Legs·Barbell·Compound
Snatch Pull
Hamstrings · Barbell
Intermediate
Body Part
Legs
Equipment
Barbell
Level
Intermediate
Type
Compound
Force
Pull
The Snatch Pull is an intermediate barbell exercise that primarily targets the Hamstrings.
Muscles Worked
Hamstrings primaryCalves secondaryGlutes secondaryLower Back secondaryQuads secondaryTraps secondary
In Position


How to Do the Snatch Pull
- 1With a barbell on the floor close to the shins, take a wide snatch grip. Lower your hips with the weight focused on the heels, back straight, head facing forward, chest up, with your shoulders just in front of the bar. This will be your starting position.
- 2Begin the first pull by driving through the heels, extending your knees. Your back angle should stay the same, and your arms should remain straight. Move the weight with control as you continue to above the knees.
- 3Next comes the second pull, the main source of acceleration for the pull. As the bar approaches the mid-thigh position, begin extending through the hips. In a jumping motion, accelerate by extending the hips, knees, and ankles, using speed to move the bar upward.
- 4There should be no need to actively pull through the arms to accelerate the weight; at the end of the second pull, the body should be fully extended, leaning slightly back. Full extension should be violent and abrupt, and ensure that you do not prolong the extension for longer than necessary.
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Smith Machine Hang Power Clean
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Smith Machine Stiff-Legged Deadlift
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Split Snatch
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Exercise data from the open-source Free Exercise DB. Library last reviewed June 22, 2026 · How these guides are written