Deadlift Alternative?

[LawMan018]

I've always felt awkward doing deadlifts. I have long limbs and have just felt... Off balance I guess you could say. I can squat 315 for reps, and 365 is my max for two (with weight belt), but whenever I deadlift I think my max was 315 1 time and even that felt funky. I've tried different styles of grip, regular vs. sumo, etc... However, yesterday at the gym in our fire station I saw an olympic shrug bar (I believe that's the name, it's basically a circle around you that you grip from the sides). I started doing deadlifts with that and felt great. I did 315 8 times and still felt good. I was just wondering if this actually worked out your legs just as well as a traditional deadlift would, minus the grip?

[boxer1]

i would imagine it would work your legs more as you are lifting the weight from your center of gravity and taking the load away from your back. Keep with normal deads until your back catches up with your legs. If your back is lagging try stiff leg deads from a rack which puts more emphasis on your back.

[LawMan018]

So you think it's just my lower back that needs catching up? Hm... Okay I'll give that a try and start emphasizing some lower back specific workouts.

[wheelkicktotheface2]

i agree sounds like your legs are plenty strong. lower back is weak in comparison to them. if you have a workout partner which you will need for this do dead lifts as follows.
do a warmup set to get going and get some blood flowing. say 275 + - once ur warmed up. do sets of 3. sounds stupid i know but it will make sense in a minute. once ur warmed up. you will do a set of 3 step over the bar your partner takes off doing a set of 3 right away. you step up behind him immediately and go again. this continues for 15 sets. once u can do this weight pretty easy up the weight a little bit. more or less 15x3 for w/e weight u want. only rest is whatever it takes ur partner to do his set.these are speed deads btw. no stall tactics. this worked for me pretty well to help my lower back develop and harden up quite a bit. strength increase as well obviously. i wouldnt go over board on whatever else you do on the same day as far as back goes. this workout kind of sabotages other exercises. try it out or take it with a grain of salt no difference to me either way. i just know it helped me out with deads and overall strength. have a good day!

IF YOU DIE, BECOME DISABLED OR HAVE ANY OTHER TYPE OF LIFE CHANGING INJURY AS A RESULT FROM THIS WORK OUT ITS YOUR FAULT BECAUSE YOU SHOULD KNOW BETTER! AND THIS IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY.

[LunchEater]

you could incorporate some rack pulls. Hits more lower back and less legs.

[_CrossroadS_]

I'm currently doing deads pulling from the just below my knees, no rack, and seeing improvement in two areas: 1 - my leg workouts are getting more intense and am seeing size and strength increase because my legs aren't tired on leg days from pulling from the floor on back days, and 2 - my back strength and size is increasing from not only doing the workout, but I feel like keeping my back under load the entire set is working my lower back harder. I switch to rack pulls (and heavier weight) every few weeks as well. I warm up pulling from the floor all the time however...

[energizer bunny]

yeah rack pulls will help your deadlift