Can weak lats hold back a deadlift?

[Anaar]

I can dl 375x5, squat 315x5 but only bench 190x5. I cannot even do a single chin up at 206lb @ 20% body fat

That being said, will strengthening my lats help my deadlift? I feel that I have somewhat strong legs, but my upper body, especially upper back, is pretty weak.

[someonefat]

If you have long arms that can benefit the deadlift but not in say a pull up. Any lagging muscle can have an effect on a lift that requires that muscle. However, the lats are not that important in the deadlift so I don't think you should worry about it your lifts seem pretty balanced to me. Just keep doing what your doing.

[Anaar]

Wow, the lats aren't important in the deadlift?

[FatKidsOnMopeds]

don't listen to someonefat. lat/upperback/trap strength is ESSENTIAL to having a good deadlift. they may not be directly correlated but if you don't have that strength your deadlift is not going to progress any further.

[IronAbrams]

Strong lats can help a deadlift, but I've never heard of weak ones limiting someone before.

Regardless though, rows and chinups are good for you. Do them.

[someonefat]

Wow, the lats aren't important in the deadlift?

I didn't say they were not important, I just said that if you feel there lacking a bit I don't think its going to hinder you very much. Also told you why you have have trouble with a pullup.

[db2000]

don't listen to someonefat. lat/upperback/trap strength is ESSENTIAL to having a good deadlift. they may not be directly correlated but if you don't have that strength your deadlift is not going to progress any further.

Yes this is true....to a degree.

I think at 375, Deadlifting will help your deadlift.

That being said, keep on smashing the lats

[freeride88]

If you have a weak lockout and weak lats, you may need to work on them a bit. It's definitely an essential muscle for a powerlifter or strongman, so don't neglect it, but if your weakness isn't the lockout, it's not likely the reason you're missing weight.

[Anaar]

My weaknes is most definitely at lockout. My 1RM is about 425 but I can get about 445ish off the floor.

Once I am around my knees is when I begin to struggle.

[NaturalLoco]

If you have long arms that can benefit the deadlift but not in say a pull up. Any lagging muscle can have an effect on a lift that requires that muscle. However, the lats are not that important in the deadlift so I don't think you should worry about it your lifts seem pretty balanced to me. Just keep doing what your doing.

I disagree, your lats do play a major role in the deadlift.. He said he can barely do a pull up @ his current weight..

I lift heavy deadlifts myself, and what I have found is that deadlifts require you to be strong with something called "pulling power" Any movement where you are pulling i.e. wide grip pull ups contributes to the deadlift movement and the weights you use.

If someone has minimal pulling power, he/she will not be a heavy deadlifter.

Using myself as an example, I have always been particularly strong with the pulling movements in general, hence reflects my weights that i use when i deadlift.

[Anaar]

Bump

[Kiknskreem]

Weak lats will hold back your development.















The development of your heart.

[Anaar]

lol wat

[btlifter]

i think freeride summed it up best... re-read what he said for my thoughts, i'd just like to add, my friend is 240lbs, he deadlifts less than you, but can do about 3 pullups, and he thinks his upper back is weak, so, proportiantely, yours likely is as well...as a general rule...if you think a muscle is holding you back... you should train it harder, as it likely either is, or will be holding you back, directly or indirectly, (strong lats and upper back help with benching, and squatting as well)

[DaBurg3r]

if you can't pull that bar back, then you can't lock it out. If you can't lock it out, well your not doing it right.

[isaku900]

i can't do a pullup...

but I can lockout almost 700lbs...

[DaBurg3r]

i can't do a pullup...

but I can lockout almost 700lbs...

how can you not do a pullup? Your huge in your avatar.

[LessThanLuke]

i can't do a pullup...

fail.

[PaHulkster]

Yeah I suck at pullups too, but have a reasonable deadlift. I'm also pretty wide with a good lat spread so whatever. They are something I am working on though.

[Doenitz79]

I can deadlift 450lb.

That time I pulled a lat muscle,I couldn't even get 225lb up.

So the lats are not important? Think again.

[isaku900]

how can you not do a pullup? Your huge in your avatar.

meh i can probably do one...the reason being...I'm 275lbs.

[babyslayer]

I can do chinups 4-7 to be exact...

anyway....


