Deadlifts: sumo vs. conventional

[Greek Freak]

I was just wondering what people prefer. As of now I only do regular deads but I have thought about starting to do more sumo. I was also wondering which one people feel they can handle more weight in(and why..like if you think taller ppl might be better in sumo). I just thought it would be something good for variation since I have been doing regular ones for a while now and had some pretty good gains with them.

 

[b fold the truth]

I can pull more conventional style...because I can get a lot more speed on the pull that way.

Night Fly did deads today in my gym...singles with many different stances. It was her first time to pull sumo and she hated it. She couldn't get any speed that way either.

B True

 

[needsize]

Plus, I believe the point of sumo style is to shorten the range of motion so you're not pulling as far, as a bodybuilder I never want to shorten any range of motion, so my vote is for conventional.

 

[FREAK19]

I hate sumo, im a conventional puller.

 

[spatts]

I pull about the same in both and both are comfortable for me.

 

[RGC3]

Plus, I believe the point of sumo style is to shorten the range of motion so you're not pulling as far, as a bodybuilder I never want to shorten any range of motion, so my vote is for conventional.

Ditto. I was a sumo freak when training for power meets and football. I did the sumo style because of a weak lower back. The sumo will also keep your shoulders in the finished position.

But those days are behind and I started BBuilding. So conventional is a BBuilders ways!

 

[benchmonster]

Shorter people tend to do better sumo, and taller people tend to do better conventional. I have a terrible build for deadlifting and the only way I can get down to the bar is sumo. I can pull about 50 lbs more sumo than conventional.

Before I discovered sumo, I pulled conventional and it killed my back. My low back would be in severe pain just warming up. I could not even get to 315 without intense, almost crippling pain in my low back, and the pain would stay there for days. Since switching to sumo, I have no low back pain, I am able to stand much more erect from the belt up, and the strain has shifted to my hips and hamstrings, and off my low back.

I think that it was Ricky Crain who said something like all short people should pull sumo. He pulled sumo, and pulled over 700 weighing 165, so he might know what he is talking about.

B.

 

[makedah]

I'm new at strength training and I've only done deadlifts a few times. I do sumo because conventional is uncomfortable for me. It may be a strength, joint, or form issue, but I really can't get low with my legs close together - it hurts my knees. BTW: I'm tall and long-legged with a short torso. My hip width is average.

 

[spatts]

Makedah, your body proportions may have ALOT to do with it. The dead is my best/favorite lift, and likely because I'm proportioned for it. I have average legs, a REALLY long torso, and long arms. So I can sit back and drive with my legs, and still have my shoulders directly over the bar. Makes a big difference...

 

[makedah]

Makes sense. And since you're taller than I am (by a whole inch) it shows that there are a lot more variables than taller vs. shorter. I'm glad I read about the sumo on Krista's web page; otherwise, I'd think I just plain couldn't do deadlifts!

 

[brooklynboy]

I alterante between both. Two weeks regular then two weeks sumo. I just like to try diffent stuff

 

[vinylgroover]

I think sumo can be potentially dangerous on the lower back due to the reduced range of motion and the fact that your arms are inside your legs, which effectively distributes a more significant load on the lower back.

 

[flappysr]

CONVENTIONAL DEAD LIFTS RULES................... 'chomp: "THERE IS NO POINT IN BEING ALIVE IF YOU CANNOT DO THE DEAD LIFT." Jon Pall Sigmarsson.. Worlds Strongest Man X'S 4.

 

[Powerbuilder333]

This is an old thread, with a lot of misconceptions posted.
Conventional favors the person with the stronger back and hams.
Sumo favors the person with the stronger hips.
Generally taller lifters prefer conventional.

 

[Sculelos]

I do both, but I prefer sumo simply because I can pull the bar much straighter and lower it much smoother... so I do sumo simply for the reason that my back feels much better when doing it, probably since my form is much better.

In short I'm just not suited to conventional deadlifting, Sumo works much better and targets most of the same muscles so thats why I do it.

BTW I'm 6' 5".

 

[waldowade]

I started doing dead a couple months ago and just found out about sumo. I think I will give it a try. Coventional feels awkward and sumo sounds like it may be more comfortable. I feel like my shins get in the way and I have to lean forward too much.

 

[fallingeggs]

I started doing dead a couple months ago and just found out about sumo. I think I will give it a try. Coventional feels awkward and sumo sounds like it may be more comfortable. I feel like my shins get in the way and I have to lean forward too much.

if you feel like your shins are getting in the way then you are most likely doing it right. you want to pull into your self; leaning forward is a bad thing. if you are messing up your shins to much try wearing knee high socks, they will cut down on a lot of the blood.

 

[waldowade]

if you feel like your shins are getting in the way then you are most likely doing it right. you want to pull into your self; leaning forward is a bad thing. if you are messing up your shins to much try wearing knee high socks, they will cut down on a lot of the blood.

good to know, thanks

 

[the_alcatraz]

I do both, but I prefer the conventional method.
Powerbuilder333, I actually didn't know that...thnx for the info.