Knees in during the dip is a fault in which lift?

• A. Push press
• B. Front squat
• C. Air squat
• D. Back squat

Answer: (A)

The knee-in during the dip is a fault that shows up in the dip portion of an overhead press that uses a pre-dip loading phase. In the push press, you dip your hips and knees slightly to preload the legs before driving the bar overhead. When the knees collapse inward during that dip, it wastes power and can put the knee at risk, signaling a breakdown in the dip mechanics and hip/ankle stability.

The reason this fault is associated with the push press is that the dip is a defined, separate phase in that lift. Other options describe squats—air, front, and back squats—where there isn’t a distinct dip before pressing; the movement is a descent and rise from the bottom position rather than a pre-drive dip. So the knee-in during a dip is specifically addressing the mechanics of the push press.

To fix it, focus on keeping knees aligned with the toes during the dip, engaging the glutes and hips to maintain stability, and cultivating a strong, upright torso so the force can move efficiently from legs to bar. Adjusting stance width, improving ankle mobility, and cueing “knees out” can help maintain proper knee alignment during the dip.