2

When I deadlift, I'm using left hand over, right hand under. Are there any differences if I switch the hands? Are there any benefits to switching or cons to not switching?

8
  • 4
    If you use the same hand position for your mixed grip for every rep that you need to, you can eventually develop muscle imbalances. It's easy to switch which hand is over and which is under either between reps, or between sets.
    – Alex L
    Aug 23, 2015 at 21:38
  • Which muscles correlate with each grip?
    – Steven
    Aug 23, 2015 at 22:04
  • @Steven I think the muscles are the same (or close enough) but the angles are different.
    – Eric
    Aug 24, 2015 at 2:32
  • Also, I edited the title to "mixed grip" since that's the normal term used. Related q/a: fitness.stackexchange.com/questions/6017/…
    – Eric
    Aug 24, 2015 at 2:34
  • 1
    I'm guessing you use mixed grip because otherwise it fails? For this reason I always begin with a pronated grip and use this for as much as I can, so my grip gets stronger as well, and then I switch hands for the mixed grip. Aug 24, 2015 at 9:05

1 Answer 1

2

Ideally, on all of your lighter sets, you'd be using a double-overhand grip (both palms facing you) to actually work your grip as well as the rest of the posterior chain. If you keep your mixed grip work to just the heaviest sets, it doesn't matter as much if you switch them. Yes, the muscles of the forearm and shoulder end up getting loaded differently, so if you deadlift heavy, often, you might develop imbalances. But if you're a competitive power-lifter, that's probably an ok trade-off, and if you're not, you probably aren't deadlifting so heavy or so often that you need to worry anyways.

FWIW, I used to switch up my mixed grip pretty regularly, but over the past few years, have settled on having my right hand switched on the heaviest sets, and haven't had any issues at all. Yet.

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.