Do you really need Deadlifts?

kosp

Member
I train Push/Pull/Legs/Arms scheme and I was doing deadlifts on the pull day, about 4 effective sets after the warm-up+aproximation. About 80-85% RM.

Problem is, after that, I note a huge drop in performance in the next exercises compared to not doing deadlifts on pull day, pull-ups and rows got weak.

Instead, if I don´t do deadlifts, I do nice strong weighted pull-ups at 6-8 reps, and then dropping the weight and doing bodyweight for higher reps, sets till total pull-up failure. Then go to the rows and nice and clean one-arm heavy dumbells and continuing afterward with pulleys and cables for 12-20 reps for pumping blood.

My point is deadlifts consume too much energy and they don´t beat pull-ups and rows in terms of back hypertrophy, what´s more, the contraction is superior in those later pull exercises. And I can´t get deadlifts on legs day because if I do squats, I am going to kill it.

Does this resonate with someone?
 
I train Push/Pull/Legs/Arms scheme and I was doing deadlifts on the pull day, about 4 effective sets after the warm-up+aproximation. About 80-85% RM.

Problem is, after that, I note a huge drop in performance in the next exercises compared to not doing deadlifts on pull day, pull-ups and rows got weak.

Instead, if I don´t do deadlifts, I do nice strong weighted pull-ups at 6-8 reps, and then dropping the weight and doing bodyweight for higher reps, sets till total pull-up failure. Then go to the rows and nice and clean one-arm heavy dumbells and continuing afterward with pulleys and cables for 12-20 reps for pumping blood.

My point is deadlifts consume too much energy and they don´t beat pull-ups and rows in terms of back hypertrophy, what´s more, the contraction is superior in those later pull exercises. And I can´t get deadlifts on legs day because if I do squats, I am going to kill it.

Does this resonate with someone?

I agree with your theory for sure. I think deadlifts are a powerlifters movement that can be incorporated into bodybuilding and can also be extremely effective, but aren’t necessary. In some uses they can be very effective.

If you train hard and actually progressively overload your lifts, I don’t think deadlifts are needed. I don’t really coach but I do help some people out and when I know they aren’t striving to increase weights as time goes on and progressively overload, I give them deadlifts. Deadlifts kind of force a progressive overload, and for that reason they are a very useful tool that can be used.

If you are progressively overloading properly in your training, I think there are much better lifts for building a big back. Progressive overloading is the be all end all in my books.
 
Do you WANT to do deadlifts?
Edit:
I'm pretty sure everyone on this forum is smarter than me when it comes to programing, BUT, my opinion is:
if you dont want to deadlift, dont. Why force yourself every..single..pull day.

but if you do want to, maybe you can design a second pull day centered around heavy deads and rotate through the two different pull days.

just my random input. Good luck! :D
 
Just my approach, I keep them till the end. Get all my other back stuff done first.

Keep my form tight and lift as much as I can, no PRs. For me, I feel it's added overall size.
 
Do you WANT to do deadlifts?
Edit:
I'm pretty sure everyone on this forum is smarter than me when it comes to programing, BUT, my opinion is:
if you dont want to deadlift, dont. Why force yourself every..single..pull day.

but if you do want to, maybe you can design a second pull day centered around heavy deads and rotate through the two different pull days.

just my random input. Good luck! :D
I must confess, I don't want to deadlift.
 
Do you WANT to do deadlifts?
Edit:
I'm pretty sure everyone on this forum is smarter than me when it comes to programing, BUT, my opinion is:
if you dont want to deadlift, dont. Why force yourself every..single..pull day.

but if you do want to, maybe you can design a second pull day centered around heavy deads and rotate through the two different pull days.

just my random input. Good luck! :D
I totally agree with this. Whenever I run a ppl program ( usually on a blast) i run one workout- say pull- for volume/ size/pump, then the next pull day for power/ strength. Same with push and legs. Take advantage of both types of routines is optimal imo.
 
I train Push/Pull/Legs/Arms scheme and I was doing deadlifts on the pull day, about 4 effective sets after the warm-up+aproximation. About 80-85% RM.

Problem is, after that, I note a huge drop in performance in the next exercises compared to not doing deadlifts on pull day, pull-ups and rows got weak.

Instead, if I don´t do deadlifts, I do nice strong weighted pull-ups at 6-8 reps, and then dropping the weight and doing bodyweight for higher reps, sets till total pull-up failure. Then go to the rows and nice and clean one-arm heavy dumbells and continuing afterward with pulleys and cables for 12-20 reps for pumping blood.

My point is deadlifts consume too much energy and they don´t beat pull-ups and rows in terms of back hypertrophy, what´s more, the contraction is superior in those later pull exercises. And I can´t get deadlifts on legs day because if I do squats, I am going to kill it.

Does this resonate with someone?
Additionally, as you touched on, they blast your CNS so hard it tanks a lot of other things, for me, into the next day.
 
No deadlifts are not needed.I deadlifted for six years straight.Worked up to 595x5.I always ended up with strains in low back no matter how good my form was.Deadlifts were my main lift on back day.Fast foward to 2008 and i switched out the dead for rack deads,bb rows,rack chins etc.My back exploded.

I also like romanian deadlifts with a pause like Jordan Peters does them,very underrated movement.If you are just starting out sure have at it.But after a while the risks outweigh the benefits in my opinion.
 
Deadlift
Yes
Romanian Deadlift
Yes
Deficit Deadlifts yes.
Then switch to Conventional and do that again.
Yes
Death by deadlift.

Deadlift is life.
RDL and rack pulls for me. Occasionally trap bar deads too. Rarely do I use conventional deadlifts anymore based on my own needs. Mobility restrictions and different training goals have excluded this movement from my programs. If I still did power lifting though I would obviously include them.
Same goes for me with flat barbell bench. Injuries and age-related wear and tear have changed my way of chest training and flat pressing. Rep ranges have increased to 10-12 regularly rather than the traditional low reps I used previously. These days it’s about keeping my shoulders healthy and pumping my chest and delts, feeling the movements better.
 
i do stiffies to work lower back and hamstrings. Otherwise i have no way to effectively work hammies with my improvised, at home setup.

i don't get crazy with them though. Having fucked my back years ago, it's prone to throwing a shit fit for doing nothing more than sitting, so i don't go past 225 lbs. Still provides a decent workout and doesn't make me comatose the following day.
 
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