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Fitness Medium #form#cues#beginner

Squat / Bench / Deadlift Form Checklist

The 5-7 cues per lift that prevent the bulk of beginner injuries.

A free, animated squat / bench / deadlift form checklist you can read here or embed on any website, from Scrollchart.

Squat / Bench / Deadlift Form Checklist

Squat / Bench / Deadlift Form Checklist6 cues per lift, these cover 90% of beginner technique errors and injury riskSquatFeet shoulder-width, toes ~30° outBrace core (360° tension) before descentKnees track over toes, no caveHip crease below knee (depth)Neutral spine, chest up throughoutBar directly over mid-footBench PressFeet flat on floor, leg drive into benchSlight arch, scapulae retracted + depressedGrip ~1.5× shoulder-widthBar to lower chest, elbows ~75°Straight bar path, slight J-curveLock-out without hyperextending elbowsDeadliftBar over mid-foot, ~1 inch from shinsHip-width stance, hip hinge not squatBrace hard before breaking floorLats "protect armpits", bar stays closeDrive floor away, hips and bar rise togetherLock-out: glutes, not hyperextended lumbarMaster cues 1-3 before adding load. Film your sets, form feels different than it looks.

A grid of the three big lifts x 5-7 form cues each. Squat: feet, knees, brace, depth, neutral spine, bar position. Bench: feet, arch, scapula, grip, bar path. Deadlift: stance, grip, hip hinge, brace, bar path, lockout.

Good for

  • Form-teaching articles
  • Coach handouts

Source & accuracy

This squat / bench / deadlift form checklist is an editorial illustration built to represent the concept accurately. Where it shows figures, they are typical or representative values chosen to make the relationship clear, not a single underlying dataset. The diagram and its explainer are reviewed and maintained centrally, and updated over time as understanding improves.

Why a few cues per lift go far

The squat, bench press, and deadlift each have a small number of technique points that account for most of the difference between safe, productive reps and risky ones. For the squat these include bracing the trunk, controlling knee tracking, and reaching adequate depth under control. For the bench, a stable shoulder position and a controlled bar path matter most.

The deadlift centers on a neutral spine, engaging the lats, and driving through the floor rather than yanking the bar.

Using a checklist to build the pattern

Running through the same cues every set turns correct technique into a habit before heavy loads expose any weakness. Filming sets or training with a knowledgeable lifter helps catch breakdowns that are hard to feel in the moment.

Cues are starting points, and individual anatomy changes what good form looks like from person to person. Persistent pain during these lifts is a reason to reassess and, if it continues, to seek a qualified professional. This is general educational information, not medical advice.

Embed this diagram

Add this animated squat / bench / deadlift form checklist to your own site. Copy one line of HTML, or use the embed builder for theme and sizing options.

Reference

What this is
A free, embeddable, animated squat / bench / deadlift form checklist for any website.
Who uses it
Fitness blogs, Coaches & personal trainers.
How to embed
Copy one line of HTML. No signup. No watermark. Works in WordPress, Webflow, Ghost, Substack, plain HTML.
File size
iframe embed, ~80 KB gzipped (loads on demand, does not block your page paint).
License
Free forever. Editorial explainer text included; updated centrally over time.

Embed format options

Copy the universal HTML snippet, the WordPress shortcode, or an iframe fallback - see the WordPress plugin page for details. Any format keeps the same Core Web Vitals profile and the same explainer text.

Embed snippet
<div data-scrollchart="beginner-form-checklist" data-scrollchart-v="1"></div>
<script src="https://scrollchart.com/embed.js" async></script>

Frequently asked questions

Where can I get a free animated "Squat / Bench / Deadlift Form Checklist" for my website?
Scrollchart provides "Squat / Bench / Deadlift Form Checklist" as a free, embeddable animated diagram you can add to any website with one line of HTML. No signup is required and there is no watermark. The diagram and its explainer text are served from scrollchart.com, so the embed stays current without any maintenance on your end.
How do I embed a squat / bench / deadlift form checklist diagram in a health or wellness blog?
Copy the HTML snippet from the Scrollchart diagram page and paste it into any post or page in your CMS. It works in WordPress, Webflow, Ghost, Substack, and plain HTML without any plugin or account. The diagram renders as animated SVG directly in your page, so search engines can index the accompanying explainer text.