Trap Bar vs Traditional DL

[sok454]

Last night was DL night and I typically do both sumo and traditional dl. Because my back has been sore I moved to utilizing the trap bar the last few weeks for traditional Dl's. Last night was the first time I used the lower handles so I was at the traditional height of a DL vs using the raised handles. Definitely could tell it activated my back more than the raised handles.
How does everyone look at using the lower handles compared to a traditional bar bell? is it still "cheating"? I feel my grip was a lot strong with the trap bar vs barbell.

I pulled 405 at the end of my set. Granted I pulled 470 last fall but subsequently tweaked my back that then led to lat/neck/arm weakness that I'm still dealing with on my presses.

[Plateauplower]

I dont think its cheating, its not a recognized comp lift but your are still pulling a big heavy weight off the floor = good. I wish my gym had a trap bar I would switch back and fourth between regular BB deads and tarp bar deads. I think everytime you change the plane of motion or stabalizer muscles involved in the lift its a good thing unless your are training for a powerlifting event and want to focus on just heavy standard lifts.

[sok454]

I started doing sumo DL because it felt like I was able to prevent myself from trying to lift strictly with my back and really forced myself to open my hips, which were an extreme weak point. I also feel doing the box squats have been helping out as well with hip strength and flexibility. still a long way to go though.

[polishedball]

Any reason you don't use straps on your heaviest sets? If you are after muscle growth and not comp lifts why let the grip be the weak point?

I do both bars and to me it feels like two completely different lifts.

I really like the trap bar for shrugs

[Tmax55]

I hadn't been using straps, but I got so pissed off at failing grip last night I used them...wow!

Years ago I had a very severe cut and nerve damage to the palm of my left hand and my left grip was consistantly giving out without straps.

The straps allowed me to focus on the muscles involved in lifting the weight rather than gripping the bar - I lifted more reps at the top weight in the 2nd set and 3rd set than in the first set and my form was improved. I'm trying to build muscle so I will be using them from now on.

[John Prophet]

if u r doing conventional and sumo and then u add in trap bar, it seems like u have a good variety to work with so that u can try to make yr round progress as opposed to just hammering away with one style. I would use one main style for about 8 weeks then switch while maybe using one of the others as assistance or some similar type of variation