Trap bar vrs standard DL

[AAOBob]

I've been doing standard DL's and never used the trap bar until recently. Is there a advantage to standard DL's over the trap bar? I find its easier on my grip with the trap bar and I don't have to reset the bar as often, letting me do more reps without pause with the trap bar.

[BiggREC]

It's easier on the lower back, but you tend to use a little more quads.

[bigwade800]

It really depends on your goal. We use the trap bar extensively to save the low back, work on pulling power as the grip is ergonomically more freindly. This is done for strength and we use the straight bar for form.

I've used the trap with clients who's goal is simply to be more fit.

I'd suggest a combination and/or even alternating with the bars. Use it as a tool to get better.

[ironwill2008]

I've been doing standard DL's and never used the trap bar until recently. Is there a advantage to standard DL's over the trap bar? I find its easier on my grip with the trap bar and I don't have to reset the bar as often, letting me do more reps without pause with the trap bar.

The two exercises are quite different in their actions. Conventional Deadlift will put the majority of the work on the lower back. TBD will shift the emphasis to the quads.

[2nd_chance]

It's easier on the lower back, but you tend to use a little more quads.

Exactly. And in my priorities Quads are above Lower Back. It's all about goals. I've loved trap bar deads and their results since the first time I tried them two years ago.

[Covenantcoins]

Exactly. And in my priorities Quads are above Lower Back. It's all about goals. I've loved trap bar deads and their results since the first time I tried them two years ago.

@2nd_chance: I noticed you are 6'2". Would you say DL is harder* for taller people? I find my knees want to bend sooner than my back on the descent. I'm sure that can be a problem for any height, but wondered what you've experienced/observed. Obviously never had that problem with TDL.

Thanks in advance for your answer!

*harder as in harder to get the form right.

[silverlightning]

i wish our gym had a trap bar, i really prefer to do shrugs with the handles/grip on the side instead of the front.

[bigtallox]

@2nd_chance: I noticed you are 6'2". Would you say DL is harder* for taller people?

Well, I'm not 2nd_chance, but I am tall. ABSOLUTELY barbell deadlifts are harder than trap bar deads for tall people, in term of getting form right and amount of weight that can be moved, because there's no bar to get in the way, it makes it easier to use your legs along with your lower back with the trap bar.

[icedemon]

i wish our gym had a trap bar, i really prefer to do shrugs with the handles/grip on the side instead of the front.

Do they have big enough dumbbells for shrugs? I prefer dumbbells over a bar for shrugs.

[snoack]

Ox, my son's best friend is a couple inches shorter than you. He has a great deal of difficulty with the "big 3" based on his height. His S&C coach has him pulling deads off a platform, and he's been working with a wider grip on his bench. He says both of those seem to help.

[bigtallox]

Ox, my son's best friend is a couple inches shorter than you. He has a great deal of difficulty with the "big 3" based on his height. His S&C coach has him pulling deads off a platform, and he's been working with a wider grip on his bench. He says both of those seem to help.

Those things will definitely build strength, BUT not in terms of powerlifting. So it depends on goals. For the lift to be good at a power meet, you can't go wider than the rings when benching, AND pulling barbell deads from a platform won't help with technique from the floor. Those things will help build strength but not build the big 3 in terms of powerlifting, but then again that's why there aren't many tall powerlifters, they go in other directions ( or give up with wights all together ).

[Covenantcoins]

Well, I'm not 2nd_chance, but I am tall. ABSOLUTELY barbell deadlifts are harder than trap bar deads for tall people...

Thanks! Yes, I guess I didn't mean to compare DL to TDL for tall guys. I just meant is DL hard to get right at all for tall guys. But you said as much. And yeah, you ARE tall! Great username too! Regards!