He transformed his deadlift by doing this one thing

One simple and counterintuitive cue can radically improve your deadlift. Starting Strength Coach Phil Meggers covers how focusing on this single concept can boost your deadlift, and he also explains why it works.

Whenever you want even more Testify in your life, here are some free resources:

• Book a free intro and strategy session with us HERE.

• Pick up a free copy of Testify’s Squat Guide: 12 Tips to Improve Your Squat Now HERE.

• Get our free weekly email - containing useful videos, articles, and training tips - HERE.

• Follow Testify on Instagram HERE.

• Subscribe to Testify’s YouTube channel HERE.

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At Testify, we offer small group training, private coaching (in-person or remotely via Zoom), online coaching, and form checks. Interested in getting stronger, looking better, and having more energy?

Testify Optimist - February 9, 2026

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A post shared by Testify Strength & Cond. (@testifystrengthconditioning)

THIS WEEK'S SUBMISSION

From our video 8 Unavoidable Truths About Seniors and Lifting Weights… (click the title to watch):

P Holzman
There are YouTube experts out there today saying people over 50 shouldn't do full squats, deadlift, bench press or overhead press... I am 72 and do those things and weight lifting has improved my joint and flexibility problems accumulated by a long career sitting at a desk.

Phil
Thanks very much for that testimony!

KathyMinTexas
Agree! There are also medical experts who say the same thing. I was diagnosed with osteoporosis and the medical team wanted me to take a medication (that causes significant side effects) and walk more. There are studies that say otherwise--they've proven that lifting weight, heavy weight (squats, deadlifts, presses, etc) increases bone density and obviously build strength & balance. I may have to take medication, but I'm trying the weight lifting first!

P Holzman
@kathymintexas1556I'm a retired Pathologist,. We were taught in Med School that you should never squat below 90 degrees. I do, that has been completely debunked.

Many of the things I learned in my professional training have proven to be wrong over the years.

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TESTIFY ONLINE COACHING

Interested in getting stronger working one-on-one remotely with us? Click here to book your free strategy session.

Get Stronger. Live Better. Start Today.

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ARTICLES & VIDEOS

How Many Lifters Are Actually Using the Wrong Grip on Bench Press and Press?
Are you using the right grip on the bench press and press? Many lifters aren’t—and it’s costing them strength and consistency. We give you the grip that sets you up for stronger, more effective lifts. Click here to watch.

Stop Using Your Back Like This (How to Squat Correctly)
Are you making this mistake with your back when getting ready to squat? Phil covers how to identify the problem as well as how to fix it. Click here to read.

Blast from the Past: Do CrossFitters Make the Best Deadlifters?!
What are CrossFitters good at when it comes to the deadlift, and how can this help you improve your deadlift? Click here to watch.

Blast from the Past: The Deadlift Setup Mistake That Makes Lifters Look Ridiculous
Are you that guy (or girl) who looks like he's dry-heaving when setting up to pull? Cut it out. Phil helps you fix this problem. Click here to read.

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TESTIFY TRUCKER CAPS ARE AVAILABLE!

Represent your favorite gym with this trucker cap in several color options - perfect for outdoors or a training session.

Click here to head to the Testify Store.

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WHAT'S COMING UP

Below are a few of our upcoming events, and you can find out what else is on the calendar by heading to our events page at www.testifysc.com/events.

Testify Strengthlifting Challenge

• April 11, 2026

• The annual Testify Strengthlifting Challenge is back, and we invite you to be a part of it! This is a strengthlifting meet, which means the contested lifts will be the squat, press, and deadlift.

• Click here to register or for more information.

Testify Goes Fishing! (ahem, fish-frying)

• February 20, 2026

• Friday night fish fry at Saint Vincent de Paul (click here for map)

• Meet at 6:30 p.m. for fun, fish, beer, and to get your name put in the hat for drawings!

• Click here for more details and to sign up so we’ve got a headcount.

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THIS WEEK’S CONDITIONING

Option 1
“Prowler Base”
1. Load up a manageable weight.
2. Sprint 40m at 85% intensity.
3. Rest until breathing and heart rate slow down. (45 sec – 2 min)
4. Repeat 5-15 times.

Courtesy of “Death by Prowler” (on Starting Strength).

Compare to 2026.01.05.

Option 2
Bike/row:
3 rounds of:
8 x 20 sec on/40 sec off
Rest 3 min between rounds

Score = lowest distance

Compare to 2025.11.17.

