Can deadlifting only make your squat bigger?

[Gregthegiant]

So for around 3 months I only did squats and no deadlifts. My squat went up about 50lbs but when I tried to max on deads again my deadlift had gone up only 20 lbs. I know this has to do with grip strength, because my legs definitely did get stronger. What I'm wondering is, if I were to do the opposite and only deadlift for 3 months, would my squat go up a considerable amount?

Just wondering, I probably won't do this but its good to know.

[ArizonaEli]

I don't know, but it makes me want to know why you'd even consider this?

[TheWiseEggroll]

If you want to squat more, you should be squatting.
If you want to deadlift more, you should be deadlifting.

[Fbomb1990]

you should be doing both!!!! they both play important parts in gaining strength in any lift. That's why I like push/pull splits one day is focused on deadlifts and one day is focused on the squat.

[stevemckenna]

SLDL and Sumo DL for that stronger posterior chain will help increase your low bar squat. I'm not sure on high bar squats since it's more quad dominant.

[DrRugby]

There is always a transfer effect.

Of course, it will never be a perfect 1:1 transfer between two different exercises.

So for around 3 months I only did squats and no deadlifts. My squat went up about 50lbs but when I tried to max on deads again my deadlift had gone up only 20 lbs. I know this has to do with grip strength, because my legs definitely did get stronger. What I'm wondering is, if I were to do the opposite and only deadlift for 3 months, would my squat go up a considerable amount?

Just wondering, I probably won't do this but its good to know.

[bevans100fitnes]

In my opinion (this is a bodybuilding board), if grip affects the maximum load used in a deadlifting workout.... use the straps.

You don't want to sacrifice having a larger back in order to have larger forearms, back is a much larger group of muscles. Whether bodybuilding competition, or simple aesthetics, back trumps forearms.

Now if you are going to compete in powerlifting this doesn't apply.

Lastly, as far as deadlift affecting squat... Deadlift has a lot of hip involvement. If your quadriceps are a strong point and glutes are the weakpoint of your squat, I think deadlifts would increase it. In most cases I think the two increase together, but gains in one does not necessarily equate to gains in the other.

Deadlift is a hip hinge (torsoe moves in relation to femur) Squat is a squat.(femur moves in relation to torso)

[k9pit]

I won't say it's impossible. Both moves can create an increase of total body strength.

[batman37]

Increasing your squat will make your dead lift go up a little and vice-versa

The movements are not the same but they do involve a lot of the same muscles, just emphasis them differently.

[speedjason]

its very possible. squatting uses a lot of stabilizers and also a very strong core.
dead lifting is the same.
when you are overall stronger, both will go up.

[Rasputin4]

Yes but not nearly so much as squats will.

You'd be shortchanging your quads, which can be hit some - but not adequately - with deficit sumo deads.

[CookAndrewB]

OP,

The first thing you need to recognize is that in order to do a squat or a deadlift, you have to deliver force through the spine. Regardless of leg strength, a weak lower back can prevent you from properly expressing that strength. How much you squat is going to directly relate to how much weight your lower back can stabilize. This is the point at which the two lifts cross over and the reason you will see some carry over from squating to deadlift and vice versa.

Because a squat requires more thigh strenth than a deadlift (regardless of the style of squatting), you will probably see regular strength increases in deadlifts without so much as doing a deadlift, so long as your squats are improving. In fact, WSBB programs often cut out deadlifting except for some period of time before a competition just to work out some form bugs. Likewise, WSBB trains heavy good mornings to increase squat numbers... targeting the lower back as the weak link in the chain.

I'm not sure why you wouldn't do both, but do you need to do both in equal parts to make steady gains? No. You can easily hit leg strength through other means while focusing largely on deadlifting, and you will likely see good progress in your squats.

[matjusm]

Improvements in squats have much more carryover to improvements in deadlifts than vice versa, or at least that has been the general impression I've gotten from reading around strength forums as well as my personal experience. However if you want optimal development of both, you've got to do both.

[Garage Rat]

Depending on what style deadliest you are doing it could possibly help.
A sumo style deadlift will carry over more to a sumo style squat more than conventional deadlift to a more convetional squat.
A conventional style deadlift only requires a partial squat on the beginning of your pull.
So if your squatting at parallel or below this would not be a good carry over.
Both great exercises though for overall size and strength.
If you just deadlifted i would say your deadlift would increase quite a bit.
Why not do both but cut back on your squat volume.