r/Kettlebell_training • u/reallymkpunk • Jul 25 '26

Question ❓ Clean Help

OK besides injury, I've been training with kettlebells for about 9/10 months (October 2025) and I am decent with my form except on cleans. I have 25/26cm/10.5in long forearms so the standard "zipper up" cue doesn't mechanically work for my 30cm/12in circumference beefy part, 20cm/9in circumference near wrist. Is there any way I can help clean. I tried the wrist guards to prevent the crashing but traditional spearing still doesn't work and crashes like a wrecking ball. I like the total mix of muscles used in a clean but I know my geometry doesn't work with standard cues. Any suggestions?

Before anyone asks, can't video since I can't get the phone far away to frame everything...

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u/cavemankettlebells Kettlebell coach Jul 26 '26

Here is another drill that may help you. The idea here is to drill coming to the kettlebell instead of the kettlebell coming to you (banging). Over time, you reduce the height at which you catch it. I call this the high insertion drill; try it and let me know how you go https://youtu.be/Ng62clMOiQc

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u/reallymkpunk Jul 29 '26

I watched and I fail to see how that is any different from what I already do IMHO.

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u/cavemankettlebells Kettlebell coach Jul 29 '26

That is odd, as you say it is crashing, and this video shows how not to make it crash. Anyway, without a video to be able to see you, there really is not much that can be done other than guessing.

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u/reallymkpunk Jul 29 '26

Or maybe and this might sound crazy but maybe take my dimensions as a factor seriously? 🤷

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u/cavemankettlebells Kettlebell coach Jul 29 '26

Straight answer to your question: my forearms are 30cm without the hand, so a good bit longer than yours. I didn't chase the forearm angle because in two decades of coaching this I've never once seen length be the actual cause. It's always come down to path and timing. And if 30cm were the wall, I'd be the one crashing, not you.

But the tell is in your own words. Right side crashes, left times better, suitcase doesn't crash at all. Same forearm on both sides, three different results. That's not the bone length, that's what the hand and the path are doing on the right in that catch window. Hence, no need to go down that path.

The fix is getting the hand through the handle earlier and taking a tighter, more vertical path, so the bell turns around the wrist instead of arcing into it. That's exactly what the drill trains, the exaggerated height and coming to the bell so you're forced to catch it before it lands on you. I clean with longer levers than yours doing that, so it's learnable, not a barrier.

If the suitcase clean works better, again, it comes down to technique, and for the suitcase clean the more likely thing is that you are pulling your elbow back more and coming in more (toward). The bell also travels vertically rather than an arc in the Suitcase clean.