My deadlift sucked

Sued0nim wrote: »

So my question, and something I think has been throwing me off my game

My deadlift slides down my legs so touching gently on way down, is that wrong? I got that from some videos / threads somewhere. Trainer says it shouldn't, it should it be held slightly away from legs

I don't think your trainer is right.

The bar should be held as close to your legs as possible when doing DLs. Any movement of the bar away from your legs makes it more difficult. So, it sounds like you're doing it right, provided the bar is touching your legs on the way up as well as on the way down.

Heavy powerlifters point w/pride at their scraped shins doing DLs. The DL is my best lift and that's how I was taught & learned to do them via Starting Strength, as illustrated and described in Rippetoe's book.

Your lower legs should be just forward of vertical at the start of the pull and at full vertical at the end with the bar touching your shins and thighs during the entire lift so that the path of the bar is as close to vertical off the floor from beginning to end.

Rippetoe actually says to start the lift w/your shins touching the bar and to drag the bar up your legs legs during the lift. Your hips act as the fulcrum and your back, which remains straight and under tension throughout the movement (w/the assistance of the core and spinal erectors), is the lever. No other way to do the lift as well or efficiently than that.