Why do people do deadlifts off of raised blocks? What benefits do they have? How do you determine what height to pull off? Thanks!
They allow myself to work the lockout better. I dont know if Im just an oddball, but pulling from blocks that are below the knee, Im actually weaker in that movement compared to pulling off the floor. I use 3 and 4 inch blocks, i mostly stick with the 4inch due to me being a pussy at that height
pulling off PINs generally will bend the bar because the weight loses contact with the floor and is loaded into the bar at the width of the pins. This is especially true with an El Cheapo bar that comes with your 300# set. By pulling off blocks, you simulate pulling from a raised floor so that the weight stays in contact with the blocks, and off the bar itself. The height of the blocks can be wherever you want them to be to work on a specific portion of your pull.
To work the top of the movement. I’ve seen people supplement these into their program because the top seems to be their sticking point.
[quote]Confinative wrote:
Why do people do deadlifts off of raised blocks? What benefits do they have? How do you determine what height to pull off? Thanks![/quote]
I pull off of mats as a means of employing range of motion progression in my training. I start at 7 mats, and each week eliminate 1 until I am pulling off the floor.
I like this method because it means I spend very little time pulling full reps off the floor, which is a lot less stressful on my body and recovery. It also means I can handle much heavier poundages in my training early in the cycle, and then work those weights down to a full ROM deadlift. Since I use touch and go, the time under tension is still pretty intense even with the short ROM, and it has really done wonders for my back.
I recently managed a 635x4 touch and go set with this method at a bodyweight of 200lbs.
[quote]Chicksan wrote:
They allow myself to work the lockout better. I dont know if Im just an oddball, but pulling from blocks that are below the knee, Im actually weaker in that movement compared to pulling off the floor. I use 3 and 4 inch blocks, i mostly stick with the 4inch due to me being a pussy at that height[/quote]
I have the same problem, I just can never feel in a strong setup at that height.