RDLs in the squat rack - JP Fitness Forums

kaydubya · 08-23-2005, 11:00 PM

Is doing Romanian deadlifts in the squat rack as frowned on as doing curls in the squat rack? I used it for this purpose tonight, and it worked quite well. My gym has three squat racks (as well as a Smith machine), and it wasn't that busy, so I don't think I was keeping anyone from their curls. Er... I mean their squats!

(To be fair, there was a group of three guys at one of the squat racks actually doing squats. BUT, but at the other rack I saw a couple of guys doing arm exercises.)

chris_f · 08-23-2005, 11:23 PM

I wouldn't ever NOT do them in the squat rack. that's what its for: getting a bar loaded with lots of weight onto your back, OR, if you're doing bent-over rows etc, lifting up a weighted barbell from hip-level.

Generally speaking, curling is really the only thing most people don't want done in the squat rack.

Lost Dog · 08-23-2005, 11:27 PM

Anything that you can easily do from the ground should stay out of the squat rack.

I do my RDLs in the squat rack. I need something to get it up to knee level to start.

Matthew · 08-24-2005, 09:54 AM

What do you do, just set the pins to knee level and leave the bar there between sets?

Lost Dog · 08-24-2005, 10:06 AM

I put the pins at knee level and put the bar on the handles (outside of the rack).

My current routine has a superset of military presses and RDLs, so I borrow a 2nd bar and use the same rack for both.

eastcoastsurfer · 08-24-2005, 10:36 AM

I think generally it's only curls that bug people. It also bugs me when people do leg raises from the cross bar of the squat rack. Number one is still the curls though-lets load up a couple 5lbs plates on the bar and do curls in the squat rack rofl.

The only time I could ever see curls being acceptable in the rack is if a person has >=135lbs and is curling it with perfect form.

chris_f · 08-24-2005, 11:05 AM

Yea dude, you're doing RDL, not regular deadlifts, so of course you want the weight off the ground. Do it... DO IT!!

GqArtguy · 08-24-2005, 03:13 PM

I can deadlift more than I RDL (stronger off the floor) so I just pick it up and then start from the top. I dont need to do them in the squat rack, but I can see why some would need it.

Ogedei · 08-24-2005, 03:25 PM

I was having the same though Gq. Why not just DL it up and do your RDLs from there? Although technically I suppose I do RDLs off of our squat rack. Not power cage but squat rack. Why? Easier to put the weights on the bar, which might have something to do with why some people curl there as well. I personally just use the straight bars my gym has.

Just a thought.

Lost Dog · 08-24-2005, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GqArtguy:
I can deadlift more than I RDL (stronger off the floor) so I just pick it up and then start from the top. I dont need to do them in the squat rack, but I can see why some would need it.

I've been working on my DL form. As I get better, I can DL more and then I'll do them from the floor. But, right now, I can RDL a lot more than I can DL.

Time will tell, but I feel confident, now that I'm limbering up!

kaydubya · 08-24-2005, 07:00 PM

Thanks, guys. I won't feel guilty about it next time.

Ogedei · 08-24-2005, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lost_Dog:

quote:
Originally posted by GqArtguy:
I can deadlift more than I RDL (stronger off the floor) so I just pick it up and then start from the top. I dont need to do them in the squat rack, but I can see why some would need it.

I've been working on my DL form. As I get better, I can DL more and then I'll do them from the floor. But, right now, I can RDL a lot more than I can DL.

Time will tell, but I feel confident, now that I'm limbering up! [/quote]Interesting, that seems odd to me though. Maybe I'm on crack. Anyone else RDL more than the DL?

Og.

Kaiser · 08-24-2005, 09:11 PM

Yeah, I RDL a little more than I DL as well.

The other acceptable use for a squat rack or cage (or so I tell myself) is for rack lockouts - our gym doesn't have safeties or a place to do lockouts on its benches so I am left with no alternative.

RacerBill · 08-24-2005, 09:18 PM

I didn't even think it was physically possible to RDL more than DL... perhaps because of a knee injury?

But on the original topic -- my gym has BBs at benches for decline, flat, and incline bench presses, an upright one for vertical BPs (but everyone, including me, uses it for shoulder presses more than anything), a Smith machine, and a squat rack. So by default almost any BB move that doesn't require a bench gets done in the squat rack: curls, DLs, good mornings, shrugs, etc.

Amazingly enough, I almost always have to wait for the bench press. I very rarely have to wait to do squats or anything else at the squat rack.

Lost Dog · 08-24-2005, 09:36 PM

I guess it's lack of flexibility and my brain thinking that I'm less flexible than I am, but I can barely get down in that position... You know, where you start the DL.

Just the past week or so, I've been practicing with really light loads, with no loads at all, and doing some stretching. It's helped, but I'm still forced to do sumo deadlifts. But, at least I don't need heel blocks anymore.

I can sumo squat about what I can RDL (275), but I still have trouble getting my DLs off the ground at more than 200. I feel like my back is rounding and my form get terrible. So, I working up slowly. I backed down to 175 and am making my way back up with good form. I'm up to 195, as of yesterday.