How to perform Barbell Deficit Deadlift with proper form
Setup
- Deficit: Stand on a platform (1-4 inches high) to increase the range of motion.
- Barbell Position: Place the barbell over your mid-foot.
- Foot Placement: Feet hip-width apart with toes slightly outward.
Grip
- Hand Position: Use a double overhand or mixed grip, just outside your knees.
- Wrist Position: Keep wrists straight and in line with your forearms.
Initiate Lift
- Hips and Chest: Drop your hips and lower your chest while maintaining a straight back.
- Engage Core: Brace your core to stabilize your spine.
Lift
- Drive Through Heels: Push through your heels, engaging your legs as you lift.
- Hips and Shoulders: Extend hips and shoulders simultaneously to keep the bar close to your body.
Lockout
- Stand Tall: Fully extend your hips and knees at the top.
- Shoulders Back: Pull your shoulders back without hyperextending your lower back.
Lowering the Bar
- Hip Hinge: Push your hips back while maintaining a straight back to lower the bar.
- Keep Bar Close: Ensure the bar stays close to your body throughout the descent.
Tips
- Neutral Spine: Maintain a neutral spine to avoid injury.
- Breath Control: Inhale before lowering the bar and exhale as you lift.
- Footwear: Use flat-soled shoes for stability.
Common Mistakes
- Rounding the Back: Avoid hunching your back during lift.
- Raising Hips Too Soon: Ensure hips and chest lift together.
- Lifting Too Quickly: Control the movement throughout the range.
Following these steps will help you perform the Barbell Deficit Deadlift with proper form and effectiveness.
Exercises

Back Extension, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Core
Target: Back
Synergist: Glutes, Hamstrings

Back Extension, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Core
Target: Back
Synergist: Glutes, Hamstrings

Box Squat, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Box Squat, Dumbbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Bulgarian Split Squat, Dumbbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Cable Pull Through, Cable
Type: Lower, Pull
Target: Glutes
Synergist: Back, Hamstrings

Calf Press on Leg Press, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Calves

Calf Press on Seated Leg Press, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Calves, Quadriceps
Synergist: Glutes, Hamstrings

Clean, Barbell
Type: Upper, Lower, Push
Target: Glutes, Hamstrings, Quadriceps, Back, Shoulders
Synergist: Calves, Biceps, Chest, Forearms

Clean and Jerk, Barbell
Type: Upper, Lower, Push
Target: Glutes, Hamstrings, Quadriceps, Back, Shoulders
Synergist: Calves, Biceps, Chest, Forearms

Deadlift, Barbell
Type: Lower, Pull
Target: Glutes, Back, Hamstrings
Synergist: Quadriceps, Calves, Abs, Forearms

Deadlift, Cable
Type: Lower, Pull
Target: Glutes, Back, Hamstrings
Synergist: Quadriceps, Calves, Abs, Forearms

Deadlift, Dumbbell
Type: Lower, Pull
Target: Glutes, Back, Hamstrings
Synergist: Quadriceps, Calves, Abs, Forearms

Deadlift, Smith Machine
Type: Lower, Pull
Target: Glutes, Back, Hamstrings
Synergist: Quadriceps, Calves, Abs, Forearms

Deadlift, Band
Type: Lower, Pull
Target: Glutes, Back, Hamstrings
Synergist: Quadriceps, Calves, Abs, Forearms

Deadlift, Kettlebell
Type: Lower, Pull
Target: Glutes, Back, Hamstrings
Synergist: Quadriceps, Calves, Abs, Forearms

Deadlift, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Pull
Target: Glutes, Back, Hamstrings
Synergist: Quadriceps, Calves, Abs, Forearms

Deadlift High Pull, Barbell
Type: Upper, Lower, Pull
Target: Shoulders, Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Biceps, Forearms, Calves, Back

Deficit Deadlift, Barbell
Type: Lower, Pull
Target: Glutes
Synergist: Hamstrings, Back, Quadriceps, Calves

Deficit Deadlift, Trap Bar
Type: Lower, Pull
Target: Glutes
Synergist: Hamstrings, Back, Quadriceps, Calves

Elliptical Machine, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Synergist: Biceps, Forearms, Shoulders, Glutes, Hamstrings, Back, Chest, Quadriceps

Front Squat, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Front Squat, Cable
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Front Squat, Dumbbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Front Squat, Smith Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Front Squat, Kettlebell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Glute Bridge, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes
Synergist: Hamstrings, Quadriceps

Glute Bridge, Dumbbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes
Synergist: Hamstrings, Quadriceps

Glute Bridge, Band
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes
Synergist: Hamstrings, Quadriceps

Glute Bridge March, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Abs
Synergist: Hamstrings, Quadriceps

Glute Kickback, Cable
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes
Synergist: Hamstrings, Abs

Glute Kickback, Band
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes
Synergist: Hamstrings, Abs

Goblet Squat, Dumbbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Goblet Squat, Kettlebell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Good Morning, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Hamstrings
Synergist: Glutes

Good Morning, Smith Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Hamstrings
Synergist: Glutes

Good Morning, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Hamstrings
Synergist: Glutes

Hack Squat, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Hack Squat, Smith Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Hang Clean, Kettlebell
Type: Upper, Lower, Pull
Target: Biceps, Forearms
Synergist: Shoulders, Chest

