As I circulate through high school and college weight rooms, I continue to observe that young men (sorry, guys, but it’s mostly us) are enamored with the amount of weight they lift. Many of them would rather execute lifts with more weight — using poor technique and reduced range-of-motion — than reduce the weight and perform the exercise properly. They believe that more weight equals a better lift.
One of the “secrets” to building exceptional strength, explosiveness, and athleticism is to ensure that your lifting technique is flawless. Athletes who become preoccupied with “how much” and “how many” compromise their results and risk injury (attention CrossFitters).
When performed properly, the benefits of exercises like the squat, deadlift, and bench press extend beyond the weight room. Proper form means protecting your spine by keeping your back straight and core tight; and recruiting the large, powerful muscles of your hips and thighs more effectively.
When your form is perfect, you’re teaching your body to move more efficiently. Poor lifting technique leads to poor movement. The key is to practice perfect technique with every repetition you’re lifting.
Here’s a tip for executing every lift with flawless form: Before starting your regular sets, perform one or two warmup sets using half the weight you’d normally use, to prepare your muscles and connective tissues for heavy loads.
