In push jerks, which instruction involves a tactile cue to assist proper bar control?

• A. Use a tactile cue: hold your hand over the athlete's head and instruct him or her to hit the hand before lowering the bar.
• B. Breathe in and hold at the top.
• C. Stand taller and pull the bar under.
• D. Relax the grip to reduce tension.

Answer: (A)

Using tactile cues in push jerks helps the lifter feel and adjust bar control in real time. Placing a hand over the athlete's head and telling them to hit the hand creates a physical reference point that the bar must reach and contact. This cue encourages a vertical, controlled bar path and keeps the bar close to the center of gravity as it moves from drive to catch, reducing forward drift and wobble. Because the feedback is felt, the athlete can correct timing and positioning immediately. Other cues focus on breathing, general mechanics, or grip tension, but they don’t provide a direct kinesthetic signal about where the bar is in space, making this tactile cue the most effective for bar control in this movement.