Is it common for gangly guys not to be able to deadlift alot?

[ten_ton]

What's up. I am 6'3", 220, all arms and legs, pretty gangly. And anything I attempt to deadlift over 225 my back rounds out, even when I attempt perfect form.

I know bench press and squats are difficult for people with long limbs, but is it the same with dead lifts also? Thanks guys.

[Sensei]

There are plenty of tall people w. long arms that are fantastic deadlifters. Gary Heisey (sp?), for example, was amazing - 6'7" and deadlifted 900+lbs.

[Clover]

Post a video.

[Luke1081]

Im 6 foot ~165 and im doing 325 5x5.....

[IronDiggy]

I always assumed having long legs and arms made you a better deadlifter.

[ten_ton]

Heres my situation, up until last year around November I worked out on a regular basis for about 4 years straight, but never got into heavy lifting like deads. I took about 6 months off and now I am back and incorporating deads into my routine. I've never gone for max but about 265 is what I am comfortable with at the moment. But to get it up I don't think I am using perfect form, my back seems to be rounding out when I try my hardest to keep it straight throughout. My queston is should a guy my size even have any trouble deadlifting 265 or higher or is this something anyone would have to work up to?

[MonsterZero]

ime, it's the opposite. long limbs plus a short torso is a very good combo for deadlift. when i was in HS, i took a conditioning class. I was very weak in the bench and couldn't even put up 175 lbs. One day, a bunch of the bigger more athletic guys loaded a bar with 3 plates per side and told me to lift it, to get a chuckle im sure. I had never deadlifted in my entire life, and i pulled it up without too much drama. I got a few pats on the back for that.

BTW, i was 6'2" and 152 lbs back then. there was also on article on here about a lanky guy that was a deadlifting champ. look up the article "deadlift 5 plates like a champion"

good luck, and happy lifting

[MonsterZero]

http://articles.elitefts.com/article...ter-were-king/

this is the article i was referring to.

sorry about that

[seK]

At 6'6" I have no trouble keeping good form while lifting heavy. It does take me longer to go up in weight than most of the people I know but I think that has more to do with my obsession with form.

[Sean S]

Long arms are helpful in the DL, but long legs are not. If your legs are long your hips are a mile behind the bar when you go down to get the bar (at least in a conventional DL) and that isn't exactly the most efficient position to be in.
With that said, I think the main issue with the OP is likely that he just needs to get stronger. Learning good technique and how to consciously keep the back arched will also be helpful.

[J.C.]

Being tall and lanky generally makes for decent deadlifters and squatters but weak bench pressers. That's my situation and I'm 6'4 with a 6'6 wingspan (I think, I remember it was slightly longer than my hight.) That gives me pretty good mechanics for deadlifting but terrible mechanics for bench pressing.

If you are using near maximal weights your form will break down slightly and some people will have a very hard time keeping the shoulders completely rigid under any load. From what I've read, I gather it's not the end of the world if your shoulders round out slightly; but you want to avoid low-back rounding entirely. Your spine curves in two places and the lower back curve needs to remain tight and rigid. The upper curve at the shoulders will naturally move but you want to keep it under control.

The question really is how severely is your back rounding? I would guess that you are just weak and untrained and need to spend more time doing squats and deadlifts to build a stronger back and core.

[Sensei]

Heres my situation, up until last year around November I worked out on a regular basis for about 4 years straight, but never got into heavy lifting like deads. I took about 6 months off and now I am back and incorporating deads into my routine. I've never gone for max but about 265 is what I am comfortable with at the moment. But to get it up I don't think I am using perfect form, my back seems to be rounding out when I try my hardest to keep it straight throughout. My queston is should a guy my size even have any trouble deadlifting 265 or higher or is this something anyone would have to work up to?

I've known quite a few people who could deadlift and squat 225-315 without any real specific training to do so. Anything much past those numbers without specific training equals someone who's pretty strong naturally.

My point is, 265 sounds about right. Now get to work.

[Steve Colescott]

There are a lot of tall, skinny guys in the lower weight classes (under 200-pounds) with nice DLs. Give it time. Once you strenthen your posterior chain and grip the numbers will rise. Adding some muscle won't hurt though.

[Tom Mutaffis]

What's up. I am 6'3", 220, all arms and legs, pretty gangly. And anything I attempt to deadlift over 225 my back rounds out, even when I attempt perfect form.

I know bench press and squats are difficult for people with long limbs, but is it the same with dead lifts also? Thanks guys.

Taller lifters have better leverages for the deadlift than shorter lifters, assuming that their appendages are proportionate to their height.

[Jase 'the Muss']

its probably going to be slightly harder as you wont be able to get as low as someone with say shorter legs but a simular sized torso, shorter people can stay almost vertical at the bottom where as the taller folks have to bend down a bit more if that makes any sense but still nothing stopping you from pulling big. just do it.

[Kute]

Long arms = less bending = more weight brah. unless you have giraffe legs. and if you do, i'm very impressed.i didn't know gene splicing had gone that far yet. message me your doctor and the cost please. i'd love to eat from the high branches for a change