Barbell Wide Stance Stiff Leg Deadlift

Master the Barbell Wide Stance Stiff Leg Deadlift to build powerful hamstrings, glutes, and a strong lower back.

IntermediateHips Barbell

Movement: Compound
Force: Pull
Per set: 1 min
Rest: 2 min

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Variations of Barbell Wide Stance Stiff Leg Deadlift

Compound

Barbell Band Assisted Deadlift

Hips · Barbell

Advanced

Compound

Barbell Complex Stiff Leg Deadlift Clean Step

Hips · Shoulders · Barbell

Advanced

Compound

Barbell Stiff Leg Deadlift on Bench

Hips · Barbell

Intermediate

Compound

Dumbbell Stiff Leg Deadlift on Bench

Hips · Dumbbell

Intermediate

Description

This exercise involves a wide stance and a barbell, targeting your hamstrings and lower back. Maintain a straight back and stiff legs as you hinge at the hips to lower the barbell towards the ground.

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How to do Barbell Wide Stance Stiff Leg Deadlift

01
Setup
Stand with a wide stance, feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart, with your toes pointing slightly out. Position the barbell over your mid-foot.
02
Setup
Hinge at your hips and grasp the barbell with an overhand grip, slightly wider than shoulder-width. Keep your back straight, chest up, and maintain a slight, soft bend in your knees.
03
Initiate the movement by pushing your hips back, maintaining stiff legs with that fixed soft knee bend, and slowly lowering the barbell towards the ground. Keep the bar close to your shins and maintain a neutral spine.
04
Lower the barbell until you feel a deep stretch in your hamstrings or just before your lower back starts to round, typically reaching mid-shin or slightly lower. Inhale as you lower the weight.
05
Reverse the movement by driving your hips forward, squeezing your glutes, and pulling the barbell back up to the starting position. Exhale as you lift the weight.

Tips

Focus on pushing your hips back as far as possible rather than just bending forward at the waist; this emphasizes the hamstring stretch and glute engagement.
Keep your chest proud and shoulder blades slightly retracted throughout the entire movement to maintain a neutral spine and prevent rounding of the upper back.
Imagine dragging the barbell up your legs on the ascent to keep it close to your center of gravity, improving leverage and safety.
Control the eccentric (lowering) phase to maximize hamstring tension and muscle growth, taking 2-3 seconds to lower the bar.

Common mistakes

Rounding the lower back is a common error; to fix this, engage your core, keep your chest up, and maintain a neutral spine throughout the entire lift.
Bending the knees too much shifts the focus away from the hamstrings; correct this by keeping your legs stiff with only a slight, fixed bend in the knees, focusing the movement purely at the hips.
Letting the bar drift too far from the body increases leverage on your lower back; keep the barbell as close to your shins and thighs as possible during both the lowering and lifting phases.

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Questions

Is Barbell Wide Stance Stiff Leg Deadlift good for beginners?

Barbell Wide Stance Stiff Leg Deadlift is rated intermediate. Beginners can still attempt it with lighter weight and careful form, but it's best to master easier variations first.

What equipment do I need for Barbell Wide Stance Stiff Leg Deadlift?

You need Barbell to perform Barbell Wide Stance Stiff Leg Deadlift. If you don't have this equipment, look for variations that target the same muscles with what you have available.

What are the best tips for Barbell Wide Stance Stiff Leg Deadlift?

Focus on pushing your hips back as far as possible rather than just bending forward at the waist; this emphasizes the hamstring stretch and glute engagement. Keep your chest proud and shoulder blades slightly retracted throughout the entire movement to maintain a neutral spine and prevent rounding of the upper back. Imagine dragging the barbell up your legs on the ascent to keep it close to your center of gravity, improving leverage and safety. Control the eccentric (lowering) phase to maximize hamstring tension and muscle growth, taking 2-3 seconds to lower the bar.

What are common mistakes when doing Barbell Wide Stance Stiff Leg Deadlift?

Rounding the lower back is a common error; to fix this, engage your core, keep your chest up, and maintain a neutral spine throughout the entire lift. Bending the knees too much shifts the focus away from the hamstrings; correct this by keeping your legs stiff with only a slight, fixed bend in the knees, focusing the movement purely at the hips. Letting the bar drift too far from the body increases leverage on your lower back; keep the barbell as close to your shins and thighs as possible during both the lowering and lifting phases.