The thing about lats are, when they appear to be weak, its not just the lats that are weak, its the while upper back basically. Rows dont just only hit the lats, they hit the whole upper damn upper back.

People with weak upper backs are going to have weak deadlifts. They are going to have a hard time locking out and getting the bar past their knee's.


If the upper back rounds to much it puts the bar to far out infront of you and you can basically forget about getting the bar over your knee's.

And if your upper back is weak and you go to lockout your going to have a hell of a time moving it that last few inches.



A big barbell row, dumbell row, and t-bar row all come with the territory of a big deadlift.


If all you did was deadlift, and never trained those lifts ever, you would still gain strength in those lifts. And vice versa, if all you did was those exercises, and never deadlifted, you would still gain strength in the deadlift.

Lats and upper back are a huge part of the deadlift and you wont find a big deadlifter who isnt strong at rowing exercises.

[Anaar]

I can do chinups 4-7 to be exact...

anyway....


The thing about lats are, when they appear to be weak, its not just the lats that are weak, its the while upper back basically. Rows dont just only hit the lats, they hit the whole upper damn upper back.

People with weak upper backs are going to have weak deadlifts. They are going to have a hard time locking out and getting the bar past their knee's.


If the upper back rounds to much it puts the bar to far out infront of you and you can basically forget about getting the bar over your knee's.

And if your upper back is weak and you go to lockout your going to have a hell of a time moving it that last few inches.



A big barbell row, dumbell row, and t-bar row all come with the territory of a big deadlift.


If all you did was deadlift, and never trained those lifts ever, you would still gain strength in those lifts. And vice versa, if all you did was those exercises, and never deadlifted, you would still gain strength in the deadlift.

Lats and upper back are a huge part of the deadlift and you wont find a big deadlifter who isnt strong at rowing exercises.

Much thanks, that makes a ton of sense

[babyslayer]

Yeah I suck at pullups too, but have a reasonable deadlift. I'm also pretty wide with a good lat spread so whatever. They are something I am working on though.

pullups are their own exercise, they take practice and if your heavy you shouldnt expect to be a pro at them.

Lat exercises that require lower back and require static or even a little bit of body english to do as far as using your lower back for momentum in rows etc, are much better for your deadlift than chinups or pullups are.

In my opinion pullups are a finnisher, not a main exercise if your goal is to improve the big 3. I look at them like I would leg curls or pushdowns.

[DallasLynx]

pullups are their own exercise, they take practice and if your heavy you shouldnt expect to be a pro at them.

Lat exercises that require lower back and require static or even a little bit of body english to do as far as using your lower back for momentum in rows etc, are much better for your deadlift than chinups or pullups are.

In my opinion pullups are a finnisher, not a main exercise if your goal is to improve the big 3. I look at them like I would leg curls or pushdowns.

I have to agree. I think rowing movements carry over more to your pull than chinning does. I still to chins though b/c I feel like they carry over to your bench.

[someonefat]

I can do chinups 4-7 to be exact...

Thats pretty good, can you do one strict pullup? That would be pretty impressive with your size. The heaviest person I've seen do a pull up was Tex henderson and he was like 400lbs when he did it but was also very tall so would weigh more naturally and insanely strong with like 1k+ squat and something like 800+ deadlift or something.

[IronAbrams]

I'm pretty sure Alexeev did a pullup when he was 400 lbs. That's the heaviest I've ever heard of.

[BLARZEE]

i can lock out anything i can get past mid knee. need to start dling more/quad work

[babyslayer]

Thats pretty good, can you do one strict pullup? That would be pretty impressive with your size. The heaviest person I've seen do a pull up was Tex henderson and he was like 400lbs when he did it but was also very tall so would weigh more naturally and insanely strong with like 1k+ squat and something like 800+ deadlift or something.

I dont think I can do a trict chin


I think Im strong enough, but I think theres a strength strength curve that your body has to learn. and that takes practice....


With a few workouts training for it I could pobably do a few, would be nice to squash the stereo type of being fat and not being able to do pullups.

[babyslayer]

i can lock out anything i can get past mid knee. need to start dling more/quad work

deficit deadlifts, deadlift stance box squats


get strong on those and your covered