Yikes, @west.brian is out here giving a TED Talk on appraisals lmao. My take? If your appraiser misses a mold colony, they're not a professional, they're a guy with a clipboard and a wish.

Noticed how clenching my teeth during heavy pulls totally throws off my shoulder positioning. Tbh, I started doing jaw stretches before bench press, and it helped me keep my scapula retracted. Honestly, the mind-muscle connection for relaxation is as crucial as for contraction in compound lifts. Found that consciously relaxing my face during setup prevents that early elbow flare in the clean.