Full Answer
How to perform a perfect hang clean?
- Start at the knee,
- Accelerate to the hip (touch it!) and explode the bar up.
- Then all you have to do is catch it.
When to do hang cleans?
The hang clean is a power-based movement that can help with athletic development and explosive strength. Below are a few lifting populations who can benefit from such a movement. Strength and power athletes can use the hang clean to improve overall athleticism, power production, and explosive strength.
What could I do instead of a hang power clean?
But exercises can vary, we might also do Clean Pulls from the ground instead of Hang Power Cleans. If we train 2 times a week, that could mean we do Power Cleans in the first session, Power Snatches in the second session, or we do Power Cleans in the first session and a combination (some people call it hybrid lift) of Power Clean and Front Squats.
What muscles does hang clean work?
hang clean is a free weights and total body exercise that primarily targets the quads and to a lesser degree also targets the biceps, calves, forearms, glutes, hip flexors, lats, lower back, middle back, neck, shoulders, traps and hamstrings. The only hang clean equipment that you really need is the following: barbell.

What does hang clean do?
The hang clean can help build muscles across your body, including in your glutes, hamstrings, quadriceps, biceps, and core. 2. Hang cleans improve your explosive power. With proper hang clean form, the hang clean can increase your power output during other weightlifting exercises.
Why is it called a hang clean?
The hang clean is a variation of the power clean exercise, with the word "hang" referring to the starting position because the weight hangs in front of the body versus starting on the floor. The hang cleans works many muscle groups, making it a great addition to total body strength training workouts.
Is a hang clean harder than a clean?
3:496:50What is easier a Hang Clean or a Power Clean? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo if you now have to do it fast it's even more difficult. And this is exactly the advantage of theMoreSo if you now have to do it fast it's even more difficult. And this is exactly the advantage of the power clean the power clean as we discussed.
Whats the difference between power clean and hang clean?
Power cleans and hang cleans are not the same, as they refer to two distinct weightlifting concepts. Power cleans are cleans that are caught above a parallel squat. Hang cleans are cleans that are performed with the bar starting 'hanging' in front of the body instead of on the floor.
Do you have to squat in a hang clean?
Essentially, a hang clean is the top half of a power clean. Technically, a hang clean involves dropping under the bar into a full squat after the initial pull (like the squat clean). But many lifters like to do a hang power clean, which involves only a dip of the knees when catching the bar (like the power clean).
Should I deadlift or power clean?
Because you can lift more weight when deadlifting, it's the best exercise for building pure explosive strength. Power cleans can make you stronger, but they aren't as effective. So, if you want to lift heavy weights, deadlifts are the way to go. Winner: Deadlifts!
Do hang cleans make you faster?
Due to its shortened range of motion, the hang power clean will increase your explosiveness, your ability to develop force and power quicker. Some other athletes also have mobility issues (especially very tall athletes), so the hang power clean is a great substitute for those who still want to work these muscles.
Is hang clean push or pull?
The hang clean pull is a variation of the clean pull that begins in the hang position instead of with the bar on the floor. Stand with the bar in a clean-width grip at arms' length.
Are deadlifts worth it?
Absolutely, deadlifts are worth it. Deadlifting is optimal for muscle growth as it hits multiple muscle groups at the same time. There are various deadlift variations you can do to gain muscle mass. These include the Romanian deadlift, trap bar deadlifts, sumo deadlifts, and conventional deadlifts.
Do NFL players do deadlifts?
While we often don't see NFL players deadlifting, many of them are capable of performing the exercise at higher weight levels. On average, an NFL player can deadlift near 550 pounds. Similarly, the average NFL kicker can deadlift closer to 350 pounds, with NFL linemen deadlifting closer to 660 pounds.
Are hang cleans a leg workout?
Hang clean muscles worked Hang cleans are a full body exercise, working the muscles in your shoulders, neck, core, back and legs.
Where does the hang clean position start?
Generally if no qualifier is present, a hang clean is done from a starting position with the bar just above the knee. High-hang is usually upper thigh, mid-hang at mid-thigh, and low-hang just below the knee. The purpose of the hang clean can vary depending on its application.
Why are hang cleans harder than power cleans?