Option 3
Outdoors:
5-10 rounds:
10 sledgehammer strikes (5R, 5L)
50 yd farmer carry (25 yd down-back)
Rest 1 minute

Indoors:
5-10 rounds:
10 sledgehammer strikes (5R, 5L)
100 ft farmer carry (50 ft down-back)
Rest 1 minute

Compare to 2025.10.20.

Option 4
10 x 50 ft yoke carry
Each carry is 25 feet down and 25 feet back and is for time. Rest 1 minute between carries.

Compare to 2025.10.20.

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As always, we hope this helps you get stronger and live better!

Whenever you want even more Testify in your life, here are some free resources:

• Book a free intro and strategy session with us HERE.

• Pick up a free copy of Testify’s Squat Guide: 12 Tips to Improve Your Squat Now HERE.

• Get our free weekly email - containing useful videos, articles, and training tips - HERE.

• Follow Testify on Instagram HERE.

• Subscribe to Testify’s YouTube channel HERE.

STOP Using Your Back Like This (How to Squat Correctly)

Are you using your back like a doofus when you squat? Let’s fix it.

We’re not talking about a conceptual misunderstanding of what to do with your back - if you’re reading this article or watching the accompanying video below, you’re probably aware of what you should be doing with your back as you squat. You’re trying to reach back with your hips and point your chest at the floor as you start your descent. You’re already aware that this relatively horizontal back angle in the squat makes for a stronger, more efficient back angle and is indeed how we train our backs to get stronger as well.

In this case, what could possibly go wrong?

We’re talking about the problem of overextension in the low back (i.e., arching the low back). Watch a video of yourself squatting, and as you start your descent, if you see more wrinkles develop in the back of your shirt - specifically, in the lower half of your back - then you are probably overextending your back.

In other words, if it looks like you’re twerking when you start to squat (Figure 1), you’ve got a problem.

Figure 1: don’t squat like this fool.

This problem tends to show up more often with young kids and women, but the error can happen with anyone regardless of age or gender, and - on a rather important note - this problem tends to cause more back discomfort issues than a rounded (i.e., flexed) back.

Don’t get me wrong - we want a straight, rigid back when we squat, so we’re not looking for either an overextended (arched) back or a flexed (rounded) back, but of these two errors, the overextended back tends to cause more problems, and there are two situations which commonly cause this error to happen, so let’s take a look at them.

Cause #1: Bad Focal Point
A high focal point means lifters have to keep their eyes up, which usually causes them to keep their chest up (instead of pointing it at the floor), which - combined with reaching the hips backward - makes for an arched back.

This also means that if you squat in front of a mirror (and I’m terribly sorry if your gym is silly enough to put mirrors in front of the squat rack), you need to ignore that mirror. Looking at yourself while squatting means you’re keeping your gaze too high, which is no good. You don’t watch yourself while throwing a baseball or shooting a basketball, and you certainly don’t need to watch yourself while squatting either.

The solution is to choose a fixed point on the floor about four to six feet in front of you and stare at it the entire time you’re squatting. Stare at it before your first rep, during each rep, and between reps as well. Looking forward and down will help you reach your hips back and point your chest down as you start to descend, which allows you to achieve the correct back position.

Cause #2: Reaching Back Without Leaning Over
This version of the error shows up when a lifter knows he should reach back with his hips and lean over, but he accidentally only focuses on the “reaching back” part of the movement (Figure 2).

If you reach back with your hips and accidentally keep your chest up, you will be overextending your back, so the “reaching back” aspect of the movement must be accompanied by the “leaning over” or “pointing the chest down” aspect of the movement.

Figure 2: jeremiah was kind enough to purposely demonstrate the mistake of reaching back without leaning over. . . . don’t do this.

Reaching back and leaning over should go hand-in-hand, but if you can only focus on one part of that duo, I’d recommend focusing on the “lean over” cue. After all, you are probably quite adept at not falling over, so you’ll naturally reach back with your hips as you lean over to help with balance.

Bonus Cue
If you find that you still arch your back when you squat, then you can try out the overcue “round your back” or “flex your back” as you start to descend.

Remember - this is an overcue, i.e., an exaggeration of what you truly want to do. You don’t actually want a rounded or flexed back, but exaggerating the mental picture of what to do may help you achieve a straight back, which is what you want.

