Squat versus deadlift

When should I deadlift?

I have never been a deadlift fan, instead working on squats and using the snatch and clean to develop power.

However, I have recently been using it to create some variety in environments with no squat rack.

It is also useful with some athletes who find squatting tricky. One young hockey player with very long femurs, never looks good squatting. Her deadlift is immaculate. There is some similarity between the start of the deadlift and the positions that hockey players need to get into.

The deadlift works hamstrings more than the squat, which is obviously quadriceps dominant. Both exercises require a strong back and trunk. A football goalie I coach has a very sensitive back. For him, the deadlift is a definite No.

Ideally my deadlift should be nearly as heavy as my squat, but I am about 30kg short (Full analysis here: What is a good squat to deadlift ratio? ) Strength is exercise specific, and my squats are much more efficient.

A strength session using deadlift  last week was unimpressive on my part, mainly due to inefficient deadlift technique. It was a reminder to myself to sometimes use variety in the gym, and to work on my weaknesses.

This video gives a guide to how to start the deadlift.

If you want to know how to fit the deadlift into your resistance training  then see this guide on creating your own training programme.