Tip Master the Pause and the Slant Search Skip to content Menu Menu follow us Store Articles Community Loyal-T Club Loyal-T Points Rewards Subscribe to Save Search Search The World s Trusted Source & Community for Elite Fitness Training Tip Master the Pause and the Slant Improve your deadlift fast with these two tips by Lee Boyce February 14, 2019August 18, 2019 Tags Deadlift, Powerlifting & Strength, Tips, Training Too often deadlifts enter lumbar flexion, where your spine is curved like an inverted "J". This not only makes you look like a frightened cat, it's also an unsafe pulling position – especially when it occurs because of the spine changing position/shape under the load (rather than starting out that way). Doing back extensions and reverse hypers can help your cause, but one way to get better at deadlifting is to continue practicing the actual movement, but with a slight modification. Take a couple of plates off the bar and practice doing some paused reps. Freezing a few inches off the ground on the way up forces the spine to remain neutral and prevents the hips from shooting up first. Likewise, the quads and glutes get a better chance to contribute to the lift, making the lower back receive the assistance it needs and deserves. Do 5 sets of 3-5 reps once a week. You can do them in addition to your regular deadlift workout. While paused deadlifts can do wonders in shoring up your spinal position, they can also help with balance. There should be a slight backward emphasis (about 5 degrees) when picking up the bar to counterbalance the load that's in front of you, especially when it's heavy. If you watch the full-deadlift video below closely and pause it on any given completed rep, you'll notice that slight backward emphasis. Being completely vertical at the top of a deadlift probably means you let your back dominate the lift and forfeited some hip drive. Finishing up on a backward "slant" of about 5 degrees properly counters the load in your hands. Remember, this isn't a trap bar with a weight distribution that's evenly distributed around the body. It's a barbell and all the weight is in front of you. Using the paused deadlift can help you sit back ever so slightly in order to stop the torso from lurching forward and throwing off your force curve. Get The T Nation Newsletters Don' t Miss Out Expert Insights To Get Stronger, Gain Muscle Faster, And Take Your Lifting To The Next Level related posts Training Forget PRs First Own the Weight Here's how to master a weight before you even think about going heavier. You'll build more strength, more size, and avoid injury. Training Lee Boyce June 24 Training The Secret Strength Weapon The dominatrix phenomenon. The dead fish factor. The irradiation principle. Here's what all that means and how it relates to building scary strength. Arms, Bodybuilding, Training Christian Thibaudeau June 4 Training Conditioning for Muscle Mass Metcon isn't just about fat loss. Without it, muscle growth and strength gains can grind to a halt. Really. Here's why and what to do about it. Bodybuilding, Metabolic Conditioning, Metcon, Training Paul Carter March 29 Training The Suicide Grip Dangerous or Smart A thumbless grip is scary to lifters who don't know how to do it, but it can be used safely. In fact, it's better for your shoulders. Here's why. Bodybuilding, Powerlifting & Strength, Training Dr John Rusin October 25