When it comes to bodybuild the upper, athlete the lower, am I able to swap the deadlift 5’s pro for something like a hang clean or a high pull and then do the deadlift FSL portion instead as a 5x5? I’m trying to incorporate more explosive exercises into my program and this seems like a pretty okay way?
I know that you asked in the Jim Wendler forum, but I have an opinion that is likely different than many that began lifting after the 1980’s.
During the first two decades (1968 thru the 1980’s) that I experienced lifting weights, the only people that trained the deadlift were powerlifters. I had been doing hanging cleans for a few years, when a gym friend who once competed in powerlifting suggest that we start powerlifting with the goal of competing.
The first day I tried deadlifting I pulled in the mid 400’s. IMO, you don’t need to deadlift at all, if you are doing some heavy cleans. And if you are getting even a little stronger on hanging cleans, you won’t lose any strength deadlifting. And you will be much stronger at the top of the deadlift.
7 Likes
Just do Morning star program from 531 forever. All the cleans one could wish for, and as noted, your DL is unlikely to regress.
Yeah I get you. Thank you!
The only reason I was kinda avoiding the morning star program was the lack of Bench as a main lift, which I something that I would like to work on a lot more especially due to most Combines having some form of Bench Press test
This! I did this for a a few years. Lots of power clean and power snatch (from the floor or from hang), high pull, power shrugs (with squat, bench, pressing + some assistance), no deadlift. My deadlift still went up and I felt more explosive and less beat up.
4 Likes
I have nothing to add to this discussion, but I needed to see this. I never tried a conventional deadlift until about 2014 (about the time I turned 30). I hurt my back almost immediately. I was on my way to a 4 plate max and I guess I rushed my warm-up.
I say that reinforce your statement. Prior to that dumb decision, I only did cleans and clean pulls. It turns out that you can create a pretty good deadlift base by doing a similar movement pattern that’s faster/more explosive.
After battling back pain and stiffness for the past two years, it’s probably time to accept reality and let some things go, like deadlifts.
I need this. 
3 Likes
Can’t go wrong with this!
Rack pulls are fun, but I think this would also me a wise change for me
Do you need to Press? Just do the bench instead of press. 3x a week will get you strong AF on that. I’d advise to keep the TM low and youll crush it
1 Like
I hear you and second this. I need a pull, but have recently hurt my back on DLs. I will be taking this advice on board.
1 Like
Just left the chiro to try to put myself back together. The lighter weights of clean work definitely suit my current state better than trying to pull 400+ for a deadlift workout.
3 Likes
Aight cool cool, thank you 
. Quick question though, for SSL is that the second set of my week one, two or three lift as it’s not specified in the book.
I’ve always interpreted SSL as the second set of that specific week. That ensures that you add weight each week. So for week 1, you’d be doing 75% of your TM, Week 2 would be 80%, and Week 3 would be 85%.
2 Likes
This.
SSL is translates to 75, 80, 85% of 5,3,1 weeks respectively.
1 Like