THERE, I SAID IT. COME AT ME, INTERNET TROLLS
A few years ago, when I was coaching at Cressey Sports Performance, another trainer who was observing for the day came over to chat and ask for my take on something.
“Hey Tony.” “Hey, what’s up?” “Oh, not much. I’ve noticed pretty much everyone here deadlifts with the trap bar.” “Indeed. We don’t think the straight bar is necessary for most people. It’s a risk–reward thing where the ego reward isn’t worth the risk.” “Huh, but don’t you feel you’re promoting dysfunction or that they’re cheating by sticking to the trap bar?” I kept my cool, which took every bit of willpower to avoid rolling my eyes.
Let me address each point.
“Do I feel I’m promoting dysfunction?” With better mechanics—the center of mass being more inside the bar and the hips closer to the axis of rotation—the trap-bar deadlift is a safer, more user-friendly option. A deadlift is a deadlift, no matter the implement. As long as you hinge at the hips, keep a neutral spine, and lift from a true starting position, I don’t care if it’s a barbell, a trap bar, or something else.
My job as a coach is to match an exercise to the individual’s injury history, ability level, and goals. Almost always, the trap bar is the better option for both performance and safety.
“Do you feel they’re cheating?”
No. Unless you’re a competitive powerlifter or weightlifter, you don’t have to use a straight bar. It’s not cheating. Traditionalists can mind their own business.
