Common Mistakes
Elbow excessively coming out laterally during the clean
The elbow is excessively coming out to the side (laterally) during a clean. This position with the elbow out to the side can put stress on the lateral deltoid and is not a good position for scooping up the weight.
The weight travels in and causes an impact
The weight(s) travel a full arc that results in the weight(s) coming into the person which could result in the impact between the object and body/face when not caught properly.
More explosiveness required
There is not enough explosiveness for the weight(s) to enter its ballistic flight and the arms need to curl the weight.
Seeing the palm of the hand in racking
The palm of the hand is facing forward in the racking position and usually, this is paired with the bell (the round bit of the kettlebell) being positioned on the outside of the arm rather than on the inside and the handle lays horizontally within the palm rather diagonally (45-degree angle).
The shoulders and/or eyesight aren’t leading
The first thing that comes up is not the shoulders. While pulling the weight from the ground the hips might rise first, or the knees might be pulled back while the shoulders stay low.
Not gripping the handle in the middle/center
Not gripping the handle of the kettlebell in the middle or as close as possible.
Shoulder raising the weight
The weight is raised with the muscles of the shoulders and not with the correct muscles that should move the weight.
Rounded upper back
The back is rounded due to scapular inactivity and/or flexed thoracic spine. This can also be paired with the neck being flexed, i.e. the head looking down or the chin really pushed forward. It may also be that the upper back is fatigued if you are able to achieve proper form at the start of your training but the form then deteriorates, and that may be the ramification of improper programming/adjusting (for your level). Fatigue can be due to too many, too heavy, and/or not enough rest.
Shallow backswing
Not fully bringing the weight all the way back through the legs to where the arms connect with the body.
A stance too wide for the swing
A stance that is too wide can be a cause for hip, knee, or ankle issues but also removes the ability to perform a good hip hinge where the knees bend and the hips are pushed back. A stance too wide can also reduce optimal force generation.