Common Form Mistakes In Deadlifts (And Why They Matter)

Rounding the lower back

The single most important thing to fix, since a loaded, rounded spine under heavy weight is where most deadlift injuries happen. Bracing the core hard and keeping the chest up throughout the lift protects against this.

Bar drifting away from the body

Letting the bar travel forward away from your shins during the pull increases the leverage disadvantage significantly, making the lift both harder and riskier. Keeping the bar close, essentially dragging up the shins, is far more efficient.

Hips shooting up first

If your hips rise dramatically before the bar even leaves the ground, it usually means the legs are doing the initial work instead of a coordinated whole-body pull, turning it into more of a stiff-legged deadlift than intended.

Hyperextending at the top

Leaning back excessively once standing, rather than simply standing tall, adds unnecessary stress to the lower back without any benefit to the lift itself.