Deadlifting - drop reps

Ollie · 08-09-2006 12:01 PM

I've joined a new gym this week (much better

) and on Wednesday was in the free room with a guy doing some heavy deads (180 kg +). Only thing was he kept letting the bar hit the ground between every rep and reversing his grip.

Obviously that makes the downward phase of the lift a lot easier, but thinking about it it'd probably allow you to lift more in the upward phase....what are your thoughts on this technique??

**Karlos02** · 08-09-2006 12:56 PM

how do you mean let it hit the ground?
the weight should touch the ground between every rep in a set of deadlifts anyway imo.
or do you mean he is taking a while between each rep?

Ollie · 08-09-2006 02:38 PM

Yeah letting it not just touch the ground, but putting it down to reverse his alternate grip, then taking some breaths and lifting it again....

**Aren_Tyr** · 08-09-2006 08:52 PM

Doing rest-pauses between reps is a valid technique if your goal is maximum strength/power rather than conditioning.

However, personally, I prefer to reverse pyramid up in weights (i.e. higher weight, lower reps), and finish with a very low very heavy set.

Today I managed a 170kg single deadlift

Also, the downside of constantly changing grip and resting between reps is that you will not likely train your grip as hard as if you hammer out several reps in a row.

Aren.

**Jonathan** · 09-09-2006 12:20 AM

170kg is a nice deadlift Aren - good going.

Rest pauses are essentially what I use. I like them, and have made good progress with them. My working sets are between 180-200kg, and I mix the heavier ones, and double overhand up to about 180-190.

Deadlifting is such a cool lift!

Jonathan

**Aren_Tyr** · 09-09-2006 09:55 AM

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Deadlifting is such a cool lift!

Indeed. In fact, is there any better lift? Squats come pretty damn close, but I have to say I think deadlifts are my favourite lift. They hit just about everything, and offer one sure fire way to gauge how your overall strength is improving.

I reckon if someone only did deadlifts as their workout 3-4x a week, they would still probably make excellent overall progress throughout their body!

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170kg is a nice deadlift Aren - good going

Cheers

I am driving hard for the magic 200kg!

Aren.

**GALTONATOR** · 09-09-2006 11:03 AM

A guy im my gym was doing that yesterday. Bloody noisy but its valid as ithe dead is then working the whole body and the old grip is getting a bit of a rest. I do rack deads more often than not. Double overhand grip with straps. I have pulled 180kg from the floor for 6 and trying to get the racks up to 200kg by xmas!!

**hailtotheking** · 09-09-2006 12:17 PM

I got told off in my last gym for doing partial deadlift (working on my lockout) in the rack with a fair bit of weight (220-240 kg), because i managed to put a permanent bend in the bar

**Karlos02** · 09-09-2006 05:26 PM

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Originally Posted by hailtotheking

I got told off in my last gym for doing partial deadlift (working on my lockout) in the rack with a fair bit of weight (220-240 kg), because i managed to put a permanent bend in the bar

lol every bar had to be replaced in my gym with more brittle type bars because there is some serious deadlifters who keep bending them, strong b*stards!

Ollie · 09-09-2006 05:35 PM

I love deads as well...they're my favourite exercise. Don't seem to nail me as much as squats immediately, but I know I've had a good session the next day

Once I've got my BF down to a level I like I'm going to go for some serious strength with them...I've only been doing them for about 4 months or something