Hip Abductor, Cable
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes

Hip Abductor, Band
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes

Hip Abductor, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes

Hip Abductor, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes

Hip Adductor, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Hamstrings, Glutes
Synergist: Quadriceps

Hip Thrust, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes
Synergist: Hamstrings, Quadriceps

Hip Thrust, Band
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes
Synergist: Hamstrings, Quadriceps

Hip Thrust, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes
Synergist: Hamstrings, Quadriceps

Hip Thrust, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes
Synergist: Hamstrings, Quadriceps

Jump Squat, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Jump Squat, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Kettlebell Swing, Dumbbell
Type: Upper, Lower, Core
Target: Shoulders, Glutes
Synergist: Hamstrings, Chest, Calves

Kettlebell Swing, Kettlebell
Type: Upper, Lower, Core
Target: Shoulders, Glutes
Synergist: Hamstrings, Chest, Calves

Leg Extension, Band
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Quadriceps
Synergist: Glutes

Leg Extension, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Quadriceps
Synergist: Glutes

Leg Press, Smith Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Leg Press, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Lunge, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Lunge, Cable
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Lunge, Dumbbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Lunge, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Lying Leg Curl, Band
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Hamstrings
Synergist: Calves

Lying Leg Curl, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Hamstrings
Synergist: Calves

Overhead Squat, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Glutes, Calves

Overhead Squat, Dumbbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Glutes, Calves

Pistol Squat, Kettlebell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Pistol Squat, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Pistol Squat, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Reverse Hyperextension, Band
Type: Core, Lower
Target: Glutes
Synergist: Hamstrings

Reverse Hyperextension, Leverage Machine
Type: Core, Lower
Target: Glutes
Synergist: Hamstrings

Reverse Lunge, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves, Glutes

Reverse Lunge, Dumbbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves, Glutes

Reverse Lunge, Kettlebell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves, Glutes

Reverse Lunge, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves, Glutes

Romanian Deadlift, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Back, Glutes, Hamstrings
Synergist: Abs, Calves

Romanian Deadlift, Dumbbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Back, Glutes, Hamstrings
Synergist: Abs, Calves

Safety Squat Bar Squat, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Back, Calves

Seated Calf Raise, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Calves

Seated Calf Raise, Dumbbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Calves

Seated Calf Raise, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Calves

Seated Leg Curl, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Hamstrings
Synergist: Calves, Quadriceps

Seated Leg Press, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Side Hip Abductor, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes

Side Hip Abductor, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes

Side Hip Abductor, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes

Side Lying Clam, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes

Single Leg Bridge, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Abs
Synergist: Shoulders, Hamstrings, Chest

Single Leg Deadlift, Dumbbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Back, Glutes
Synergist: Hamstrings

Single Leg Deadlift, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Back, Glutes
Synergist: Hamstrings

Single Leg Glute Bridge Bent Knee, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes

Single Leg Glute Bridge On Bench, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes

Single Leg Glute Bridge Straight Leg, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes

Single Leg Hip Thrust, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes
Synergist: Hamstrings, Quadriceps

Single Leg Hip Thrust, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes
Synergist: Hamstrings, Quadriceps

Single Leg Hip Thrust, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes
Synergist: Hamstrings, Quadriceps

Sissy Squat, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings

Snatch, Dumbbell
Type: Upper, Lower, Pull
Target: Shoulders, Back, Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves, Chest, Triceps

Split Squat, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Split Squat, Dumbbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Split Squat, Band
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Split Squat, Kettlebell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Split Squat, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Squat, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves, Back, Abs

Squat, Dumbbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves, Back, Abs

Squat, Smith Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves, Back, Abs

Squat, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves, Back, Abs

Squat, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves, Back, Abs

Squat Row, Band
Type: Upper, Lower, Pull
Target: Glutes, Back
Synergist: Shoulders, Hamstrings, Chest, Quadriceps, Calves

Standing Calf Raise, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Calves

Standing Calf Raise, Cable
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Calves

Standing Calf Raise, Dumbbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Calves

Standing Calf Raise, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Calves

Standing Calf Raise, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Calves

Step up, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Step up, Dumbbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Step up, Band
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Step up, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Stiff Leg Deadlift, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Back, Glutes, Hamstrings
Synergist: Quadriceps, Abs

Stiff Leg Deadlift, Dumbbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Back, Glutes, Hamstrings
Synergist: Quadriceps, Abs

Stiff Leg Deadlift, Band
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Back, Glutes, Hamstrings
Synergist: Quadriceps, Abs

Straight Leg Deadlift, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Back, Hamstrings
Synergist: Glutes

Straight Leg Deadlift, Dumbbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Back, Hamstrings
Synergist: Glutes

Straight Leg Deadlift, Band
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Back, Hamstrings
Synergist: Glutes

Straight Leg Deadlift, Kettlebell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Back, Hamstrings
Synergist: Glutes

Sumo Deadlift, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps, Hamstrings, Back
Synergist: Abs, Biceps, Forearms

Sumo Deadlift High Pull, Barbell
Type: Upper, Lower, Pull
Target: Shoulders, Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Biceps, Forearms, Calves, Back

Thruster, Barbell
Type: Upper, Lower, Push
Target: Shoulders, Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Chest, Calves, Triceps

Trap Bar Deadlift, Trap Bar
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Zercher Squat, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves