So if deadlifts are supposed to be so great..

[Dial_tone]

I did 405 when I was about 185 and screwed my back up; couldn't squat for years after that.

 

[bodytemple75]

I have been doing deadlifts since when I started training many years ago. The guy I first trained with was a competitive BB'er, and just happened to be nice enough to show me a few things, and then ask me if I wanted to train with him. Great guy, and we have been friends for many years since. He did deads, and he knew his stuff.
Getting back,...I don't do them all the time tho... I like to stay with a comfortable weight, 315-25lbs. and get 10-12 quality reps with negatives. I have tried to do a max set here and there to see where my strength is at but I am more concerned with quality than anything. I have to admitt though, I do enjoy a max set here and there, just to psych/amuse myself. Good for moral. I have maxed at 475 for a single. Ok, I think.... I always use wristraps, and a belt if that makes any difference. I have gotten into the new habit of doing them in a squat rack at certain times w/ the bar set just below my knees. I find this has helped my strength some, and helped my overall reps by helping me stronger through my sticking points, helping me doing them off the floor freeweights. I feel more comfortable training this way. I like doing them, but can't do them all the time,...they just take so much out of you. I remember time training in the old gym dungeon doing deadlifts....Memories... Good movement though.

 

[InTraining]

i have been lifting seriously for around 6 years and deadlifts are, easily, the most satisfying weight lifting exercise i do. its so simplistic-just you, the bar, and the weights. nothing else. i just started doing them about a year ago and in that year i have had more lower back development than the previous four years combined. whats even better is that deadlifts have pretty much cured the whole reason i avoided doing deadlifts in the first place-a bad lower back. now i have this fucking steel cage around my spine and i feel more solid than ever.

You have a herniated disc by any chance?

When I went to the doctor for mine he said "you will never deadlift or squat again"

 

[cmdubs]

I don't do regular deadlifts..but I do SLDL's...and I get strange looks just doing those...of course I've only seen a handful do em in the 4 years I've been lifting there..usually 95 lbs or less too.

 

[coldblue1955]

..then how come no one at my gym does them?

A few guys do SLDL for hams, but near zero do traditional deadlifts.

I don't do them, and anticipate I will continue this trend into the future.

that's a simple question to answer. They are lazy bastards! That's why!

 

[Dave949]

that's a simple question to answer. They are lazy bastards! That's why!

What he said.

You don`t see many doing deads for the same reason you don`t see many doing dips or chins or that ancient exercise the clean and press or hang cleans and press because they are hard ass exercises that takes blood, sweat and guts to do and they knock the freaking wind out of your sails.
I`m an old fart to many of you but at 48 and natty, I`m still deading 315 x 12 reps and thats standing on a 4 inch block with no wrist straps and my back after 22+ years is just fine and so is my waist size (32). If you warm up properly, use excellent form and stay one rep shy of failure deads will do a body good......Just ask Franco.