5
Success with the deadlift depends on a solid setup. If your starting position is poor, your deadlift will likely be poor as well.
The wedge
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all setup. We all have different limb lengths, torso lengths, and hip orientation, and these differences influence what feels best and what lets us lift the most weight.
Two principles apply to every lifter:
1) Use the wedge. Popularized by Dr. Stuart McGill, it’s a reliable way to set yourself up for success and protect your back. When you bend to grab the bar, use the wedge as a counterbalance to pull your chest up and drop your hips, wedging yourself between the bar and the floor.
2) Think armpits over the bar with maximal hamstring tension.
Here, I’ve made a video…
