deadlifts vs squats

[rangers97]

if you had to choose either deadlifts or squats to put into your routine, which would you choose and why....and don't say "I would do them both!" cause thats not the question

they appear to overlap certain muscles, obviously deads hit the lower back more and the squats hit the legs more. I just dont have the room in my current routine for both, so I am trying to decide which to use. One idea I had was to put deadlifts on my leg day, and do deads, leg presses, and calfs on that day, so I can concentrate on other back exercises on my back day.

 

[Flex]

they're only the 2 most important exercises in BB.

Hmmmm
i have an idea do both

 

[KarlW]

If I could do rows for back then I'd choose Squats.

 

[P-funk]

If you don't have time to do both the cycle them. 4-5 weeks of squats then switch to deadlifts.

 

[Flex]

If you don't have time to do both the cycle them.

that's where i'm having the hard time.

why wouldn't you have time?

Deads on back day, squats on leg day

 

[GIZmo_Timme]

haha you are funny Flex

 

[sabre81]

if i had to pick i would pick deadlifts. but since i dont have to pick one, i choose both on their respective days.

 

[madden player]

they're only the 2 most important exercises in BB.

Hmmmm
i have an idea do both

Deads on back day, squats on leg day

...Professor Flex is in the house.

Really though, why not do both; I always have.

 

[rangers97]

the question is if you had to pick one, which one do you think is better, and the answer to that should not be, "well why not do both" which is exactly what I figured everyone would write, which doesn't really help me in finding the answer I am looking for. So, no offense, but don't reply if you're going to say, do both......

 

[P-funk]

the question is if you had to pick one, which one do you think is better, and the answer to that should not be, "well why not do both" which is exactly what I figured everyone would write, which doesn't really help me in finding the answer I am looking for. So, no offense, but don't reply if you're going to say, do both......

there is no better or worse in this case. It is a foolish question. they are two different exercises which, although the have some overlaping muscles, work different aspects of the body. It is like saying what is better a push up or a bench press. Both are great.....both are pushes in the trasverse plane. Both recruit your anterior delts, pectoralis major and triceps. Both use the lats (to internally rotate) and biceps (to stabalize). Is one better than the other....no neccessarily. they both have their place. train your deadlift and your squat on leg day since primarily (I look at them at least) they are hip extension. Choose one to focus on for a few weeks and then switch to the other. Or train both at different intensities for a few weeks (ie.....squat for strength at a high intensity and deadlift for power/explosiveness at a lopw intensity (65-70% of 1RM) and then after 4 or 5 weeks swap the exercises). Your body will thank you for the change of pace.

 

[musclepump]

Because of the overlaping muscles, I do both on leg day. I separate leg day from back day by a few so I'm good to go.

 

[SugarDaddy]

Being able to choose only one, I would pick squats. It is definitely more of a core strenth workout, and has more muscle groups involved than the deads. Do the squats properly! Don't let your ego get in the way! Lighten the weight and get the full motion rather than going heavy and cheating yourself. I sometimes load up and do partials to overload the muscle, but the regular part of the exercise is in full.

I don't quite understand how you are comparing one to the other, though. The squat will target your quads and glutes, with all kinds of stabilizers coming into play. The deadlift targets your lower back and hamstrings. I don't really see how you consider to put only one or the other in. Anyhow, that's not my decision.

If you decide not to do deadlifts, do something a little different...won't have the same results, but at least will work your back. I assume you do sets of situps for your abs. In between ab sets, do 'supermans'. Like I said, it won't make your lower back huge or anything, but it'll at least strengthen it. Remember, your body is a set of balances. If you work your chest too much without working your upper back, you get hunched shoulders. If you work your abs without working your back, things get unbalanced there too.

 

[Robboe]

If i had to drop one it'd be deadlifts, because i heavily rate squats for quad development, and i can make up for the loss of deadlifts with other exercises on back day.

However, i currently do squats on leg day on a Tuesday and rack pulls on back day on a Thursday.

 

[Dale Mabry]

Rack deads are sweet.

I would choose squat also, but if it were only due to time I would cycle them as P-fizzle mentioned.

 

[Duncans Donuts]

Being able to choose only one, I would pick squats. It is definitely more of a core strenth workout, and has more muscle groups involved than the deads.

I don't know about that.

They are the two most important exercises in any good fitness program imo (athletics especially). Deadlifts are probably the most taxing exercise I do, with Squats a close second.

The question itself is ridiculous; how could you only have time for one? The only explanation is laziness...

 

[King Silverback]

I don't know about that.

They are the two most important exercises in any good fitness program imo (athletics especially). Deadlifts are probably the most taxing exercise I do, with Squats a close second.

The question itself is ridiculous; how could you only have time for one? The only explanation is laziness...

I would have to agree!!! Why do you need to pick just one. They BOTH are just as important as the other!!! PLEASE, for your sake, fit them both into your routine!!!

 

[Flex]

I would have to agree!!! Why do you need to pick just one. They BOTH are just as important as the other!!! PLEASE, for your sake, fit them both into your routine!!!

Please only respond if you choose ONE

 

[Flex]

haha you are funny Flex

What, the way i talk? Funny how? I mean, funny like I'm a clown? I amuse you? I make you laugh? I'm here to fuckin' amuse you? How da' fuck am I funny? What da' FUCK is so funny about me? Tell me, tell me what's funny."

 

[LAM]

I would do squats hands down....

 

[Du]

What, the way i talk? Funny how? I mean, funny like I'm a clown? I amuse you? I make you laugh? I'm here to fuckin' amuse you? How da' fuck am I funny? What da' FUCK is so funny about me? Tell me, tell me what's funny."

Da Pesci

 

[wtfzor]

you'd be crazy if you don't do squat.

I do both, but if I MUST choose one, It would be squat.
I can spend all day listing the advantages of squat.

 

[BoneCrusher]

I am 44 and need to be very carefull about back injuries. Dead's keep me well while still getting legs done. JMHO.

 

[SquatBenchDead]

You can easily squat and deadlift on the same day. The first half of my training cycle I squat and deadlift in the same workout twice a week(And I train for strength).

 

[CowPimp]

Although I recommend doing both, I would choose squats if I had to pick just one. The main reason being that you have to stabilize the weight.

 

[Flex]

if i absolutely HAD to choose one with a gun to my head , i would say deadlift.

Squats obviously work your quads, hams, glutes, and to some extent your lower back. But you can get nearly the same results from hack squats, leg presses etc.

On the other hand, deads give you a thickness in your back like no other exercise can, as well as also improving your traps and forearms greatly, and to some little extent your legs.

just my .02

FLEX

 

[Flex]

^but then again, i STILL don't see the problem with not being able to do both.

So do both.

 

[Luke9583]

that's where i'm having the hard time.

why wouldn't you have time?

Deads on back day, squats on leg day

That's what my puny ass does

 

[lnvanry]

I have never done a deadlift in my entire life. I was never taught how to, and since I know you can easliy injure yourself w/ out proper instruction, I aviod them. I don't want start to blindly pick a barbell off the ground. Sometimes I wish the guys in my gym would get past the macho thing and pass some knowledge down to us younger guys.

 

[Gazhole]

i do both, but i lean slightly towards the squat. deadlifts are also really good though, just keeping form can sometimes be tricky, i get a better feeling from squats.

 

[King Silverback]

^but then again, i STILL don't see the problem with not being able to do both.

So do both.

Hey, only pick one!!!