How To Do A Stiff-Leg Deadlift — Strength Potential

Stiff-Leg Deadlift

Level: Intermediate, advanced

What it works

Mainly: Hamstrings, Glutes. Also: Lower back, Grip.

Setup

As a Romanian deadlift but with the knees straighter and the bar starting from the floor each rep.

How it goes

Hinge to the floor keeping the legs near-straight, then stand. Expect to use noticeably less weight than a conventional deadlift.

Two things people get wrong

Loading it like a conventional deadlift.
Bouncing the plates off the floor between reps.

If the kit’s busy

Romanian deadlift, which gives most of the same benefit with less lower-back cost.

Also written as: Stiff-Leg Deadlifts

These are setup and execution cues, not coaching. If something hurts, stop — and if you're training around an injury or a health condition, get a professional's eyes on it first.