CrossFit Koncepts

After 25 years coaching kettlebell technique, I've noticed a fundamental misunderstanding about what drives the Swing and every kettlebell ballistic technique. The height that the kettlebell achieves isn't determined by your hip hinge—it's determined by how much force you drive into the ground.

Your feet are the true engine of the kettlebell Swing. Every powerful Swing starts with dynamically and forcefully pushing the ground away from you.

Most people mistakenly view the hip hinge as the power generator. It's not. The hinge is merely the transmission—it translates the force from your legs and transfers it to the kettlebell.

When you Swing, here's what's actually happening:

1. You drive your feet hard into the ground
2. This force travels up through your legs
3. Your hip hinge positions your body to effectively transfer this energy
4. The force continues through your arms to the kettlebell

The kettlebell rises exactly as high as your ground force dictates—no more, no less.

If you want a more powerful Swing, push into the ground harder. If your kettlebell isn't reaching the height you want, you're not generating enough ground force.

This explains why strong squatters often have naturally powerful swings—they already know how to drive into the ground.

Next time you Swing, focus less on the height of the bell and more on how forcefully you're pushing the ground away. Feel the floor beneath you as the starting point of all power.

Your hip hinge simply channels this force. Perfect it, and you'll become an efficient power-transfer machine.

The height will take care of itself when you learn to use the true engine of the Swing—the ground beneath your feet.