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What sets the deadlift apart from the squat or bench press is that it starts with a lifting (concentric) phase. For several reasons—leverage differences, mobility limits, or simply a tougher day—starting from the floor can be challenging for some people. A simple way to build familiarity with the floor-start position is to begin at the top with an eccentric, or negative, movement.
So essentially you perform an eccentric deadlift (an RDL) all the way down to the ground. When I coach athletes through this drill, I pause them at floor contact and say, “Feel that position—that’s what I want you to feel when you start from the floor.”
It’s a straightforward, reliable way to build familiarity and keep things simple.
