Kettlebell Swing

Explosive hip extension — trains power, conditioning and a hinge pattern that carries into sprinting and jumping.

DIFFICULTY
Intermediate
EQUIPMENT
Kettlebell
PRIMARY MUSCLES
Glutes · Hamstrings
ALSO WORKS
Lower back · Forearms & Grip · Abs
HOW TO DO IT
  1. 01Stand with the bell about a foot in front of you, feet slightly wider than hips.
  2. 02Hinge, grip the handle and hike it back between your legs like a football snap.
  3. 03Snap the hips forward hard — the bell floats to chest height on its own.
  4. 04Let it swing back, absorb with the hips, and repeat in rhythm.
COACHING CUES
  1. 01The arms are ropes — the hips do all the work.
  2. 02Stand up violently; the float is a by-product, not a lift.
  3. 03Glutes and abs squeeze hard at the top.
COMMON MISTAKES
  1. 01Lifting the bell with the shoulders instead of snapping the hips.
  2. 02Squatting the swing instead of hinging.
  3. 03Leaning back at the top and cranking the lower back.

Note: Reference material, not a prescription. Load, volume and whether this movement suits you at all depends on your assessment — if something hurts, stop and get it looked at.

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