2 Deadlifting Pieces of Equipment You NEED to Have!
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Let’s quickly cover two pieces of equipment that will make you better at deadlifting . . . instantly.
Item #1: Long Socks
We are talking very long - socks that go above your calves (i.e., almost to your knees). You will simply be better at keeping the bar close when wearing long socks. Sweatpants and leggings will do just fine as well, but long socks are so much more stylish.
“But Phil, I’m already pretty good at keeping the bar close.” Good for you, and in this case, you already know that - every once in a while - you nick your shin with the bar. Shins bleed easily, and now that you’ve done this, it is annoyingly easy to catch that new scab with the bar and break it open again.
Because of this - whether consciously or subconsciously - you now try to avoid hitting that scab. As a result, you are suddenly worse at keeping the bar close to your legs, and this makes your deadlifts that much harder. So . . . wear long socks.
As an additional note, you might not care if you get a little bloody when you deadlift, but everyone else who has to use that same barbell does indeed care, so do your training companions a favor. Wear long socks and keep your DNA off the bar.
Item #2: Chalk
We’ve covered this before, and we’ll cover it again - chalk is hugely useful for all of the lifts, but it is especially useful for pulling lifts such as the snatch, clean, and deadlift. Rock climbers and gymnasts use it to save their lives - we’re just using it to save our deadlifts. But the reason for its use remains the same - it absorbs the sweat and natural oil from your hands so that you have as much friction as possible when taking your grip.
Don’t like using chalk? You have two options - pull a Kelly Clarkson and just walk away since you’ve decided not to lift today or put on your big boy (or big girl) pants and use chalk because it’s the intelligent thing to do.
It makes your current deadlifts easier, and it allows you to lift more weight with less effort, which allows you to get stronger more efficiently. We’ve had numerous conversations with members who started using chalk a bit later than they should have (which is on day one) and were astounded at how much of a difference it made.
A reasonable approach is to rub some chalk onto your hands when you start warming up the deadlift (brush your hands together lightly to get rid of any loose chalk) and then chalk up again when you get to your work set.
As always, we hope this helps you get stronger and live better.
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At Testify, we offer small group training, private coaching (in-person or remotely via Zoom), online coaching, and form checks. Would you like to get quality coaching from a Starting Strength Coach?
4 Ways You're Ruining Your Clean!
/Quit making these mistakes when cleaning (whether it's a power clean, split clean, or squat clean)! We cover 4 common clean errors as well as how to fix these mistakes.
(This is a Blast from the Past video originally published on 01/31/22.)
At Testify, we offer small group training, private coaching (in-person or remotely via Zoom), online coaching, and form checks. Click the button below to get quality coaching from a Starting Strength Coach and start getting stronger TODAY.
The Squat: Hips and Knees Together!
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For heaven’s sake . . . don’t do this.
(This is a Blast from the Past article originally posted on 09/17/21.)
A problem that sometimes shows up in the squat is that of breaking at the hips first; in other words, instead of bending the hips and knees at the same time as we start to descend in the squat (which is what we want to happen), a lifter makes the mistake of breaking (i.e., bending) at the hips first followed by bending the knees. Let’s solve this problem.
A) Becky correctly initiates her descent by bending the hips and knees simultaneously.
In a correctly executed squat, the hips and knees will start to bend at the same time. As Becky shows in Figure A, her hips travel backward at the same time her knees travel forward and outward (i.e., in the direction of her toes) - this is what we would like to see, and this allows Becky to maintain her balance over the middle of her foot.
B) Becky incorrectly initiates her descent by bending at the hips first. Becky is exaggerating the error in the image on the left, but it tends to be a bit more subtle as Becky demonstrates in the image on the right (note that her hips have begun reaching back while her knees seem frozen in place).
In contrast, in Figure B, you can see Becky incorrectly initiating her descent by reaching back with her hips - which is correct - but she’s not forcing her knees to simultaneously move forward and out early in the descent.
This error is usually accompanied by the knees moving too far forward as the lifter reaches the bottom of her squat as well.
If you notice that you tend to break at the hips first, the simplest approach is to cue yourself, “Hips and knees at the same time” or “Hips and knees together.” Not surprisingly, the first approach is to cue yourself to do exactly what it is that you want to do.
However, if that approach doesn’t work, you can use an overcue and tell yourself to go “knees first” - in other words, you’re cueing yourself to shove your knees forward and out before you reach back with your hips. This overcue (like all overcues) is a bit of a lie as we actually want the motion of the hips and knees to be simultaneous, but it can be a potentially useful lie if it does the job and fixes the problem.
If those cues don’t work, go ahead and break out a TUBOW (Terribly Useful Block Of Wood) or two and make sure that your knees touch the TUBOWs about one-third to one-half of the way into your descent. If you’ve never used a TUBOW before, check out our video on that topic - TUBOW: The Portable Squat Coach - which is also included in this article.
Becky breaks out the TUBOWs.
As always, we hope this helps you get stronger and live better!
(Some links may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, Testify earns from qualifying purchases.)
