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Kettlebell 24KG 1 Handed Swing form check

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Strong Grappler

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I’ve started doing S&S. 16kg bell is way too light, 24kg feels about right, maybe even a bit light.

I’ve done 7 sessions so far since Christmas and my swing times keep getting longer because of lower back fatigue/soreness that starts to kick in around set 6. Doesn’t matter if it’s 1HS or 2HS. It didn’t happen on my first two sessions. I need to take longer and longer for it to feel right. First day I tracked time it took me 10:07 to get through my swings. Today it took me 12:59. Exact same weight, doing both single handed.

It feels a bit like a lower back pump when you do high volume deadlifts. Also reminds me of the pump I had after my first 200kg deadlift. Uncomfortable, slightly painful in a dull way. No sharp pain. Completely goes away by my second TUG.

Anyway just thought I’d check in to make sure there’s no glaring form issues which is causing it and it may just be a matter of conditioning.

Cheers!
 
Hello, I am no longer a SFG as it has expired however I can give a few quick tips until some others chime in. It really is best to film from a different angle so we can see your hinge better, more of a side angle. I see 2 things immediately:

1. The bell is being swung to low going below your knees at times. It should higher closer to your crouch area.

2. Your hinging to early which goes hand and hand with problem 1. You should “play chicken” with the bell and hinge right before it would hit you in the crouch

This will take a lot of pressure off your back. I hope that helps. Congratulations on starting S&S!
 
Hello, I am no longer a SFG as it has expired however I can give a few quick tips until some others chime in. It really is best to film from a different angle so we can see your hinge better, more of a side angle. I see 2 things immediately:

1. The bell is being swung to low going below your knees at times. It should higher closer to your crouch area.

2. Your hinging to early which goes hand and hand with problem 1. You should “play chicken” with the bell and hinge right before it would hit you in the crouch

This will take a lot of pressure off your back. I hope that helps. Congratulations on starting S&S!

Thank you. I’ll try filming from the side tomorrow & incorporate your tips.
 


Try watching some of Master SFG Karen Smiths videos, she breaks it down and makes it easier. Watch the location of the bell during her swing compared to yours.
 


Try watching some of Master SFG Karen Smiths videos, she breaks it down and makes it easier. Watch the location of the bell during her swing compared to yours.


There’s definitely a few cm’s different between us two. I’ll keep that in mind for tomorrow’s session. Cheers.
 
In addition to the advice above—2 things
1) I'd like to see a side view
2) there is a bit of "fast grind" sort of look to your swing where the hips and KB finish at the top at the same time instead of "quick hips and slow arms"
Pulling up with the back is likely involved here instead of hip driven extension to the top with (again) "quick hips and slow arms"
 
Lots of things going on there...

1) shoulders not packed
2) knees not locked out
3) looks like overarching the back at the top
a+b+c are all reasons for 4) no proper plank; at the top you look like this ( instead of this I
5) hips too slow/finish too late which indeed gives the "fast grind" look that @Brett Jones mentioned

A Self-Correcting Drill for a Classic Blunder of the Kettlebell Swing | StrongFirst will help with point 3

Towel swings will probably help with point 5



I'm sure others can also help out with the other things.



 
@Kettlebelephant Love your new avatar, and good to have you back!

@Strong Grappler you've got the basic idea, but yes lots of improvement opportunities available :) Have you tried kettlebell deadlifts? S&S (reivsed & updated version) page 28-33, and EVERY SINGLE POINT on those 5 pages is really important. This will really help dial in your hip hinge and many other points as well.

Looks like you're lifting the bell a bit with the arms/shoulders and leaning back at the top. Once you find the feeling of throwing the bell with the hip movement, you'll feel how the arms and shoulders can be relaxed ropes that just hold the bell.

Keep after it!
 
Thanks everyone, I’ll take the feedback and try to apply it :)

is there any limitations to how many videos I can post? Would it be an issue if I posted another video next week to check in?
 
is there any limitations to how many videos I can post? Would it be an issue if I posted another video next week to check in?

There's no limit, feel free to post another as many times as you need to. Stay with the same thread for continuity and comparison.

