Which cue helps maintain an upright torso in the Front Squat?

• A. Elbows high.
• B. Hands just outside shoulders.
• C. Lumbar curve maintained.
• D. Weight in heels.

Answer: (A)

Elbows high helps keep the torso upright because lifting the elbows creates a stable shelf on the front of the shoulders, which makes it easier to keep the chest up and the spine in a vertical position as you descend and rise. When the elbows are kept high, the bar stays balanced over the midfoot and away from tipping forward, helping you maintain an upright torso throughout the squat. This cue directly influences bar position and thoracic posture, guiding the torso to stay tall.

Grip width (hands just outside shoulders) mainly affects how the bar sits on the shelf but doesn’t actively enforce torso angle. Focusing on maintaining the lumbar curve can be helpful for spinal safety, but it’s less direct for keeping the chest up and the torso vertical in the front rack. Weight in the heels supports balance and knee tracking, but again, it doesn’t specifically drive upright torso position.