If you found this helpful, you’ll love our weekly email. It’s got useful videos, articles, and training tips just like the one in this article. Sign up below, and of course, if you don’t love it, you can unsubscribe at any time.
At Testify, we offer small group training, private coaching (in-person or remotely via Zoom), online coaching, and form checks. Would you like to get quality coaching from a Starting Strength Coach?
How to Stiff Leg Deadlift (and Why!)
/Want to improve your deadlift? The stiff leg deadlift (AKA stiff-legged deadlift) can help. Phil explains what a stiff leg deadlift is, how to do it, and why you might want to utilize the the SLDL in your training.
At Testify, we offer small group training, private coaching (in-person or remotely via Zoom), online coaching, and form checks. Click the button below to get quality coaching from a Starting Strength Coach and start getting stronger TODAY.
Metro Testify - October 9, 2023
/THIS WEEK'S SUBMISSION
From our video Weightlifting vs Powerlifting vs Strengthlifting - What's the Difference?! (click the title to watch):
Timinator117
I've never heard of strengthlifting before. How common is it?
By the way, solid, concise and simple explanation. Short and sweet, just as it should be in today's age of impatient learning and instant gratification.
Phil
Pretty belated response here, but thanks for the kind words. Powerlifting is certainly more common than strengthlifting. Strengthlifting is, on one hand, rather new, and on the other hand, not so new in the sense that the press has been around for a lot longer than the bench press. It’s pretty popular in Starting Strength circles, and it’s probably also worth noting that Mark Rippetoe (author and founder of Starting Strength) was also the creator of the CrossFit Total back in the day, which consists of the same three lifts – squat, press, and deadlift – that make up strengthlifting. We’ve been hosting strengthlifting meets as well as weightlifting meets for a while now, and we get quite a lot of traction in the general strength training community.
ARTICLES & VIDEOS
When Your Training Motivation is Low...
Running on empty when it comes to training motivation? We give you 3 tips (plus a bonus tip) to help you stay consistent with your training. Click here to watch.
The HIDDEN ERROR in His Press | Two Minute Tactics!
He's ruining the start position of his press, and it's not why (or where) you think. Find out more and improve your own press. Click here to watch.
Do ONE Thing to Get Stronger and Improve All Your Lifts!
Can one cue help all of your lifts? Your squat, deadlift, press, bench press, snatch, and clean-and-jerk? Yep, and Phil explains what and how. Click here to read.
Blast from the Past: How to Safely Bench Press Alone!
If you need to bench press alone, you need to do it safely, and it's very simple. Phil breaks it down in under 3 minutes. Click here to watch.
Blast from the Past: To Stand Up . . . Stay Leaned Over!
Stop raising your chest early in the squat - it's making for a weaker squat. Phil explains and gives two useful cues to help. Click here to read.
NEW TESTIFY HOODIES ARE AVAILABLE!
Looking to train in style and comfort this fall? Get yourself a Testify hoodie - in practically any color! Get yours today and represent your favorite gym.
Click here to head to the Testify Store.
WHAT'S COMING UP
Reminder: We will be closed for training on Saturday, 10/21/23, as we are hosting the annual Testify Fall Classic strengthlifting meet.
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 Fall Classic
October 21, 2023
The Testify Fall Classic is back for 2023, 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.
Free Intro to Squat Session
October 28, 2023
Are you interested in getting stronger? Book your free "Intro to Squat" session and learn to squat, meet some of our coaches, and see the gym! All ages and abilities are welcome.
Click here to book your free session.
Free Intro to Deadlift Session
November 4, 2023
Are you interested in getting stronger? Book your free "Intro to Deadlift" session and learn to deadlift, meet some of our coaches, and see the gym! All ages and abilities are welcome.
Click here to book your free session.
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 2023.08.07.
Option 2
Bike/row:
8 x 30 sec on/2:00 off
Score = least distance covered in any 30 second interval
Compare to 2023.07.17.
Option 3
8 rounds:
Outdoors:
4 tire flips
50 yd sled push (25 yd down-back)
Rest 1 minute
Indoors:
4 tire flips
100 ft sled push (50 ft down-back)
Rest 1 minute
Compare to 2023.06.19.
Option 4
Sandbag-over-bars
Set yoke at #33 for women or #35 for men.
1. 1 minute AMRAP
2. 5 rounds of 2 reps every 2 minutes (speed!)
3. 1 minute AMRAP
Weights
Female under 40 years
140 lbs and under: 75 lbs
140.1 lbs – 185 lbs: 100 lbs
185.1 lbs and over: 150 lbs
Female 40 years and over
140 lbs and under: 50 lbs
185 lbs and under: 75 lbs
185.1 lbs and over: 100 lbs
Male under 40 years
185 lbs and under: 150 lbs
185.1 lbs – 235 lbs: 200 lbs
235.1 lbs and over: 250 lbs
Male 40 years and over
185 lbs and under: 100 lbs
185.1 lbs – 235 lbs: 150 lbs
235.1 lbs and over: 200 lbs
Compare to 2023.06.19.