Barbell Stiff-Leg Deadlift

Start

Finish

How to do it

With the knees held nearly straight, lower the bar from the hips all the way to the floor while hinging, then stand up by driving the hips forward and squeezing the glutes.

Muscles worked

Primary: hamstrings · Also works: glutes, lower back

Equipment

Barbell, Full gym

Common mistakes

• Loading it like a conventional deadlift, which the near-straight legs cannot support
• Letting the lumbar spine round to reach the floor rather than shortening the range
• Jerking the first rep off the floor instead of starting from the top and lowering under control

Variations

• Deficit version standing on a plate
• Stop at mid-shin instead of the floor

Can't do this one? Swap it for

• Barbell Romanian Deadlift
• Dumbbell Stiff-Leg Deadlift
• Conventional Deadlift
• Cable Romanian Deadlift

Take care: ABROFIT automatically removes this movement for anyone who has flagged a lower back problem. If that's you, use one of the swaps above and speak to a physio before loading it.

Related exercises

• Conventional Deadlifthamstrings
• Dumbbell Romanian Deadlifthamstrings
• Downward-Facing Doghamstrings
• Seated Forward Foldhamstrings
• Lying Leg Curlhamstrings
• Nordic Hamstring Curlhamstrings