The aim of this study was to compare load-absorption force-time characteristics of the clean from the knee (CK), power clean from the knee (PCK) and clean pull from the knee (CPK). Ten collegiate athletes (age 27.5 +/- 4.2 years; height 180.4 +/- 6.7 cm; mass 84.4 +/- 7.8 kg), performed three repetitions each of the CK, PCK and CPK with 90% of their 1RM power clean on a force platform. The CK load-absorption duration (0.95 +/- 0.35 s) was significantly longer compared to the CPK (0.44 +/- 0.15 s; p < 0.001, d = 2.53), but not compared to the PCK (0.56 +/- 0.11 s; p > 0.05, d = 1.08), with no differences between PCK and CPK (p > 0.05, d = 0.91). The CPK demonstrated the greatest mean force (2039 +/- 394 N), which was significantly greater than the PCK (1771 +/- 325 N; p = 0.012, d = 0.83), but not significantly different to the CK (1830 +/- 331 N; p > 0.05, d = 0.60); CK and PCK were not different (p > 0.05, d = 0.18). Significantly more load-absorption work was performed during the CK (655 +/- 276 J) compared to the PCK (288 +/- 109 J; d = 1.75, p < 0.001); but not compared to the CPK (518 +/- 132 J; d = 0.80, p > 0.05). Additionally, more load-absorption work was performed during the CPK compared to the PCK (d = 1.90, p = 0.032). Inclusion of the catch phase during the CK does not provide any additional stimulus in terms of mean force or work during the load-absorption phase compared to the CPK, while the CPK may be beneficial in training rapid force absorption due to high force and a short duration.