Deadlift

What it is

This challenging full-body exercise builds significant strength through a powerful pulling motion. You will primarily engage your lower back, glutes, and hamstrings to complete the lift.

Technique tips

• Keep your back straight and chest proud throughout the entire lift.
• Drive through your heels, pushing the floor away to stand tall.
• Brace your core strongly before initiating each repetition.
• Exhale forcefully as you reach the standing, locked-out position.
• Consider an alternating grip or wrist straps to aid your hold.
• Control the weight on the way down, rather than just dropping it.

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.