Hang Power Clean (How To, Benefits & Alternatives)

The Hang Power Clean is a variation of the full Clean that is done in Olympic weightlifting. This variation includes a change to both the starting position and the catch position.

The barbell will start in a hang position just above the knee instead of from the floor. The bar is then caught in a quarter squat position instead of a full front squat like in a full Clean.

I’ve been teaching Hang Power Cleans to elite athletes for two decades and in this guide, I will teach you how to do the Hang Power Clean, give you its benefits and provide you with a couple of alternatives in case you need them.

How To Do Hang Power Cleans

Equipment Needed

• Barbell
• Bumper Plates (technically iron plates could be used, but not recommended)

Instructions

• Start by taking a clean grip, about a thumb length away from the start of the knurling. Using a hook grip (wrapping the fingers over the thumb) is recommended.
• With a flat back, stand tall with the bar.
• Eyes should be focused straight ahead, weight distributed between the heel and mid foot.
• Curl the wrists by turning the knuckles down towards the floor.
• Set the back by squeezing the shoulder blades together (“chest out”) and engaging the lats.
• Deep breathe in and brace the core.
• Put a slight bend in the knee and then hinge forward by pushing the hips back and allowing the barbell to slide down the thigh. Shoulders should end up above, or slightly in front of, the bar.
• Once the bar reaches a few inches from the knee – you are now in the proper hang position for the Hang Power Clean.
• From here, drive the floor with the feet and explosively extend the hips forward.
• Finish the drive by triple extending through the hips, knees and ankles. This full extension should be immediately followed by an aggressive shoulder shrug.
• Now, pull the elbows high while keeping the bar close to the body.
• Transition to the catch (front rack position) by quickly shifting the feet from hip width to shoulder width and dropping the hips down into a partial squat. The elbows should quickly swing under the bar, finishing with the elbows high and triceps parallel to the floor.
• Make sure you are braced to receive the bar in the catch position and then return to a standing position.

Coaching Points

Coaching points for the Hang Power Clean would be worthy of an entire article all to itself, but I’m going to at least touch on a few of the main ones here.

Make sure to maintain a neutral, flat back during the hinge. One of the biggest mistakes that can lead to an injury is allowing the back to round during the hinge. This puts an excessive amount of strain on the spine as the athlete begins the movement.

If the athlete cannot maintain a flat back, lower the weight and incorporate more exercises that can improve the upper back strength needed to maintain proper position like RDLs.

The dreaded rounded back can also occur if the lifter hinges too aggressively and quickly extends without maintaining a braced core. I usually see this when athletes are trying to ‘rock’ into the pull instead of getting properly set.

If the athlete is striking the bar on the thighs once it reaches the hip crease, then they must make sure that the bar doesn’t swing out away from them. The bar should stay close to the body throughout the entire second pull.

Hang Power Clean Benefits

The benefits of a Hang Power Clean are really not much different than the benefits of almost all Olympic lifts and their respective variations. Improving force production.

By explosively training the triple extension of the hips, knees and ankles – you are training and improving one of, if not the most important athletic movements.

Accelerating on a soccer field, jumping for a rebound and exploding off the line to rush the quarterback (just to name a few) are all rooted in the triple extension of the hips, knees and ankles.

More specifically, utilizing Clean variations gives the lifter fewer pieces to think about and allows them to focus on the specific movements that the variation emphasizes.

In this case, by removing the first pull from the floor and the full squat on the catch, the lifter is able to really focus on generating as much force as possible with the hips. This makes the Hang Power Clean a great variation to use with athletes.

Hang Power Clean Variations

There are plenty of variations of the Hang Power Clean that you can do, many simply by changing the starting position, the catch position or the equipment used.

Let’s look at a couple of the most popular ones:

Power Clean

The Power Clean is one of the most popular clean variations and can be achieved by simply changing the starting position.

By starting from the floor instead of the hang, you can switch to a Power Clean pretty easily.

Hang Clean

The Hang Clean is another popular variation that changes the catch position.

Start the movement in the exact same hang position, but instead of catching in a partial squat, the lifter will receive the bar in a full squat position.

It’s a bit more technical, but by being able to drop under the bar it will (at least it should) allow the lifter to move more weight.

Hang Clean Alternatives

If you can’t do Hang Power Cleans for whatever reason – lack of equipment, technique or maybe an injury – here are a few alternatives that you be able to try out.

Need more options? Here are all my favorite Hang Clean alternatives.

Dumbbell Hang Power Clean

Don’t have a barbell? No worries. If you have dumbbells, you can give the Dumbbell Hang Power Clean a try.

The movement stays exactly the same as the barbell version.

The main difference will come when ‘catching’ the dumbbells. Once you rotate the elbows through, let the palms face each other and allow the dumbbells to rest on the shoulders.

If you have an injury limiting one arm, then you might even want to try Single Arm Dumbbell Hang Power Cleans. Same movement, but using just one dumbbell and one arm. (Consult with your Doctor or Athletic Trainer before working around injuries)

Kettlebell Swing

If technique is a concern, then Kettlebell Swings may be a good alternative. You still get some of the same hip extension benefits in a less technical and more beginner-friendly movement.

If you’re learning on your own, this is a great substitute while you continue to get comfortable and proficient with your Hang Power Clean technique.

More Links and Info

If you’d like to see more guides like this one, head over to the Olympic Lifts section of our Exercise Library. There you’ll find dozens of exercise guides, all with step-by-step instructions.

Share This