Should you scrap a deadlift if you know your form is terrible?

[twogun]

I participated in a local unsanctioned meet recently. I deadlifted 510 with decent form and was sure that was it. Another guy talked me into trying 525 for my last attempt. I didn't think I stood a chance but agreed.

My back rounded badly, shoulders rolled forward, but the weight was moving. When I cleared my knees I thought I might actually make it. I knew it was ugly, but I managed to finish. My wife said it was one of the ugliest deadlifts she had ever seen.

Question: If you know your form has deterioated that badly on a true max effort lift should you continue?

[Mark Rippetoe]

What is the purpose of a powerlifting meet? Think hard if you need to.

[Steve Hill]

What is the purpose of a powerlifting meet? Think hard if you need to.

If you are a true athlete, the purpose of any competitive event is to do your level best to win, period. It might be a beautiful win, it might be ugly, but a win is a win. All that matters is you won.

Assuming that, you go into a powerlifting meet try to lift as much fucking weight as you can. You either succeed in picking up the weight, or you don't.

It occurs to me that we all (including the original poster) know this, and therefore I must assume he is looking for validation of his big, ugly lift.

Give the man a hug, Rip.

[Mark Rippetoe]

HUUUUUUGGGGGGS, twogun.

[twogun]

I know the purpose of a meet is to lift submaximal weights while demonstrating perfect form.

One guy pulled 600 and missed 650. Good/decent form on both.
Another pulled 500 and missed 530. Good/decent form on both.
There were others.

A younger guy lifted with horrible form every time. I remembered reading either here or in one of the books a comment about how much money you would have for all the high school meets you had been to, thought it was $.15. Also thought you wrote something about horrible form and ruining young kids backs. Hope memory is serving accurately. I concluded from that that kids shouldn't be lifting with such form risking their safety. My form resembled the kids, and the question popped into my head.

BTW, thanks for the hug.

[Blairbob]

I've seen some videos of max DL during training on meets in person and on meet footage on youtube. Sometimes you'll see very submaximal form. And this is just not from just the Joe's in everyday but the pro's (however, they are strong as hell and some of them at submaximal weights still are not textbook form).

Perhaps the 90/10 rule applies here where so long as we are training with optimal form at near max load/volume we're all good as form will break down when it's pushed to the brink.

[Polynomial]

I think I remember someone saying that if you did it with perfect form, it wasn't a 1RM.

[JLascek]

There is a difference between attempting to lift a maximal amount of weight and a shitty coach slapping a young girl or boy into a squat suit without preparing them properly to do so.

I won't speak for Rip, but it was probably the lack of coaching that pissed him off about high school meets.