re: Cues that helped your lifting game

Breaking at the knees is incorrect. Hips should go back first . You want your hip muscles to engage before your quads to reduce quad dominance. Also promotes stability in the squat as it will keep the bar on the back half of your foot & help keep your lumbar curve stable

It really shouldn't be a complete vertical up and down movement. You're going down and back like you are preparing to sit on a toilet.