Barbell Deadlift front view

The Barbell Deadlift is a fundamental strength exercise that targets multiple muscle groups, primarily the posterior chain.

To perform the deadlift:

  1. Stand with your feet hip-width apart, barbell over the midfoot.
  2. Bend at the hips and knees, grip the barbell with both hands just outside your knees.
  3. Engage your core, keep your back straight, and lift the barbell by extending your hips and knees simultaneously.
  4. Stand tall at the top, then lower the barbell back to the ground with control.

How to perform the Barbell Deadlift front view

  1. Set up. Set up in a stable, balanced starting position appropriate for the Barbell Deadlift front view using your barbell.
  2. Brace and execute. Brace your core, control the descent, and move through a full pain-free range of motion while emphasizing your latissimus dorsi.
  3. Reset. Reverse the movement under control and reset between repetitions, keeping your form crisp on every rep.

Coaching cues

  • Move with intent — every rep should feel deliberate, not rushed.
  • Drive force through your latissimus dorsi rather than momentum.
  • Keep your breathing steady: exhale on the hard part, inhale on the reset.

Common mistakes

  • Using too much weight and losing positional control.
  • Cutting the range of motion short and missing the target muscle.
  • Letting your spine round or hyperextend instead of staying neutral.

Detailed cues, common mistakes, and demonstration video are available in the Fitly app.

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