Find a good focal point, reach back with your hips, point your chest down, and as always, we hope this helps you get stronger and live better.

-Phil

PS: Whenever you want even more Testify in your life, here are some free resources:

• Book a free intro and strategy session with us HERE.

• Pick up a free copy of Testify’s Squat Guide: 12 Tips to Improve Your Squat Now HERE.

• Get our free weekly email - containing useful videos, articles, and training tips - HERE.

• Follow Testify on Instagram HERE.

• Subscribe to Testify’s YouTube channel HERE.

(Some links may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, Testify earns from qualifying purchases.)

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At Testify, we offer small group training, private coaching (in-person or remotely via Zoom), online coaching, and form checks. Interested in getting stronger, looking better, and having more energy?

Do CrossFitters Make the BEST Deadlifters?!

What are CrossFitters good at when it comes to the deadlift, and how can this help you improve your deadlift? Starting Strength Coach Phil Meggers explains.

(A Blast from the Past video originally published on 04/10/23)

Whenever you want even more Testify in your life, here are some free resources:

• Book a free intro and strategy session with us HERE.

• Pick up a free copy of Testify’s Squat Guide: 12 Tips to Improve Your Squat Now HERE.

• Get our free weekly email - containing useful videos, articles, and training tips - HERE.

• Follow Testify on Instagram HERE.

• Subscribe to Testify’s YouTube channel HERE.

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At Testify, we offer small group training, private coaching (in-person or remotely via Zoom), online coaching, and form checks. Interested in getting stronger, looking better, and having more energy?

The Deadlift Setup Mistake That Makes Lifters Look Ridiculous

(A Blast from the Past article originally posted on 08/20/21)

Have you seen that guy at the gym who gets the deadlift dry-heaves? You know the guy - the one who sets his back two, three, or four times before pulling the bar off the floor? If this guy happens to be you, let’s fix this.

When you set up for your deadlift, keep it simple with the 5-step setup:

1. Stance: Take a relatively narrow stance with your shins one inch from the barbell.

2. Grip: Bend at the waist (not the knees - keep them “straight-ish” for now) and take a narrow grip on the bar - just wide enough to ensure that your hands are on the knurl and that your thumbs don’t drag up your legs on the pull.

3. Shins: Drop your shins to the bar by bending your knees slightly (do NOT rock forward).

4. Chest: Squeeze your chest up ONCE to set your back in extension.

5. Pull: Drag the bar up your legs as you stand up.

On step 4, don’t complicate things (and exhaust yourself!) by squeezing your chest up (i.e., setting your back) and then relaxing multiple times. You are not a ratchet strap, so setting your back multiple times doesn’t make it any tighter than setting it once, and it’s also a waste of energy, which, as you know, is also bad for the climate.

Again, keep it simple. When you get to step 4, squeeze your chest up hard, which sets off a wave of contraction down your back, and then drag the bar up your legs. Set the back once. Set it hard - but set it once.

We hope this helps you get stronger and live better!

-Phil

PS: Whenever you want even more Testify in your life, here are some free resources:

• Book a free intro and strategy session with us HERE.

• Pick up a free copy of Testify’s Squat Guide: 12 Tips to Improve Your Squat Now HERE.

• Get our free weekly email - containing useful videos, articles, and training tips - HERE.

• Follow Testify on Instagram HERE.

• Subscribe to Testify’s YouTube channel HERE.

(Some links may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, Testify earns from qualifying purchases.)

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At Testify, we offer small group training, private coaching (in-person or remotely via Zoom), online coaching, and form checks. Interested in getting stronger, looking better, and having more energy?

How Many Lifters Are Actually Using the Wrong Grip on Bench Press and Press?

Are you using the right grip on the bench press and press? Many lifters aren’t—and it’s costing them strength and consistency. Starting Strength Coach Phil Meggers gives you the grip that sets you up for stronger, more effective lifts.

Whenever you want even more Testify in your life, here are some free resources:

• Book a free intro and strategy session with us HERE.

• Pick up a free copy of Testify’s Squat Guide: 12 Tips to Improve Your Squat Now HERE.

• Get our free weekly email - containing useful videos, articles, and training tips - HERE.

• Follow Testify on Instagram HERE.

• Subscribe to Testify’s YouTube channel HERE.

---

At Testify, we offer small group training, private coaching (in-person or remotely via Zoom), online coaching, and form checks. Interested in getting stronger, looking better, and having more energy?