All lifts progressing very well except deadlift- not sure what issue is

[Laidbackzack]

Hey coaches,

I ran SS for a few months and achieved a 320x5x3 squat (to depth), 232.5x5x3 bench, 150x5x3 Press, and a very shitty deadlift. Whenever it gets even remotely heavy I have 0 power off the floor. I've grinded out 310x5x1 before but it took everything out of me. I'm not sure if the issue has to do with confidence, form, or something else, but I can tell you I gained a significant amount of weight during the program and increased all my lifts virtually every workout. I'm 20, 5'6.5, 174 lbs. I did a quick set of 255 for a set of 5 today for a form check. Any critique or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

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For all those wondering about my squat depth, this is 325x5. The reps are a bit high, but I don't understand why my deadlift is so inferior to my squats.

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Thanks guys

[Steve Hill]

Well, the very first observation is that you've not read the book, because you're setting up about 4' too far from the bar. Note: I tend to exaggerate for effect. Read THIS THREAD and try again.

[Laidbackzack]

Thanks for the response, Steve. I've read the book and that thread 100x due to my tendency to overanalyze when things go wrong, and I when I looked down at my feet I was about 1 (or a bit more) inches from the bar. It could be that the camera tends to distort spatial relationships of that nature. Or it could be that I just setup too far from the bar. Is the distance my knees take to reach the bar when I bend them too much? I feel like my hips are already very high. Regardless, I'll setup my shins closer to that bar next time and report back.

[Brian Harlin]

Well, the very first observation is that you've not read the book, because you're setting up about 4' too far from the bar. Note: I tend to exaggerate for effect. Read THIS THREAD and try again.

How can you tell? Looking at a still taken when he is standing up perfectly straight, his shin distance from the bar looks good to me. Are you using his back angle or the position of his knees to determine this?

[Steve Hill]

Rfish: Watch his arms when he starts to pull.

OP: A couple of points. First - 1" is for a coach watching the lifter set up, not for the lifter. You have to make sure the bar is over the middle of your foot. Second, as son as you start to pull, you're sitting back and dropping your hips. You can see this in your arm angle. Now, the apparent distance between shin and bar could be erroneous in this video, but I do think you are at least a little too far from the bar. Your last rep is closest to being correct.

But all that aside, even given a technique issue, you should still be getting stronger. Even people who squat and DL (and PC and press, etc etc) still get massive lifts as long as they get the programming correct. So you need to be thinking about your programming, and almost certainly your eating.

Finally, see this handy thread about filming: http://startingstrength.com/resource...ad.php?t=20249

[Laidbackzack]

Okay, got it. I only deadlift once per week. I think my lack of progression has to do with my lack of confidence in my deadlift abilities because it has been the lift I have most struggled with. Also, I see what you mean about dropping my hips and sitting back. I should just bend my knees until they touch the bar, leave my hips as they are and squeeze my chest up, correct?

Again, I really appreciate the help. I hope I can bring my deadlift up to par with the rest of my lifts.

[Steve Hill]

Correct.