Best Powerlifting Technique Articles

Most of the technique articles on Strengtheory focus on the squat, bench, and deadlift.

We put together comprehensive guides on each lift that will tell you everything (yes, we mean EVERYTHING) you need to know about improving your technique and adding weight to the bar for years to come.

Start here:

How to Squat: The Definitive Guide
How to Bench: The Definitive Guide
How to Deadlift: The Definitive Guide

March 2, 2020 By Greg Nuckols

Bench Press Range of Motion: An Exception to the Principle of Specificity?

Much of what we know about range of motion specificity comes from single-joint studies and squat studies. When we branch out to the bench press, things get more complicated.

July 1, 2019 By Greg Nuckols

Squats Are Secretly an Adductor Exercise

A new study lends pretty solid support to two of my more iconoclastic positions about squatting, for which I previously only had shaky, circumstantial evidence. This article digs into the research and tells you what you need to…

January 27, 2019 By Greg Nuckols

There’s Finally Research on Safety Bar Squats

A lot of people have asked me to review the research on safety bar squats. There was just one problem: there wasn’t any. That’s changed over the past couple of months.

April 19, 2018 By The MASS Team

Strength and Physique Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Master List

Due to the significance of systematic reviews and meta-analyses, we’ve put together a list and short take-home message of many recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses so you can cut straight to the chase of the results.

February 21, 2018 By Greg Nuckols

Internal Cues Don’t Affect Muscle Activation with Explosive Lifting

Bodybuilders preach the importance of the “mind-muscle connection.” However, when you’re actually putting full effort into your reps, does that focus on the target muscle actually affect muscle activation?

March 7, 2017 By Greg Nuckols

Are Close Stance Squats Really More Quad-Dominant?

Bro wisdom says close stance squats are more quad-dominant than wide stance squats. Is that really true? This article looks at the science of stance width.

February 16, 2017 By Greg Nuckols

Trap Bar Deadlifts are Underrated

Trap bar deadlifts allow for more flexibility in the movement, higher velocity and power output, and are safer and easier to learn for a lot of people.

January 14, 2017 By Jason Eure

Squatting with Patellar Tendinopathy

Trying to squat with achy knees can be tricky – you don’t want to lose too much strength, but you want to the problem to go away. Here’s what you need to do

September 1, 2016 By Greg Nuckols

The Importance of the Lats in the Deadlift

Despite the importance of the lats in the deadlift, their role is often misunderstood. Once you understand their function, it’s easier to use them optimally

April 25, 2016 By Greg Nuckols

The Lats and the Bench Press – Much Ado About Very Little

The lats are “pull muscles,” and the bench press is a push. Why did people start emphasizing the lats for bench, and is their importance overstated?

March 24, 2016 By Greg Nuckols

Bench Press Bar Path: How to Fix Your Bar Path for a Bigger Bench

This is a bench press tweak you should know about. Learn how to optimize your bar path for a bigger bench. It makes a bigger difference than you realize.

March 9, 2016 By Greg Nuckols

Sitting Back vs. Down in the Squat: Much Ado About Very Little

Cuing sitting back vs. down in the squat may change how the squat looks, but muscular demands are pretty similar through the range of motion that overlaps.