[quote]maraudermeat wrote:
i like trap bar “deadlifts” as a squat variation. i don’t get any carryover to my deadlift though. [/quote]
Agreed. I pretty much only do them in various conditioning circuits. It’s never done anything for my actual deadlift, but I definitely feel it more in my lats.
[quote]Doenitz79 wrote:
By the way,would you recommend doing trap bar instead of straight bar to someone who dont powerlifts?[/quote]
No. I would recommend rack pulls from just above and/or below the knee.
I would use them as an accessory. I did them as a primary lift for awhile and got zero carry over to a normal DL.
I would say they should be similar to a leg press or belt squat when it come to programming. I use them when my lower back and hamstrings are already fried.
I dont usually have trouble finishing my regular deads, more off the floor that is the trouble for me, once it breaks mid shin i’m usually set.
I’ll have a chat with some of the guys i’m training with tomorrow. Decided under there guidance that i’m going to compete next year. Got some goals in mind already, that are definately achieveable.
[quote]ds1973 wrote:
Our gym has a trap bar. One day, while talking to a co-worker of mine after a workout, he pointed it out as a bar for shoulder shrugs.
“Yeah, that’s a trap bar, it’s actually for deadlifting” I replied.
“Really?” he said, with a note of surprise.
I was just thinking yesterday that when my lower back heals up, I may ease back into deadlifting using the trap-bar.[/quote]
Trap bars are for doing shoulder shrugs… and for deadlifting, pressing, and I’ve recently seen an interesting push-up being done with them. For the push up you load one 45lbs plate on one end then attempt to do a push up holding the outside portion of the trap bar (the bars that are usually in front of you and behind you when you are doing a deadlift or shrug)your head will be close to the plate. You have to have balance and great core strength to be able to handle it.
[quote]Louchuck wrote:
ds1973 wrote:
Our gym has a trap bar. One day, while talking to a co-worker of mine after a workout, he pointed it out as a bar for shoulder shrugs.
“Yeah, that’s a trap bar, it’s actually for deadlifting” I replied.
“Really?” he said, with a note of surprise.
I was just thinking yesterday that when my lower back heals up, I may ease back into deadlifting using the trap-bar.
Trap bars are for doing shoulder shrugs… and for deadlifting, pressing, and I’ve recently seen an interesting push-up being done with them. For the push up you load one 45lbs plate on one end then attempt to do a push up holding the outside portion of the trap bar (the bars that are usually in front of you and behind you when you are doing a deadlift or shrug)your head will be close to the plate. You have to have balance and great core strength to be able to handle it.[/quote]
Not for the weight he shrugs. 
My intentions was to point out that most people don’t realize it’s useful for anything besides shrugs. I’ve seen it used in my gym for shoulder shrugs, never presses and rarely for deadlifts. That’s an interesting push-up variation too.
Also, why encourage someone to use it when they shrug with 45 lb dumbells? To me, that’s like encouraging someone to barbell curl 65 pounds in one of two squat racks in my gym.
A Trap Bar is use for lifters who has just started weight training and learning how to Deadlift… it’s less taxing on the lower back and prevents rounding of the upper back as well…
For Normal Barbell DL, the approach on the hips is much lower and requires a good mobility on the hips & ankle too…good stability on the hip and t-spine to bring the weight up…and the design of the Trap bar enable the body to “weight-Shift” to the hips without rounding the entire bar… this is similar to the “suitcase” deadlift if u look at the movements that’s similar to the trap bar DL…
[quote]sidewalkdances wrote:
Since switching gyms, did my first deadlift session with a trap bar the other night, and somethings been bugging me since then.
Why did it feel so much easier than the same weight with a conventional bar?
I was doing 5x5 @ 330lbs, which is a little under my straight bar reps PR (350ish, 160kg whatver that is in lbs), and every rep felt easy. Had to take half the rest I would usually.
The bar is a little weird in that the grips are about an inch or two higher than the rest of the bar, rather than at the same height, so is it due to the lever making it an easier lift? Or was I just having a strong day?! Felt the lift more in my glutes and hams than straight bar.
Apologies for a stupid question, but as I’m training by myself and trying to work out if this lift is any good, I thought I’d ask.[/quote]