Diff. btwn. Good Morning & Stiffleg Deadlift

[LiftingDukkha]

Hi, I'm basically new around, though I've been lurking on & off for awhile. Anyway, this question has been nagging me for awhile. I think this forum is probably the best place for it, even if it's a noob question.

What is really the difference between Good Mornings and Stiffleg Deadlifts? My problem is that I'm the only person I know where I live who does Good Mornings. I've been doing them for quite awhile, but as far as I can tell, it's really basically the same sort of movement as a Stiffleg Deadlift, except with the bar on your back, instead of in front & in your hands.

So is the Good Morning to Stiffleg Deadlift, basically what Squat is to (regular) Deadlift? The same basic motion, except not holding the bar but having it on your rear delts?

If so, what are the benefits of Good A.M. vs Stiffleg Deads?

Thanks.

 

[Scotsman]

Well it does put the stress in different areas of your back. As you have to hole the arch while doing good morning, plus your arms are in a different position which changes the focus of stress. Plus with sldl the bar can be moved in towards the legs to focus on the the hamstrings in the stretched positions, whereas the GM has you bending your knees and using some quad and a lot of glute and hams in the flexed position.

Much like your analolgy of squats to dead, they use a lot of the same muscles, but in a slightly different way. This is why some people are much stronger on one than the other.

Cheers,
Scotsman

 

[LiftingDukkha]

Well it does put the stress in different areas of your back. As you have to hole the arch while doing good morning, plus your arms are in a different position which changes the focus of stress. Plus with sldl the bar can be moved in towards the legs to focus on the the hamstrings in the stretched positions, whereas the GM has you bending your knees and using some quad and a lot of glute and hams in the flexed position.

Much like your analolgy of squats to dead, they use a lot of the same muscles, but in a slightly different way. This is why some people are much stronger on one than the other.

Cheers,
Scotsman

Thanks for the information. I thought it was something like that. I just wanted to make sure I was doing them right, and I think I am. Thanks, again!

 

[anthrax]

When I do GMS my legs are not locked and they aren't involved in the movement

It's all about the lower back

 

[LiftingDukkha]

Yeah, I don't even try to keep my legs stiff/straight when doing GM's, esp. over about 200 lbs.

Also, I naturally arch my back, and between that & steadying the bar with hands/arms, I get a real good soreness in my upper back that I don't get with stiffleg deads.

Though I do get soreness in my hams if I do big sets on GM, not as intense as from SDL.