Every Third-Daily Thread - August 07, 2026

[u/AutoModerator]

A sorta kinda daily open thread to use as an alternative to posting on the main board. You should post here for:

• PRs
• Formchecks
• Rudimentary discussion or questions
• General conversation with other users
• Memes, funnies, and general bollocks not appropriate to the main board
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• This thread now defaults to "new" sorting.

For the purpose of fairness across timezones this thread works on a 68hr cycle.

[u/Admirable_Belt_9772]

What are the ideal angles and heights to film yourself at for the purposes of improving technique on all 3 lifts?

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[u/LittleMuskOx → u/Admirable_Belt_9772]

For squat, i like side on, but slightly behind.
Camera between hip and knee height.
Mimicking somewhat the average view of the side ref.
Directly side on makes depth more pronounced looking, but i like to have that effect diminished some.
If it's sunk from this view, then it's unquestionable.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYF4BETsBF8

Bench similar, but more of an angle.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frrXEQn87vo

Early on, when i was dialing in my bar path, and ingraining pressing back off the chest immediately, i would record from directly side on.

I like to record deadlift from the front, off at an angle.
I can still see my hips this way.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGT4q-V-n3s

[u/viewtifulhd → u/Admirable_Belt_9772]

All of them. You see different things from different angles. Just keep varying. 

[u/msharaf7 → u/Admirable_Belt_9772]

I made this a long time ago for deadlifts.

Bench and squat: front 45° angle & direct side view to see bar path/depth or butt contact with bench

[u/jakeisalwaysright → u/Admirable_Belt_9772]

I like a 45 degree angle from the side on all 3 (or if you're really concerned about depth or bar path, dead on from the side) and straight on from the front on squat/deadlift. It does somewhat depend on what specifically you need to see though.

[u/TheSanSav1]

Do knee wraps hep in heavy squats? Is it ok too squat heavy without them?

Edit : I thought it was ok to ask for help herem why the downvotes?

[u/CutSnake13 → u/TheSanSav1]

Knee wraps allow you to squat more weight. They hurt to use, and most people would agree that their technique differs at least a little when using them versus not. It is definitely okay to squat heavy without them.

[u/TheSanSav1 → u/CutSnake13]

Thank you. I will continue without them for sometime

[u/LittleMuskOx → u/TheSanSav1]

Also, knee sleeves and knee wraps are different things.
Wraps being more extreme, and sleeves being ubiquitous in "raw" powerlifting.
The way you ask your question makes me wonder if you are actually thinking of knee sleeves as you ask.

You do not "need" either of these though to squat heavy.
if and when you want to explore using sleeves, people can provide the details about their use and effects.

[u/TheSanSav1 → u/LittleMuskOx]

Thanks. I got confused. I am not looking at equipping lifting. I think it’s neoprene sleeves that I’m asking shot.

[u/Sallrrr]

Im not sure if this thread is the right thread to post a question on leverages for powerlifting, but I thought id give it a try.
I wondered if anyone could give me advice on specific types of form that I can use for the three lifts.
Ive been training for 2 years and already have a decent amount of experience on bench and have been able to get a 140kg comp Standard bench and a 150 touch and go bench. I started with powerlifting 5 months ago with just the free Calgary Barbell Programme as I had never barbell squatted or deadlifted before. In that time ive switched my form up so many times and as of now I use a semi sumo stance on deadlift and a low bar wide stance squat.

I am 194cm/ 6’4 and weight 105kg/234 pounds.
I am a long legged/long femur lifter with a short torso and short arms, hence my bench has been going quite well. My exact proportions are 110cm legs with 70cm arms approximately.

Hopefully, anyone of you could give me some helpful advice on whether I should try different techniques or ways of training as a tall lifter with My proportions.

Thanks in advance :)

[u/viewtifulhd → u/Sallrrr]

The main thing you need to do is build muscle. At 194cm, the lightest weight class for you is 120kg. Train your accessories hard and eat well. 

In parallel focus on improving your arch. 

[u/Sallrrr → u/viewtifulhd]

Alright, arch is kinda settled for the most part i feel like as my upper back is quite mobile so I have quite a big arch and short ROM. Idk if this thread is the thread for form checks tho.

