I have a lifter that is having a problem with the bar rubbing so tight against his thighs that its causing him to hitch. He squats over 625 easily at most meets, but struggles with anything over 500 because once the bar gets to the middle of his thigh, it strats sticking to the skin and not sliding.
He’s a standard style lifter (tried sumo 2 years ago but he’s not that flexible to pull from that position). We have tried chalking his thighs, but the judges consider that illegal. Anyone else have the problem or a way to handle it?
He only has 1 more invitational, and then regionals and state this year so I’m asking for any ideas and help. Thanks
If he’s allowed to wear spandex briefs or compression shorts under his suit, then there’s your answer. If not, have him get a wrestling or track singlet instead of a lifting singlet. They typically have a longer inseam. USAPL allows a 25 cm inseam for non-supportive suits.
If he’s wearing a suit then I don’t know what to tell you.
[quote]ricrac777 wrote:
Maybe he is putting his knees too far forward as he locks out.[/quote]
I second the baby powder as well. As for the above post, I have a similar take. In my second PL meet (last year, 28 years after my first) I got 2 red lights on my last deadlift. The head ref said “thigh support”. Although at the time, I thought the lift was pretty good, but when I later saw some photos of the meet, for sure I was leaning back some with my knees still bent as I tried to lock out.
Although I was not “stuck” there, and managed to lock out, there was some fair amount of weight on the thighs.
What I learned was to lock the knees out first, as the weight gets above the knee and onto the thicker part of the thigh (with this guys' squat strength, this shouldn't be a problem), then finish the lift. Since then, 2 meets - 6 good DL's, 2 age-group world records.
Thanks for the suggestions. He’s a HS lifter and the THSPA does not allow powder of any kind so we have chalked the legs to help the bar slide…he shaves his legs and the chalk helps a little.
We are going to try a bigger suit and see if that helps, and I will look into maybe widening his grip or chalking the bar.
[quote]Steamroller wrote:
Thanks for the suggestions. He’s a HS lifter and the THSPA does not allow powder of any kind so we have chalked the legs to help the bar slide…he shaves his legs and the chalk helps a little.
We are going to try a bigger suit and see if that helps, and I will look into maybe widening his grip or chalking the bar.[/quote]
I believe chalk makes the bar stick more!!!
Better to spit on them than chalk.
I’m guessing he’s “squatting” the weight up ie. bending at the knees too much, try straighten the knees quicker. I suggest giving Mastering the Deadlift a read.
[quote]Shammy12 wrote:
I’m guessing he’s “squatting” the weight up ie. bending at the knees too much, try straighten the knees quicker. I suggest giving Mastering the Deadlift a read.[/quote]
Doubtful tbh. It’s very normal for the bar to stick on your thighs when deadlifting.
OP, maybe wet his legs. Possibly a thin layer of baby oil or some other type of muscle relaxant rub. Ya know… just so he stays fresh. Not to held the bar slide or anytihng…
Another thing it might be useful to look at is his back position when the bar starts to stick. A lot of the time you’ll see lifters rounded over as the bar gets above their knees, and from their it’s neigh on impossible to lock it out!!
Chalk is possibly the worst of all worlds in trying to solve this problem.
shit why dont you just soap up his legs with a little soap and water so the bar will slide more easily. There are lots of substances that will allow the bar to slide that are not powders.
What a funny federation that wont allow powder of any type…
Thought I would let you guys know how this weekend went. We went with a bigger, looser suit that we could pull almost down to his knees, and I talked to him about staying over the bar more and not so upright when he pulls.
End result…he pulled 570!! NEW PR
Added with his 670 squat and 400 bench, he’s the new number one in his weight class in the state.
[quote]Steamroller wrote:
Thought I would let you guys know how this weekend went. We went with a bigger, looser suit that we could pull almost down to his knees, and I talked to him about staying over the bar more and not so upright when he pulls.
End result…he pulled 570!! NEW PR
Added with his 670 squat and 400 bench, he’s the new number one in his weight class in the state.
-Shave/nair legs. Look, it might make 2 lbs difference, but a PR attempt might be 2 lbs too much. Alternatively, if your too lazy to shave them all- just shave where the bar rides on on the legs.
-Talc on legs and bottom of DL suit or singlet
-Talc on lats. This helps on the lockout if your kinda thick in the back.
Baby oil on the platform is usually not allowed. Also- it’s easy to get that shit on you hands- thereby creating agrip issue. Some guys will rub a lot of baby oil or lotion into their legs the night before and the mornign of the meet. As such, the baby oil is impregnated in their skin.
Every so often at a meet, I see a lifter chalking his thighs. I always get a chuckle out of that. Then again, I once saw a guy at raw bench meet doign push-ups between attempts.