I've been doing Pendlay style for a while. I've found that it's easier to keep good form when the plates have to touch the ground between reps.

Pendlays. its different, works your full body instead of putting most of the strain on your arms, and it'll help with the other exercises a lot more.

but boy howdy are they werid to do.

We were just talking about these, my husband and I, last night. As much trouble as squats give me, barbell rows are the most awkward to me.

But like others, I've been doing the Pendlay Rows. Placing the bar on the floor between each rep.

I think I do these wrong. I feel like I stand up a little during each one...

YES. I find it *very* difficult not to stand up a bit during each rep. My first rep is usually fine (I think!), but the rest of them I creep upwards even though I "reset" my form on each rep when I return the bar to the floor.

Also, does anyone else feel these in their legs a lot? It's weird but I think it's from me trying to keep my back flat. I actually think I feel them more in my legs than anywhere else, back or arms included! (Maybe that will go away if/when I add more weight?)

I only feel them in my legs if I lean back and pull on the weight, which makes my back a 45 degree angle, which is improper form. Otherwise I feel it in my rotator cuff and my teres, you should feel it in the teres area, right above the bra strap on either side of the spine. Not sure about rotator cuff. But then again, since I'm still doing dumbell presses and working delts that may be why I think I feel it in the rotator cuff area. Same day and all.

Are you supposed to keep your back parallel to the floor during Pendlay rows, or is it at an angle?

Bo...th? ITs not fully parallel but its not as angled as a regular barbell row? (That probably doesn't help you very much i know). Youtube Pendlay Row and look for anything from Rippetoe or Glen Pendlay himself.

Ok we fiddled wtih these like crazy tonight - this is the lift my husband watched/read the most on as he finds it much weirder than the others (like we do) and tonight we finally figured out that 2 plates + 10 lb weights just plain isn't elevating the bar enough for my arms. Its fine for him because he has SUPER LONG MONKEY ARMS and is 6'2" besides that but what was happenign with me is that I was leaning too far forward with my shoulders (or ...too far down?) because my arms just aren't long enough to reach there.

He got himsefl sorted out and he looked like he was doing them just right, and once he had that down he was able to figure out what I was doing wrong. I'm 5'6" which is still quite a bit taller than many of you ladies (Well, not Rae or Jess) but I've got short legs so keep that in mind too.

Anyway so that -and then as far as I can tell, you kind of put yourself in the most uncomfortable position possible and pull the bar up. Haha. But seriously it is helping me a lot to have him go "butt lower! lower! You're leaning down itn othe bar, shoulders up" so take video if you dont' have that.

(Don't get too jealous, he's worthless for squats. "Am I driving with my hips?" "I dunno, maybe" "does it look right?" "It seems fine" "am I hitting parallel?" "you're going low enough I think")

Yeah, even at 5'10", I think reaching down that far is tough. It's like, you would think my arms would be long enough, but I don't feel like I'm getting my back straight enough for rows or deadlifts. I think it makes a difference to bend down more and lower your butt for sure, but you saying it is an awkward position makes me feel better because I'm always thinking I must not be doing it right because it just seems so weird. I'm still at 65 lbs for these though because they are so freaking hard. I think I can add 5 lbs next time but we'll see. I might take video next time to make sure I'm doing it right.

Also, putting plates under it to make sure it's lifted off of the ground enough is really obnoxious. The plates seem to slide around when I put down the weight. Might need to find something else...

I have heard of people using those Reebok step-thingies - maybe that would work?
I might try that next time... or putting them in the power rack with the catch bars all the way down, maybe. I don't know, I've gotta do something differently, because this move is super bizarre to me. I'll try the thumbless grip, too.