The main difference between this movement and the power clean is that the weight starts from the hip, which requires a more explosive hip drive. Lifting the weight from the hips makes the hang clean a great movement to build powerful glutes and, for weightlifters specifically, improve the second half of their clean.
Do hang cleans make you faster?
Due to its shortened range of motion, the hang power clean will increase your explosiveness, your ability to develop force and power quicker. Some other athletes also have mobility issues (especially very tall athletes), so the hang power clean is a great substitute for those who still want to work these muscles.
Are hang cleans push or pull?
Hang cleans are popular in CrossFit workouts and weightlifting training. No emphasis is placed on the initial pull from the ground, instead athletes learn to master the second and third pulls of the clean, from the hang position to the full squat receiving the bar.
What is the difference between a clean and a squat clean?
With a clean — sometimes called a “full clean” or “squat clean” — you ride the bar down into a full squat. For the lift to be a power clean, you must catch it in the power position, which means above parallel! In other words, you can squat, but your hips can't go below your knees. If they do, it's a clean.
Can beginners do hang cleans?
Yes. Many weightlifting coaches teach using a top-down method, with the hang clean being one of the first movements taught. The hang clean is a gre...
Will hang cleans grow my muscles?
Not really. The hang clean is a power-based movement that needs to be done with speed and force. The best muscle-building exercises are typically d...
How many sets and reps should I do for the hang clean.
These are just starting points, but here are some goal-based set and rep suggestions. To improve technique: Do three to five sets of three to five...
How do I do a hang clean?
Hold a barbell with both hands, arms extended down, standing tall with feet shoulder-width apart. Hinge forward slightly until the bar is past your...
What is the difference between a hang clean and a hang clean?
The hang power clean is done nearly identically to the hang clean, with the main difference being that the lifter doesn’t squat down to catch the bar. The hang power clean is an even more focused version of the hang clean, with this variation building purely hip drive.
How does a hang clean work?
The hang clean works to specifically increase a lifter’s ability to promote power and optimal of the barbell at the hip as he/she finishes their pull. Unlike the full clean, the hang forces a lifter to stay over the barbell and drive the legs into the floor while simultaneously focusing on the power development at the end of the movement. The lower the bar is to start, the more carryover you’ll have to a full clean and jerk, starting with the barbell on the floor.
Who Should Do the Hang Clean?
The hang clean is a power-based movement that can help with athletic development and explosive strength. Below are a few lifting populations who can benefit from such a movement.
What muscles are engaged during the hang clean?
The hamstrings and glutes are engaged during the bar’s initial lowering phase, right before the first pull. During the hang clean, these muscles act like rubber bands, allowing tension to build before explosively thrusting the hips forward to initiate the lifting phase of the hang clean.
How many reps do you need to do a hang clean?
Strength requires very heavy weight performed for just a few reps. Do five to 10 sets of two to three repetitions, with 80 percent (or more) of your 1RM. Heavy hang cleans can be used to increase overall clean performance, pulling power and strength, and/or increasing the clean and jerk under heavier, near-maximal loads (which itself is a skill).
Why do athletes hang clean?
Strength and power athletes can use the hang clean to improve overall athleticism, power production, and explosive strength. Additionally, Olympic weightlifters can use hang cleans to maximize clean and jerk performance.
What muscles do the hang clean work?
The hang clean is a compound movement that primarily works the posterior chain and the legs, back, and core muscles. The below muscle groups are all active in the hang clean.
What is hang clean?
Hang cleans are more than just a clean and jerk variation seen in functional fitness competitions or barbell WODs. They are a vital part to the development and enhancement of the Olympic weightlifting technique and strength capacities of all levels of weightlifters, CrossFitters, and sports athletes.
Why do athletes use hang cleans?
Most issues in the clean, which can be remedied by hang cleans are: Lack of finishing the pull. Early arm bending during the pull.
Why do lifters do hangs?
This can be caused by lack of strength at the end of the pull, poor timing, poor balance, or lack of general awareness of proper technique. By performing hangs, you simplify the movement to isolate a specific area of the clean pull, forcing the lifters to focus all energy and effort at the finish of the pull. Without gaining proper velocity, such as one could do from the floor, the hang forces them to finish the pull and maximize energy output at the high thigh/hip to finish the lift.
