One of the most common questions in powerlifting is simple: how low do you actually have to squat for it to count? It's one of the more common questions I hear from powerlifters when they're considering their first meets.

The rule sounds straightforward, but in practice, it creates more confusion than most lifters expect. Here's what to know.

In most powerlifting federations, the squat depth rule states that the hip crease must descend below the top surface of the knee. Simple, right?

Break parallel, stand back up, get white lights. In reality, the rule uses anatomical landmarks, not painted lines, which is why interpretation becomes a challenge. That's where some lifters get caught up.

The squat walkout is an often-overlooked, but fundamental, piece of executing the lift in the most effective way possible. 

How do you perform a squat walkout? A squat walkout starts by unracking the weight with a braced core and tight back. Once unracked the walkout can be broken down into 3 distinct steps: the drag step, the width step and the corrective step, after which you should end up in your preferred squat stance.