[Lisa~]

1. I think that putting it on the floor makes it qualify as a deficit dead. This is different from what the book says, but I can't see how picking it up and stepping back onto the box makes any difference if your goal is only to get it lower than you were getting your conventional dead. If Lou wants to clarify, he can.

This is the first movement we've come to where I don't like the photos in the book. I would not suggest you put your hips below your knees for any deadlift variation, even a deficit deadlift.

2. You're doing both. What do you think? What differences do you feel, if any, between the two bars? I'm not being coy. I've never deadlifted with the preset bars and I don't know the answer. I'm gonna guess that it doesn't make any difference.