During the setup, where should the hands be in relation to the legs?

• A. Shoulders slightly in front of or over the bar.
• B. Hands inside legs with a full grip on the bar.
• C. Knees in line with toes.
• D. Eyes on the horizon.

Answer: (B)

The hand position in the setup is to have the grip inside the legs with a full grip on the bar. This keeps the bar close to your body and sets up a straight, vertical path from the floor. When your hands are inside the legs and you grip the bar firmly, you create solid tension through the forearms and lats, which helps keep the bar over the midfoot and reduces unwanted drift forward as you initiate the lift. This compact, tucked starting position makes it easier to drive the hips up and maintain a strong, efficient pull rather than fighting the bar away from your body. Other cues like where the shoulders are or where you’re looking are important for other aspects of the lift, but they don’t establish the hand-to-leg relationship that optimizes the initial bar path.