Sumo Deadlifts- Who Does Them???

[Texas Ranger]

Does anyone do Sumo Deadlifts? Is there a big difference between them and Conventional Deadlifts? I was thinking about using them exclusively because they fit my bodytype better(6'3.5"-6'4") and I can use more weight on these. What's your take on them???

 

[Ulcasterdropout]

I tried them, but it threw off my balance...

 

[Illuminati]

Does anyone do Sumo Deadlifts? Is there a big difference between them and Conventional Deadlifts? I was thinking about using them exclusively because they fit my bodytype better(6'3.5"-6'4") and I can use more weight on these. What's your take on them???

the object of the deadlift, is to pull the weight off the floor. so do which ever allows you to pull the most amount of weight. sumo will probably suit you better, because it will give you a shorter distance that the bar has to travel in order for you to reach lockout.
the only real difference between the two is your foot position. conventional is shoulder width apart, and sumo is 1.5-2 times shoulder width. with conventional stance, most point their toes straight forward. with the sumo, you should angle your toes outward. conventional style, you are going to try and drive your feet through the ground, and with a sumo, you are pushing down and out.

 

[Tom Treutlein]

You know, it was weird but when I tried them once, I found my back hurting. Didn't happen with conventional style deadlifts. I wonder why that was.

 

[blut wump]

Does anyone do Sumo Deadlifts? Is there a big difference between them and Conventional Deadlifts? I was thinking about using them exclusively because they fit my bodytype better(6'3.5"-6'4") and I can use more weight on these. What's your take on them???

I asked a similar question a few months back. madcow and sugarplum gave decent answers:
http://www.elitefitness.com/forum/showthread.php?p=4378382#post4378382
posts 31, 32, 33, 36, 37

 

[Growth&Courage]

I tried sumo deadlifts but I felt extremely awkward, as a result I quit all together.

(1) My shins are even MORE bruised than what the conventional ones are doing on me.

(2) I feel that though it does target the lower back and somewhat upper back too, however the majority of work went to my glutes. I think this is why some people do them to work on their glutes.

 

[araiber]

Also, another difference with the sumo and conventional is that with conventional, your feet should be below the bar, and out some. Where as in Sumo, both feet are angled, and behind the bar.

 

[anthrax]

I do and like both

I've found sumo to be easier on the lower back and using more the glutes/hams
while conventional = more the back

 

[blut wump]

I had one nightmare session when I struggled with deadlift not long after I'd started doing them. I attempted 110Kg with conventional style mixed grip and failed to lift the bar off the floor. I did 110Kgx5 for 3 sets in Sumo style and then couldn't lift the bar for a fourth set. Switched to conventional style with double overhand grip and did 110x5, 120x5, 130x5.

I've not tried Sumo ever since and stick with double overhand until my grip is failing then switch to a mixed grip which nowadays lets me lift more. I might give Sumo a try again sometime.

 

[curgeo]

A lot of people are switching to the overhand grip. Travis Mash is always talking about how it sets the shoulders for better biomechanical advantage. I have tried it, but I can't go as heavy as I would like due to a weak grip. It does seem more comfortable for my shoulders though.

I pull both. I really feel that pulling sumo helps my conventional and vise versa. I have a problem with weak hips and glutes and pulling sumo helps with that strengthening those areas. I plan to pull conventional when I compete as it takes advantage of my long arms and shorter torso.....but I like to pull off a 3 inch platform sumo style to help get my weaknesses up....which translates to a better conventional dead. On speed day I pull conventional, but Me is usually sumo.

Just try and experiement and find out what works best for you and your natural leverages.