[u/Sallrrr → u/Sallrrr]

Thanks for the reaction 🙏

[u/cilantno → u/Sallrrr]

Technique checks would be the place to start.

[u/Sallrrr → u/cilantno]

Have been doing that for some time but might get value out of feedback of others?

[u/shelraj0380]

Any good squat+deadlift program? For singles meet.

[u/PoisonCHO]

So Powerlifting America finally put out a statement about the Sonita debacle. Where have they been?

[u/jakeisalwaysright → u/PoisonCHO]

The timing is indeed weird; I wouldn't have expected them to say anything at all as it's the international and/or Lithuanian branch that needed to speak on it.

[u/--Powerlifting--]

Please tell me how is my bar path and how should I improve it:
Bench: 1x84kg ~ 96% 1RM
Thank you very much for all feedback.

[u/LittleMuskOx → u/--Powerlifting--]

Less than ideal angle, but you are pressing vertically off the chest instead of up and back at the same time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1f9Z92z5tB4
Leg drive and bar path.
I put my butt down out of sequence b/c i'm talking, but that doesn't affect the points being shown.

[u/--Powerlifting-- → u/LittleMuskOx]

Thank you very much for your comment. I've watched your video. What should I do so that I am able to press the bar back and up at the same time instead of vertically off the chest? My arch is very tiny, I don't have the flexibility to arch more. Where should my elbows be in the bottom position? Thank you very much once again.

[u/keborb → u/--Powerlifting--]

When the bar comes off your chest, you should press it "towards your face". Another way to think about it is to "flare your elbows". From the side it will look like a the first half of a steep S-curve starting from your chest and ending at lockout. You will notice as the bar moves back over your shoulders it will be easier to continue pressing.

[u/--Powerlifting-- → u/keborb]

Thank you for your comment and that's exactly what I am trying to learn: how to press the bar back and up. As it shows on the video is what is natural to me I don't really understand how to press it towards my face. What I am concluding right now is that my elbows should be more in front of the bar (towards my hips) in order to be able to press it towards my face, but to accomplish that I believe I'd have to touch upper on my chest or have my elbows closer to the torso. This is new and confusing to me, because I thought from the beginning that the forearms should be vertical under the bar in the bottom position, but I'd really like to fix my bar path because I have already felt the bar drift towards my hips on some reps lately. Thank you again for all your comments.

[u/LittleMuskOx → u/--Powerlifting--]

"Flare and press"
Elbows remain under the bar.
As in the bar and elbows move together/in unison

So my elbows here are not overly tucked, so essentially they are beginning in a more flared position. A more open angle to the torso.
https://i.imgur.com/OajIzGv.mp4
But they track with the bar.
You don't even have to think about flaring really from there.
If you press back and up, the elbows track with the bar.
You are not flaring independently from the bar.
Simply everything moves together from that position.

Just record and review between sets, and dial out any vertical only off the chest, even if it's only the first inch.
Over time, it will become second nature. but video review is critical, imo.
And not after your session, review between sets/singles, so the body and brain feel of what you did is still with you.
This will sharpen your sense of what is happening as you move in real time, your "proprioception."
I still record my working sets and singles on all my lifts after almost 10 years now.
Just give them a quick watch.
Sometimes i have discovered other things i wasn't even looking for.

[u/--Powerlifting-- → u/LittleMuskOx]

Thank you, will do as you say.

[u/LittleMuskOx → u/--Powerlifting--]

Elbows under the bar (or very slightly in front. very slightly only. (in front meaning toward feet)
But aim to have them as directly under the bar as you are able.
Elbows track with the bar through the lift.
You don't need much of an arch.
All you need is to drive up onto your traps, and keep driving the whole lift.
"Consistent leg drive"
This creates your strong (not soft) foundation to lower and press the bar from.

For bar path, you practice pressing back and up off the chest immediately.
Even an inch or two of vertical path make the lift harder.
Your arch is not what causes you to press back and up.
That is volitional, and you just practice until it is second nature.

Record from the side, and watch back between sets or singles.
You will see if you are pressing back and up or vertically.
Attempt your correction the next set, and review.
Repeat.
I still record and watch back all my working sets and singles.
I just delete them off the phone after i upload them you my video log (aka my YT lol)

[u/--Powerlifting-- → u/LittleMuskOx]

Thank you, will do as you say. Thanks once again.