It's good for everyone else as well, to learn from examples and feedback. So, thanks for posting!
 
Okie dokie, here we go again

32kg 2HS - S&S Set 10 - Streamable

Some things; I overshot my reps because I was focusing more on trying to implement the feedback here than counting lol.

My lower back didn’t feel fatigued at the end of today’s session, so I assume I’m doing a bit better. I felt it in my lats, not as much in my glutes and hamstrings.

Looking at my own video some areas I think I can improve on; Playing chicken with the bell more, I was so focused on my abs and packing my shoulders that I missed this. Potentially more of a hinge, it looks quite shallow. Maybe some snappier hips? I’m trying to squeeze my glutes as quickly and as intense as possible so don’t know how to fix that.

Thank you everyone for your help so far.
 
It's safe

A few things

Hinge deeper (think as if you're gonna jump)

At the top try looking forward, you want to avoid tucking your chin
 
Okie dokie, here we go again

32kg 2HS - S&S Set 10 - Streamable

Some things; I overshot my reps because I was focusing more on trying to implement the feedback here than counting lol.

My lower back didn’t feel fatigued at the end of today’s session, so I assume I’m doing a bit better. I felt it in my lats, not as much in my glutes and hamstrings.

Looking at my own video some areas I think I can improve on; Playing chicken with the bell more, I was so focused on my abs and packing my shoulders that I missed this. Potentially more of a hinge, it looks quite shallow. Maybe some snappier hips? I’m trying to squeeze my glutes as quickly and as intense as possible so don’t know how to fix that.

Thank you everyone for your help so far.

Great improvement since the 1/8 video!

You're not lifting with the arms and shoulders anymore - so, excellent job on that correction. Your shoulders are pretty much packed now, but keep working to actively anti-shrug them, in your setup, in your hinge, and in your standing plank.

As @Mark Limbaga said, try not to tuck your chin at the top. "Stand tall" with crown of the head to the ceiling at the top of the swing - as if you had jumped and are reaching for the sky with the top of the head.

Be explosive and project power forward. Think of throwing the kettlebell out in front of you as far as you can (and it's a good drill to practice, outside with a lighter kettlebell). This will help correct the overarching at the top, which you've improved since the last video but are still doing. Working on tension in the standing plank will also help. Here is my drill for tension. Practice getting really tight in that position. Then work to move quickly and strongly to that position in your swing -- that is where the power to move the bell comes from.

A lot of the athleticism aspect just takes time. It took me a long time. My first ever swings were in March of 2013, and I wish I had video of those! Fast forward a YEAR AND A HALF to Sept 2014, and here we go, video of 28kg swings, NOT VERY GOOD. I was pretty strong to swing the 28kg at that point, but the swings were not snappy or very powerful, shoulders not tight, plank not tight, etc. Not quite a year later, 28kg swings, MUCH BETTER. Snappy, good hip extension, good power, much better technique. So, just keep working it and seeking that improvement of tension and explosiveness and great technique each and every session, and it will come.
 
I was so focused on my abs and packing my shoulders that I missed this
Focus on one thing at the time. Don't try to improve everything simoultaneously, because it can create too much confusion. Make a plan like "today I will focus solely on keeping my shoulders packed" and do it. Do this for 1-3 sessions and you will have it dialed in, then for the next couple of sessions only focus on e.g. hinging deeper and so on.
 
Focus on one thing at the time. Don't try to improve everything simoultaneously, because it can create too much confusion. Make a plan like "today I will focus solely on keeping my shoulders packed" and do it. Do this for 1-3 sessions and you will have it dialed in, then for the next couple of sessions only focus on e.g. hinging deeper and so on.

I can't stress this enough.. Focusing on one thing makes the whole movement a lot better..

Once you get one detail down, stack it on top of the next detail to work on
 
Hey everyone thanks for the help so far. Just getting back into it after a shoulder injury from BJJ.

how do these24kg 1H swings look?


Looking good!

Keep the knees in the game -- a tiny bit more knee bend in the hinge, and full knee extension in the standing plank. Just as you would do for a vertical jump.
 
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