Squatting Deadlifts

[The Beast1]

I'm a tall guy. Deadlifts are one of my favorite lifts but I've come to notice that I am "squatting" the motion.

I've since switched to stiff leg which prevents the problem by taking any temptation to squat. However, I'd like to get back to regular deadlifts soon.

Any advice is appreciated.

 

[Thomas More]

I'm a tall guy. Deadlifts are one of my favorite lifts but I've come to notice that I am "squatting" the motion.

I've since switched to stiff leg which prevents the problem by taking any temptation to squat. However, I'd like to get back to regular deadlifts soon.

Any advice is appreciated.

This is how I learned to do a deadlift. I've always thought it was closely related to doing a squat, but having the weight forward and hanging from the arms puts a different emphasis on the muscles it affects, compared to having the weight on the shoulders. Is this what you mean by squatting the motion?



I looked up a stiff leg deadlift, and found this. It seems like a completely different exercise. It focuses primarily on the lower back, whereas the standard deadlift works the legs as well. I prefer the standard deadlift personally. I'd be afraid of hurting my back with the stiff leg lift. What are the advantages you see with this style?

 

[Nick]

Its good to change your stance (foot position), and the relative bar height (raise the bard on pins, ‘lower’ the bar by standing on a platform).

Different setups are good to switch up.

Having a favorite variation is great - but its also good to work on whats weak.

 

[get2choppaaa]

Start here and watch part 2 also. Best video ive seen on this.

 

[Zagor]

There's only one way to deadlift. Bar over the middle of the foot, bend your knees until your shins touch the bar, without moving the bar. If you do it like that, there's no way to squat your deadlift.

 

[SaintPiusX]

Yes, there's only one cue you need. At the bottom of the deadlift (just before you pull), ensure your knees are inline with your forearms, or ever so slightly in front of them. If your keens are too far in front of your forearms, then you are now in a squatting position.

 

[SaintPiusX]

Yes, there's only one cue you need. At the bottom of the deadlift (just before you pull), ensure your knees are inline with your forearms, or ever so slightly in front of them. If your keens are too far in front of your forearms, then you are now in a squatting position.

Just to expand a bit, you likely have the same body composition as me (long limbs, short torso). For guys like us, we are going to have a higher hip position and our deadlift is going to look similar to our straight leg deadlift. Most powerlifters have short limbs and long torsos, so they tend to have a lower hip position for their deadlift. It’s important not to imitate these guys because you are never going to be able to get into a lower hip position for a deadlift. If you look at a guy like Eddie Hall, he has long arms, short legs, and a long torso, which is why he can get into a very low hip position for his deadlift.

 

[The Beast1]

Yes, there's only one cue you need. At the bottom of the deadlift (just before you pull), ensure your knees are inline with your forearms, or ever so slightly in front of them. If your keens are too far in front of your forearms, then you are now in a squatting position.

This sounds exactly what I needed to hear. I'm going to give this a go on the next deadlift day. Thank you!

 

[SaintPiusX]

This sounds exactly what I needed to hear. I'm going to give this a go on the next deadlift day. Thank you!

No prob. It’s the only cue that helped me. Another way to think about it:

Straight legged deadlift: knees behind forearms (more lower back)
Deadlift: knees aligned with forearms (optimal combination of lower back and legs)
Wide grip or snatch grip deadlift: knees in front of forearms (more legs)

 

[COtrailrider]

You need some Alan Thrall in your life:

 

[GodGiveMeStrength]

You need some Alan Thrall in your life

I second this. Alan's a straight forward guy who incorporates some humor but knows his stuff and gets to the point without trying to sell you something. He's still one of my favorites.

 

[Thomas More]

You need some Alan Thrall in your life:

These are great! I can see several errors in the way I was doing my deadlifts, and thankfully some things right. Now I can't wait to try this.