the barbell around the knees or - equivalently - making the back angle become more vertical too soon.

To fix this - cue yourself to “stay over the bar.” In other words, you need to keep your back relatively horizontal for longer than you think - in fact, roughly until after it passes your knees. Of course, the bar travels upward before this point, but it does so because of knee extension, i.e., you should be pushing the floor away from you like a leg press.

Here’s a mental picture: It’s raining, and you’ve decided to lift outside (not a good decision, mind you, but it’s too late now). Staying over the bar means that, from the start of the pull (i.e., your setup position) until just after it passes your knees, you want to stay leaned over so that your shoulders and upper back are keeping the middle of the bar from getting rained on (your shoulders will actually be slightly in front of the bar). If you raise your torso too soon, the bar gets wet, and that’s no good.

Eventually, your back angle will become more vertical as you reach what we call in the teaching progression the “jumping position,” but during the first part of the lift, stay over the bar. You’ll have a more vertical bar path (which means the bar doesn’t have to travel as far), and you’ll be able to accelerate the bar better as well.

We hope this helps you get stronger and live better!

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The Rules of Olympic Weightlifting - How to Avoid Red Lights!

Did your lift even count? Know the rules for olympic lifting so that your lifts count on the competition platform! Phil covers a few basic rules so that you can avoid red lights at the meet.

(A Blast from the Past video originally published on 05/02/22)

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