Deadlift Check

[Duke309]

Short story, was up to 425x5 for deadlifts before an unknown back injury took me out of commission for a month in January. I'm back in the game doing good now and want to make sure my form is decent before I really start moving heavy weights again.

Here is 355x5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUsj0dQT7bI

It looks to me like i need to focus on keeping my hamstrings tight and really squeezing the weight from the floor, however the cues I've seen and tried haven't been working for this. I don't think my starting position is too low.

I don't think strength shouldnt be a factor, heres 395.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_ssJvyH4Iw

Let me know if different camera angles will help. I do have trouble keeping correct lumbar posture at the bottom when setting down the weight, any tips on that too?

[Mark Rippetoe]

The pulls look good. Set it down faster and your form will hold together better.

[Ian Kovtunovich]

The pulls look good. Set it down faster and your form will hold together better.

Rip, as I am trying to push my deads to 400 and am trying to milk every tidbit of efficiency I can, can you give an idea of how fast is legit to set them down? I am definitely lowering faster than the OP, and it kind of accelerates the closer to the ground they get.

[Mark Rippetoe]

It's almost a drop with the bar in your hands. But not quite.

[Ian Kovtunovich]

It's almost a drop with the bar in your hands. But not quite.

I think I dig what you're saying there. Stay in control of it, with good form I imagine, but don't do any more than the bare minimum required to meet those criteria?