7 Best Snatch Accessory Exercises Every Athlete Needs to Use

Snatch accessory exercises are a great way to attack your lift and technique from new angles, strengthen weak spots, and breakthrough plateaus. Use these variations to become a better lifter.

SNATCH HIGH PULL – SNATCH ACCESSORY EXERCISES

The snatch high pull is a great way to develop strength, speed, power, posture and balance. You will be able to handle heavier weights than in the snatch, which in turn is great for improving explosive power. Generally, the snatch pull should be done for 2-5 reps per set anywhere from 80%-110% of the lifter’s best snatch depending on the lifter and how it fits into the program.

The weight should not exceed what the lifter can do with reasonably proper positioning and speed in the final extension. As a strength exercise, it should be placed toward the end of a workout, but because it also involves some speed and technique, it’s generally the best place before more basic strength work like squats.

HANG SNATCH

The hang snatch has many functions. It can be used for beginners because many people find it easier to snatch from the floor. It creates balance and proper positioning at the start of the second pull. It is a great way to develop force production in the extension and more aggressiveness in the pull under the bar.

SNATCHING FROM THE BLOCKS

Snatching from the blocks means that the plates of the bar rest on blocks that vary in height to provide a dead stop from which to execute the lift. Typically, this is just above the knee and around the mid-thigh area. This is done to focus on improving a certain part of the pull or the receiving portion of the snatch and is crucial, I believe, in developing and continuing to improve the second pull.

This is a valuable training tool that requires no more mobility than a full Snatch and can be used to improve your pulling and receiving technique in the snatch. Subsequently, it has the potential to improve both your one-rep max and your performance in WOD’s involving snatches and snatch cycling.

As any of you who have tried high rep barbell cycling – especially snatches – will testify, your arms will burn out fast if you’re lifting with sub-optimal technique and often this is because of inefficiencies in the second pull.

• Get the second pull right by integrating Snatch block work into your program,
• Develop better pulling technique,
• Save your arms, do more reps, get better WOD scores/times. Simple.

SNATCH DEADLIFT

The snatch deadlift strengthens the first pull of the snatch.

1. Begin with a wide snatch grip with the barbell placed on the platform. The feet should be directly under the hips, with the feet turned out. Squat down to the bar, keeping the back in absolute extension with the head facing forward.
2. Initiate the movement by driving through the heels, raising the hips. The back angle should remain the same until the bar passes the knees.
3. At that point, drive your hips through the bar as you lay back. Return the bar to the platform by reversing the motion.

PAUSED OVERHEAD SQUATS – SNATCH ACCESSORY EXERCISES

The overhead squat is the ultimate core exercise, the heart of the snatch, and peerless in developing effective athletic movement, making it one of the best crucial snatch accessory exercises.

This demanding exercise reveals every lack of mobility without mercy. Adding a pause at the bottom will help you to strengthen your overhead position and your ability to catch and balance the bar during the lift.

5 Training tips to improve your overhead squats

SNATCH GRIP PUSH PRESS

Also known as snatch presses, they increase the strength and mobility of the arms in the Snatch receiving position. This is also a great shoulder exercise, and if you want to build serious strength, do them strict.

SNATCH ACCESSORY EXERCISES – BARBELL ROWS

Training the upper back stabilizers is pretty common in Olympic Weightlifting, but often the lats are neglected. Barbell rows enable both to be trained at the same time.

How to barbell row

Learn more

Check out these amazing Barbell Complexes and learn about the Front Squat Benefits or include these Thruster Workouts in your training.

Or why not try these Creative Barbell Exercises, strengthen your core with these Unusual Barbell Abs Exercises and perfect your lifting with these Squat Clean Technique Tips.