When to Flex The Wrists

Today’s post will be relatively short.  However, it’s a concept that I stumbled on in the past couple weeks.
I have ALWAYS flexed my wrists at the start of the snatch or clean.  From the very beginning.  Recently, my coach mentioned that this actually does very little for helping keep the bar close and puts the wrists under greater tension for longer.  If the wrist is flexed from the beginning then the arm and wrist act as one solid unit which is no different than the wrist being neutral.  The only difference is that the bar may starts a couple inches close to you.
However, there is a time and place to flex the wrist.  Flex the wrist in the lifts when the bar reaches and begins to move out of the power position.  This will allow for the wrists to help keep the bar close, the wrists not to be under tension for so long, AND allow the flexion of the wrists to create greater speed in the turnover when the lifter extends the wrists during the third pull.
Give this a shot this week.  Flex the wrists with elbows out at the top of the second pull entering the third.  See if that trick helps you keep the bar close and creates greater speed in the turnover.  It has worked for me.  Take a look at some of the pictures below at these lifters with flexed wrists just before turnover.