Axle Deadlift

What it is

This powerful compound exercise involves lifting a heavy bar from the floor to a standing lockout position. It primarily targets your lower back, building significant strength and power throughout your posterior chain. You will also engage your glutes, hamstrings, and quadriceps.

Technique tips

• Keep your feet about hip-width apart and the bar centered over your mid-foot.
• Take a big breath and brace your core before initiating the lift.
• Keep your chest up and maintain a rigid back.
• Once the bar clears your knees, powerfully extend your hips forward.
• Control the descent by hinging at your hips first.
• Avoid letting your hips rise too quickly off the floor.

How to track your progress

Log the weight and reps of each set. Straddly turns every set into an estimated one-rep max, so a heavier single and a strong set of eight both count as progress, and it flags a personal record the moment you beat your best.