As someone pretty new to weight-lifting, I'm permanently worried about incorrect form when attempting new exercises.

I've used bodybuilding.com's exercises page to learn, but they seem to miss a lot of tricks. For example, I've done pull-ups all my life, but it is only once I started following rtestes' advice of pinching the shoulder blades together at the top that I started feeling my lats working. What else am I missing?

As far as form goes, what is the best site to learn from?

Sounds like you're doing allright on JSF.

I wouldn't learn it from a site. I'd learn it from doing it.

When you work out, think about the muscle you're supposed to be working. Concentrate on it. Feel it move. There are many very general guidelines to follow for form for each exercise - heed them as best you can. ExRx.net (http://www.exrx.net) is an excellent source of many exercises and general form. However, to be sure you're getting the most from your workout, you must concentrate and learn to properly execute them. The only way to be sure you're moving the muscles you need to is to concentrate on them and feel them as you exercise. This is a really important point!

Secondary to concentration is the actual weight you lift. Please, I know it's tempting to start out with the heaviest weight you feel safe with, but I urge you to pick that weight and cut that number in half. Perform the exercises in high reps with light weights so that you can concentrate on the form - you don't want to concentrate on muscle failure when learning an exercise. Concentrate on the exercise itself. The weight increase can come later. And you'll find that if you learn proper form in this manner, I believe that injuries are something you'll always universally avoid.

That's all I have to say 'bout that...

-R

As someone pretty new to weight-lifting, I'm permanently worried about incorrect form when attempting new exercises.

I've used bodybuilding.com's exercises page to learn, but they seem to miss a lot of tricks. For example, I've done pull-ups all my life, but it is only once I started following rtestes' advice of pinching the shoulder blades together at the top that I started feeling my lats working. What else am I missing?

As far as form goes, what is the best site to learn from?

I suggest a couple of books:

Darden's new HIT (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1594860009/qid=1118341321/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/104-1206378-7298333) He covers HIT, Routines, Diet, and history of HIT.

McRobert's Weight-Training Technique (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/9963616097/ref=lpr_g_1/104-1206378-7298333?v=glance&s=books)

Why books? Detail. Portability and you own them for a lifetime.

Exrx (http://www.exrx.net/Lists/Directory.html) is next best place for form.

Here is intersting info on Squats:
http://www.exrx.net/ExInfo/Squats.html