Slow Start Deadlift
When you round your back on a deadlift, two things tend to happen: a baby seal dies, and I have to fight the urge to throw my face into a fire. That said, there are caveats. Everyone rounds their back at times. Elite lifters will do it—sometimes on purpose—to lock out a max effort lift. Newbie and intermediate lifters will do it—almost always unintentionally—to lock out any lift. The difference is that elite lifters are strong and knowledgeable enough to self-correct when they’re at end-range spinal flexion; most others are not.
As I’ve noted before, if your goal is to become a deadlifting Terminator, most of your accessory work should target a weakness or a technique flaw. The Slow Start Deadlift is a great choice for lifters who struggle with hips rising too early and/or who have trouble maintaining upper-back tension. I’ve used it with my clients, and it’s been amazing to see the progress in their technique.
Do 3–5 sets of 3–5 reps at about 50–70% of your one-rep max.
