This is why I say deadlifts are basically useless

[Al Doggity]

I would agree that they don't translate to much but neither does a big squat really translate much to a big bench or vice versa.

But a big squat does improve your leg presses and extensions and any other exercise that requires leg strength- even running. Deadlifts don't really improve anything for me, while improving on other exercises improves my deadlift. Improvement on shrugs, deadlift goes up, improvement on rows or squats, deadlift goes up. I can go weeks without deadlifting and maintain a decent dl as long as I am hitting everything else hard. I started an intense dl program a little while back so I could back off of squats and I couldn't believe how much my squat had dropped after just 3 weeks ( 6 sessions). I was doing lighter high volume machine work.  Meanwhile, my dl was at a sticking point. After 2 leg sessions, my dl went up a plate.

[Anna Recksiek]

I didn't do DL for years then finally added them and improved my back and hams but mostly traps.

[BB]

From a sporting perspective, and perhaps a quality of life perspective, the deadlift and the overhead press are the most beneficial. The bench, and really most of the isolation movements rank toward the bottom.

[BBSSchlemiel]

Makes sense.

People who can pull 700-plus off the ground are usually skinny weaklings or at best, of average strength.

Sure.

Just as a challenge find me a dozen men who can pull over 500 who don't look like they lift or are not at least decently strong in other lifts.

[Al Doggity]

Makes sense.

People who can pull 700-plus off the ground are usually skinny weaklings or at best, of average strength.

Sure.

Just as a challenge find me a dozen men who can pull over 500 who don't look like they lift or are not at least decently strong in other lifts.

I posted a link to an 80-year old woman who deadlifts 225 in the opening post.

[Al Doggity]

From a sporting perspective, and perhaps a quality of life perspective, the deadlift and the overhead press are the most beneficial. The bench, and really most of the isolation movements rank toward the bottom.

These are precisely the sort of vague "benefits" I am talking about.

[Dos Equis]

Absurd.  Deadlifts are the single best exercise in the gym IMO.  Right next to squats.  I'll be doing them until I die.  

[mr.turbo]

not sure how you plan to suplex an assailant with a weak lower back

good luck defending  your household from intruders

[BB]

These are precisely the sort of vague "benefits" I am talking about.

Look at the types of things seniors, etc.... have trouble doing (hand strength issues, getting up from chairs, carrying and supporting loads, etc....). Those two exercises, plus some cardio and mobility work will help with most listed. Now, if one wants to argue squat vs. deadlift, you could go with a trap bar deadlift standing on a block, which makes it a far more quad dominate (squatty) exercise.

[pellius]

Deadlifts are useless says the guy who can't deadlift.

From a bbing stand point, meaning you just want to look good and have a pretty body, then DL aren't necessary. But from a functional point of view, nothing beats the DL. If you are a wrestler, Jiu-Jitsu guy, work in a warehouse, or just helping your friend move, DL rule.

You rarely do a bench press type movement in real life, picking up and putting down things is one of the most common movement we do in everyday life.

[Grape Ape]

I posted a link to an 80-year old woman who deadlifts 225 in the opening post.

Which means she's strong.

You're using a sample size of exactly one (yourself) and applying subjective criteria.

They're not useless.  They strengthen the entire posterior chain, grip etc....which translates into a plethora of other things.

[NelsonMuntz]

[pellius]

Which means she's strong.

You're using a sample size of exactly one (yourself) and applying subjective criteria.

They're not useless.  They strengthen the entire posterior chain, grip etc....which translates into a plethora of other things.

Don't forget grip strength. Another very useful and functional strength that doesn't really have any cosmetic purposes for bbing

[sceagacros]

I switched Dead for RDL's because unlike most getbiggers, I'm a vain, shallow, "cosmetically motivated" fellow - Romanians may not be hitting quite as many muscles as Conventional (or sumo) but I feel I get more bang for my CNS buck.

[pellius]

I switched Dead for RDL's because unlike most getbiggers, I'm a vain, shallow, "cosmetically motivated" fellow - Romanians may not be hitting quite as many muscles as Conventional (or sumo) but I feel I get more bang for my CNS buck.

Actually, I think RDL are better and more functional that regular Deads. You rarely, if ever, pick up something in the traditional DL over/under grip. I've been doing RDL for so long that I just take it for granted when one is talking about Deads.

[heenok]

Never got how deads work upperback, always felt it in my hams/glute/lower back. Even trying rackpull still hits my lower back and not my upper.
Stiff legged deads are handsdown the best hams/glute exercise there is, very dangerous tho.

[Ropo]

http://60abc.com/grandma-aged-78-couldnt-get-out-of-chair-now-she-deadlifts-225lb-weights-in-the-gym/

Okay, so not entirely useless and ,admittedly, this is something an almost 80-year-old woman should be proud of.  But as I've said in the past,  good deadlift numbers are not really a gauge of strength. Her numbers on every other exercise are probably exactly what you'd expect from a senior citizen.

So you are basically saying that you don't know shit about the training? Well, that clarifies things quite a lot 

[MORTALCOIL]

Never got how deads work upperback, always felt it in my hams/glute/lower back. Even trying rackpull still hits my lower back and not my upper.
Stiff legged deads are handsdown the best hams/glute exercise there is, very dangerous tho.

SLDL are not more dangerous than regular DL's in general, it is for certain people. As just any compound movement, there's greater variations because your entire morphology is involved. Nobody does squats, bench presses and DL's exactly the same way. No matter how you break it down, it will never be purely analytical. I personally only do SLDL as I've never been able to do a regular DL properly without fear of getting injured. Same thing as far as the results are concerned: I get good results on hams, traps, post delts and lower back but no glute results while you or others will have different results.

[Grape Ape]

Actually, I think RDL are better and more functional that regular Deads. You rarely, if ever, pick up something in the traditional DL over/under grip. I've been doing RDL for so long that I just take it for granted when one is talking about Deads.

Many perform deads without the over/under grip, or neutral grip on hex bar.

But agree RDLs are fantastic.

[TheShape.]

Why do we have so many crying pussies on this board? People don't like to do deadlifts because they take a lot of work.

[SilverSpoon]

I do higher repetition trap bar deadlifts in my routine.
I utilize a lot of control on the negative.
I believe my trapezius, rhomboids, forearms, lower back and hamstrings are better for it.
I also believe it tremendously helps my golf swing.  More than squats.

[pellius]

Many perform deads without the over/under grip, or neutral grip on hex bar.

But agree RDLs are fantastic.

Hex bar would be a great alternative. I've just never trained at a gym that had one.

[Drogon]

Hammer Strength presses.

Hahaha

[pellius]

Why do we have so many crying pussies on this board? People don't like to do deadlifts because they take a lot of work.

Exactly. Because someone doesn't like something they make up reasons as to why it shouldn't be done.

If you could do only one exercise to enhance real world functional ability it should be the DL.

[Drogon]

With 4 plates a side

Yeah that's true. That's heavy for reps even when juiced up.