Do any of you have opinions about the Shrug/Trap/Deadlift Bar (It’s shaped like a diamond with plate-holding bars extending from two opposite corners.)
I’m specially interested in how the muscle recruitment changes using it versus a standard straight bar for deadlifts.
LOVE IT!! I learned to do deads with this thing and never looked back to the straight bar. It does allow you to move the weight in a more strictly vertical plane, makes it easier to keep a straight back, and has the added benefit of not tearing the skin off your shins. As far as muscle recruitment goes, I have no idea. Since the movement is slightly altered from a what you’d do with a straight bar, no doubt recruitment is affected. As for the specifics, maybe a T-Mag staffer has an article in his melon on this issue? Any takers, guys?
i like trap bar deadlifts.why? if you’re the type that can’t or doesn’t like to squat for whatever reason, this is the way to go. it’s like a deadlift with more quad involvement.
I like the trap bar as well. Much easier on my lower back. I went through some physical therapy for the lower back so that’s important to me. One difference I do notice however, is the trap bar doesn’t seem to make my upper back
muscles as sore as a regular olympic bar
deadlift. dp
When using a trap bar the line of pull is through the middle of your body. When using the straight bar the line of pull is out in front of your body. As a result the shearing forces on the spine are greater with a straight bar.
The actual trap bar lift is really more of a “squat lift” than a deadlift as it recruits the quads more than a conventional deadlift does. To get even more quad recruitment do the trap bar lift standing on a couple of 45’s or a low platform. This will bring the top of your thighs closer to parallel and obviously recruit the quads more.
One other thing, the trap bar is great for doing farmer’s walks… a lot better than using db’s.
My old gym had one and i thought it was the greatest device ever. I never had the lower back problems associated with regular bar DL, but it was still much more comfortable for me to use the trap bar. And, of course, its nice to be able to shrug without pulling the bar into your nuts.
it uses more legs and less back. think of it like squats w/the wt. in your hands. whether its better or not depends on your perspective. I like reg. and stiff deads because I believe the back is the most important muscles you can develope. the trap bar will work them but more like a squat than a dead. peace
Thanks for the responses guys.
I’m trying to decide if I should replace traditional deadlifts with the trap bar deadlifs. I had guessed that the trap bar version was more like a squat. For that reason, it sounds like it might be a better replacement for squats than deadlifts.
I’m trying to balance quad and hip work, so if I use the trap bar for deadlifts, then maybe I need to find another compound movement that emphasizes the hips/hams. (I like good mornings and SLDLs but they don’t seem to have the same bang for the buck).
Ideas?
Thanks again.