try thinking about bending the bar, while squeezing, rather than puling it apart. I find the bending idea effective.
ALSO SCOTT SAYS TO Pull your feet back so you're pushing from the BALLS (of the feet). USAPL doesn't allow this, they officially demand a flat-footed position.
J.M. Blakely's...
Does anybody know whether Scott Mendelson still has a personal training facility? It used to be called FIT - Individualized Fitness Training, but I can't seem to find it on the web, or in the phone book.