Deadlifts

[Quadancer]

I don't think it's supposed to be, it's just that doing a negative after a positive rep would only be for BB'ing purposes, and would wear you out sooner if you tried the same time as the ascent.
There is a rule with some of the lifting comps that says you have to control the bar, but rreally means just keeping hands on it. You see a lot of videos where they have hands on, but it's bouncing.

[Firehawk]

I don't htink there's anythign wrong with lowering it slowly, just saying from a powerlifting point of view, after the lockout, the lift is done. .

[.V.]

Originally Posted by quadancer

I don't think it's supposed to be, it's just that doing a negative after a positive rep would only be for BB'ing purposes

Originally Posted by firehawk

I don't think there's anythign wrong with lowering it slowly, just saying from a powerlifting point of view, after the lockout, the lift is done

Right. Depends on what you're lifting for.

[gymgirl]

Originally Posted by Firehawk

I don't htink there's anythign wrong with lowering it slowly, just saying from a powerlifting point of view, after the lockout, the lift is done. .

Ok good. I'm gonna keep lowering it slowly...I mean it's not super slow, probably the same speed I pull with.

Ty, thanks for the tips. It sounds all too confusing so if there is nothing wrong with bringing the weight down a bit slower, I think I'm going to stick to that.

[gcs118]

It doesn't make sense to me to lower the weight slowly on purpose. The deadlift only has a positive motion, not a negative. That's like saying do a slow negative on the bench before each rep, you can do it but it doesn't mean it's a good idea. Also, most people who train the DL only train the up, not the down, which I imagine makes it much easier to lose form on a slow lowering. I think trying to get anything out of the negative off of a DL is asking too much. Do the lift for what it's intended for, and do accessory or supplemental work to hit other parts extra if need be.

[LiftGirl]

Originally Posted by gymgirl

Ok good. I'm gonna keep lowering it slowly...I mean it's not super slow, probably the same speed I pull with.

Ty, thanks for the tips. It sounds all too confusing so if there is nothing wrong with bringing the weight down a bit slower, I think I'm going to stick to that.

I'm a slow lowerer too, not because I think it's better, it just never occured to me to drop it, even in a controlled manner. My lowering is faster than the ascent, but only because I'm not working as much against gravity.

[trainerty]

I think we got all sides here. Nice comments folks

[CF-OC_gal]

Originally Posted by gymgirl

Interesting. I have a slow and controlled decent because I am too scared to lower the bar quickly. I've tried it with my CF coach and it was just ackward and I felt like I would hurt myself. Any tips on how you do the controlled drop?

When I've done coached CF deadlifts, the emphasis was on making sure that the descent of the bar followed the same path and reverse body movements of the ascent. (bar travels in a straight line, not around the knee)

The speed was not an issue, but control is when it comes to proper form. If you know what your body is supposed to be doing at every point along the path of the bar and you can execute it, then get the bar back down quickly so you can reset to go again.

[TomG]

I used to deadlift a lot, but now do mostly bodyweight exercise. I liked the deadlift. Lowering is the easiest time to injure yourself. In an ideal world, I would deadlift with the wheels in sandboxes, and drop every rep, just let go. Short of that, I strongly suggest letting the bar down as fast as possible safely, and set up for the next perfect rep. Do fewer reps.

Doing reps that bounce off the floor will eventually lead to injury, I'm certain.

I'm new around here, been lurking for a while, and don't know if it is kosher to mention, but Pavel offers the best instruction in deadlifting in Power to the People IMO.

When doing heavy landscaping and truck-loading, I notice it is the lowering motion that can lay me up. Be careful. At 51, I wish I had been smarter earlier - don't we all.

Tom

[F_Mac]

If you're doing multiple reps (I guess pretty much everyone except PL'ers do that.....lol) then a controlled descent is a good idea. For myself, I usually lower it as fast as I can but keep my hands on the bar and reset at the bottom.

[MTG35]

Originally Posted by gcs118

It doesn't make sense to me to lower the weight slowly on purpose. The deadlift only has a positive motion, not a negative. That's like saying do a slow negative on the bench before each rep, you can do it but it doesn't mean it's a good idea. Also, most people who train the DL only train the up, not the down, which I imagine makes it much easier to lose form on a slow lowering. I think trying to get anything out of the negative off of a DL is asking too much. Do the lift for what it's intended for, and do accessory or supplemental work to hit other parts extra if need be.

For myself personally I am not trying to get anything from the negative portion. I am only try to avoid injury and be "politically correct" when it comes to my gyms rules. Last time I did deadlifts I lowered it quicker and it was a little better execept for one rep where I ended up rocked forward on my toes. I guess it will take a little more practice.

[TomG]

One more thing: remember, don't confuse the negative of a Deadlift with the negative of a bench or curl, for example. There might be reasons to work the negative in the latter, but the spine, vertebres, connective tissues, stabilizer invisible muscles, etc., is special, a whole different animal. Treat it special and different from your simpler joints. Stay well.

[Dan C]

My thoughts...

The eccentric portion of a lift is equally important as it's counterpart, and it builds size and strength.

I do not believe a deadlift (and the joints/muscles/movement involved) is any different.

Bouncing at the bottom to get a head start on the next rep is a good way to injury yourself.

You are always 'stronger' in the negative because you are working WITH gravity, not against it. Therefore, if you can LIFT the weight, you can also put it down.

The negative portion of any lift should be a mirror image of the concentric portion.

Even if your gym caters to people dropping weights, you still look like a knucklehead in doing so. Personally, I like to pull a vessel-busting deadlift and lower it slow and under control to demonstrate my dominance over said weight.

The only reason I see to drop a weight is if it's to conserve energy in a competition that allows for the weight to be dropped. Most strongman competitions allow for that, as well as the Tactical Strength Challenge. Having said that, I wish I didn't let go of the 575 I pulled at the last TSC. Not only was my dominance over the weight not established, but after reviewing the video, it was clear, I looked like a knucklehead.

[MTG35]

Originally Posted by Dan C

My thoughts...

Bouncing at the bottom to get a head start on the next rep is a good way to injury yourself.

You are always 'stronger' in the negative because you are working WITH gravity, not against it. Therefore, if you can LIFT the weight, you can also put it down.

The negative portion of any lift should be a mirror image of the concentric portion.

I agree totally about bouncing. I never bounce I always pause and reset for the next rep.

I see that you said 'stronger'. Thats the issue I'm having. I feel like the resisting of the weight plus gravity gets me off balance. I'm sure though that as with any exercise the more I focus and practice in a safe manner the more I will learn to control it and begin to feel 'stronger' in the negative portion.

I don't know about other people but I aways feel good that first time I do an exercise and my mechanics and strength come together to make it finally "feel" right.