Deadlift Technique

[Brice]

I am a high school powerlifter and I am having problems with my deadlift. For soem reason, everyone that I remember competing against who squats a weight comparable to what I squat can dead lift a lot more than me. I'm assuming that this a technique problem; people say deadlift is almost all technique. Has anyone else ever had this problem of a horrible deadlift? If so, how does one fix this?

[w0cyru01]

Originally Posted by Brice

I am a high school powerlifter and I am having problems with my deadlift. For soem reason, everyone that I remember competing against who squats a weight comparable to what I squat can dead lift a lot more than me. I'm assuming that this a technique problem; people say deadlift is almost all technique. Has anyone else ever had this problem of a horrible deadlift? If so, how does one fix this?

I posted this on the "fav exercise" thread...but here again
http://www.t-nation.com/readTopic.do?id=459744

Also where are you failing at? Getting the weight off the ground? Locking out? Grip?

[Brice]

I'm told that I am not quite locked out when I feel that I am many times, even with light weight.

and

With somewhat heavier weight (30-40lbs.) that I can squat relitively easily, I have trouble getting the bar off of the floor.

[w0cyru01]

If you're standing straight up holding the weight you are locked out.

If you're sticking point is getting to lockout...get into a rack and set the pins about knee high. Pull from there. You should be able to do 10-20% over your deadlift 1RM.

To help with pulling the weight off the ground stand on plate or blocks and do a normal deadlift. Lower the weight since the ROM will be greater. This should help you with pulling the weight off the floor.

Also perhaps do some hamstring work (i.e. SLDL / RDL). And grip is very important, you can't lift it if you can't hold onto it.

All of this is assuming your technique is correct.