Can you hang clean a lifter?
Hang cleans can be done with similar loading schemes as normal cleans, however usually adjusted slightly as the loads that can be maximal are 90-100% of one’s best clean from the floor. Some lifters may actually be able to handle heavier loads (sometimes similar loading to the full clean), which suggests issues in the first and second pull.
Can a lifter do a clean without a pause?
In the event a lifter goes directly into the clean from the hang without a pause (pre-stretched position), he or she may likely find they can do higher intensities (% of RM), leading to a good overloading stimulus or systematic way to increase lifter’s confidence getting under heavy loads.
Can you neglect training the classic clean?
careful not to neglect training the classic clean. In my experience, occasionally
Is hang clean good for beginners?
Hang cleans can be a great tool for beginner. weightlifters as their time to create bar acceleration is limited. This encourages. the lifer to develop force production in the extension and efficiency in getting. under the bar. However, while the hang clean might be a great exercise, be.
What does "hang power clean" mean?
This means is instead of having the bar with the weight on the ground, as it is for the Power Clean, the Hang Power Clean starts from a ‘hang’ position.
What is the start position of a hang power clean?
The start position of the Hang Power Clean can vary between from hip height to mid-shin position, just a few centimeters of the ground. Some people distinguish between a High Hang Power Clean and a Low Hang Power Clean, where. the High Hang Power Clean refers to a start position from the hip.
Which is easier, Hang Power Clean or Power Clean?
For most people, the Hang Power Clean is easier to perform than the Power Clean.
What does it mean when a bar is hanging?
What does that mean? It means that the bar is hanging somewhere between the ground and the hip. In the start position of the Hang Power Clean, the bar/weight is kind of hanging freely in front of you, and you have to stabilize that position before you initiate the lift.
Is Hang Power Clean a different lift?
The main takeaway from the Hang Power Clean vs Power Clean discussion is to understand, it is not a different lift, the Hang Power Clean is a variation of the Power Clean.
Is it easier to hang or power clean?
For most people, the Hang Power Clean is easier to perform than the Power Clean. The word ‘hang’ refers to the weight ‘hanging’ freely, rather than resting on the ground or on the blocks.
Can you go through all phases of power clean?
Well, the only consideration is, that you might not go through all phases of the Power Clean technique, depending on your start position.
What Does “Hang Power Clean” Even Mean?
A “clean” is an exercise where you catch a barbell on your shoulders in a front-rack position. The bar could start still on the ground, at your hips (“power” position), or from the “hang” position.
Why do you do hang power cleans?
There is value to incorporating Hang Power Cleans into a general program: increase overall athleticism, develop the nervous system, and warm the body up for future exercises. Becoming more efficient at coordinating whole-body movements and doing it fast will carry over to other exercises that require the nervous system to function optimally (like a heavy squat or deadlift). Additionally, if done with light enough weight, this exercise can prime the body for the rest of the workout by waking up the nervous system and its muscles. (more on this in “The Bottom Line”)
What does "clean" mean in gym?
For any exercise that uses the word “Clean” without actually catching the bar in a front-rack position, it means you put your hands at the same width apart as you would if you were to catch the bar.
Do you use a hang jump shrug or a hang clean high pull?
This won’t include bringing your elbows high and will use a heavier weight than a Hang Clean High-Pull. Hang Clean High-Pulls will get you comfortable using your entire body to bring the bar upwards and Hang Jump Shrugs will get you comfortable using moderate weight and high effort.
Is it stupid to do power cleans?
Every exercise you do should have a specific reason. Doing an exercise just to do it or you “feel like you should” is stupid. Hang power cleans are a great exercise, but only if you know why you’re doing them.
Do hang power cleans make sense?
With that being said, Hang Power Cleans only make sense if you want athletic performance to improve. This could be for sports, sprinting, running, etc.
How much should I be able to Hang Clean? (lb)
What is the average Hang Clean? The average Hang Clean weight for a male lifter is 192 lb (1RM). This makes you Intermediate on Strength Level and is a very impressive lift.
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