Squeeze the Slack Out of the Bar Before You Deadlift (Important Tip!)

[@BarbellLogic]

Leave your comments or questions below about this helpful tip and cue to improve your deadlift!

[@jamescollinge9082]

That was the best explanation of why it benefits the lift I've heard.

[@BarbellLogic]

Thank you so much! Share it with your fellow deadlifters!

[@malcolmhales8181]

Agreed. I will definitely do this next Friday (my deadlift day). Thank you from a 60 year old lifter 😎

[@JohnBaptist-o2f]

thank you for this. I love the explanation of the progressive pull of each plate outward as the bar lifts off the floor.

[@BarbellLogic]

Thanks!

[@millemaolchannel8608]

Great tip and video

[@BarbellLogic]

Thank you!

[@CReyes811]

Great tip!

[@BarbellLogic]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@benjaminwetscher9614]

Awesome

[@BarbellLogic]

Thanks.

[@chrisbuesnell3428]

Well explained as usual. It becomes automatic. But you know takes practice. Especially on warm-ups it feels like the bar is almost at lockout before you even need to pull.

[@mikeo.1963]

Best channel ever!!!

[@BarbellLogic]

Wow...thanks for watching and the kind comments.

[@mikeo.1963]

@@BarbellLogic truth be told I should thank you. Thank you for your amazing videos!!

[@samivey8416]

Great advice and detailed explanation

[@BarbellLogic]

Thanks for the kind words and for watching.

[@abbydaniels9898]

Not first but I'm here. Great video...super helpful!

[@BarbellLogic]

Thanks for being here...hope it helps!

[@SLouiss]

Perfect video length.

[@BarbellLogic]

Thank you for watching!

[@SLouiss]

@@BarbellLogic thanks for making the content

[@BarbellLogic]

@@SLouiss Well, thank you, Dude. Does A Dude abide?

[@Valarizator]

thanks for advices :)

[@senaares6107]

Minimum weight for there being "slack?"

[@BarbellLogic]

Depends on your strength. For some, it could be 135. Obviously, the more weight the more it can bend. This definitely becomes more noticeable at 315+. It becomes CRITICAL at higher weights (500+).

[@alexmil002]

Great video, and great channel. Side question: Are those asics sneakers the guy is wearing decent lifting shoes? Thanks. Alex

[@andrewjackson690]

They are Onitsuka Tiger Serranos. OT is one of the legacy brands that merged to form ASICS in 1977. They have a low profile sole and I like them for presses, deadlifts. I occasionally use them for squats, too, but usually wear a shoe designed more for lifting (e.g., Nike Romaleo)

[@briandebaets3041]

Where do I get those purple shorts?? They are amazing.

[@nikiinthegym]

Hi Brian! Andrew says they're from Myles Apparel.

[@briandebaets3041]

@@nikiinthegym thank you!

[@JoonKimDMD]

I still don’t get it. Are you just saying lift it up for an inch and then lift again?

[@BarbellLogic]

Kind of...as you set your back push into the floor so the bar is bent before you fully begin the lift.

[@Kaniala-l7s]

it's even better when you don't allow the weights to touch the floor and have control over eccentric

[@BarbellLogic]

that's a different exercise

[@burakbaris7634]

Would not pulling the slack kill the explosive power?

[@BarbellLogic]

No. Not an explosive lift, first of all. If doing "dynamic" or "power" or "speed" deadlifts, you DEFINITELY want to have the slack pulled out, as you don't want arm extended due to the weight (Andy Baker tore a bicep that way). Just like towing something, you want the chain/rope taut, you want your arms "taut".

[@burakbaris7634]

@@BarbellLogic 💪❤️

[@themeatinthemiddle]

woman of culture we meet again.

[@edperez1206]

💪😀👍

[@BarbellLogic]

Boom

[@ThePhysiqueGame]

Am I the only one that doesn’t like this as a queue? We know speed is power. And that an object in motion stays in motion. If I set up like this, I am setting up passively to a lift that requires speed and explosivity. It’s essentially starting a powerful lift off isometrically

[@BarbellLogic]

What would your alternative be? We have considered the Strongman rolling the bar into you and that there COULD be some benefit to maybe a small stretch reflex, but we'd save that for more advanced people who are allowed to do it because of the difficulty of getting the bar in the right spot and starting consistently. The other alternative (which, again, one of our coaches has investigated a bit - no conclusion yet) is a "drop and pop" deadlift versus this more standard set up. It might help a bit. For our clients, this helps avoid errors that this can cause. Lastly, while this is specifically addressing getting the slack out of the bar, people who rush the deadlift (and you know plenty of people rush it) may lift with bent arms. We know people who have torn off their distal bicep tendon because of this. Anyway, though, thanks for the comment.