Summary of an article on the acceleration phase in the Olympic weightlifting snatch.
Who
14 elite male Olympic weightlifters (weight classes: -62kg, -69kg, -77, -85, -94 and +105) aged 23.7±3.2 years with at least 7 years of experience in weightlifting and international experience (Germany).
Design
Data analysis of testing sessions recorded during the pre-competition camps.
Outcome measures
- barbell kinematics during the acceleration phase (1st pull, transition, 2nd pull) of the snatch at 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, and 100% of 1 RM via Realanalyzer
Main results
- The average barbell velocities went down when the load went up.
Load
70%
75%
80%
85%
90%
95%
100%
1st pull
Load
70%
1.41 ± 0.19
75%
1.35 ± 0.18
80%
1.31 ± 0.18
85%
1.27 ± 0.18
90%
1.23 ± 0.21
95%
1.19 ± 0.20
100%
1.17 ± 0.17
Transition
Load
70%
1.70 ± 0.18
75%
1.63 ± 0.18
80%
1.55 ± 0.14
85%
1.48 ± 0.14
90%
1.42 ± 0.15
95%
1.37 ± 0.13
100%
1.34 ± 0.11
2nd pull
Load
70%
2.40 ± 0.11
75%
2.27 ± 0.08
80%
2.20 ± 0.09
85%
2.11 ± 0.10
90%
2.02 ± 0.09
95%
1.94 ± 0.08
100%
1.89 ± 0.07
- this means that to improve barbell velocity, the exact phase (1st pull, transition or 2nd pull) where the loss of acceleration is the highest needs to be identified and targeted with specific exercises (detecting and fixing the weak link).
Take home message
For a clinician & coach
As the load increases, the velocity of the barbell decreases. In half of the athletes, the velocity of the 1st pull decreases the most. But the rest of the athletes had various patterns. To improve barbell velocity, the exact phase (1st pull, transition, or 2nd pull) where the loss of acceleration is the highest needs to be identified and targeted with specific exercises (detecting and fixing the weak link).
For a parent
Identify which of the 1st pull, transition, or 2nd pull loose the most velocity with the load. Then target this phase with specific exercises.
For an athlete
Identify which of the 1st pull, transition, or 2nd pull loose the most velocity with the load. Then target this phase with specific exercises.
Original article
Sandau I, Granacher U. Effects of the barbell load on the acceleration phase during the snatch in elite Olympic weightlifting. Sports. 2020 May 8;8(5):59.
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