Deadlift backrounding

[josephjung]

Coach Rip,

When I deadlift, I set my upper and lower back correctly, but as soon as I start lift, my back rounds and stays rounded. Is it becase I open my hip and back angles first rather than knee angle? Is there any cue to fix this?

Thanks.

[Mark Rippetoe]

It is because either 1.) you don't KNOW how to keep it flat, or 2.) you're not STRONG enough to keep it flat. Both are fixable.

[josephjung]

Coach Rip,

When I deadlift, I set my upper and lower back correctly, but as soon as I start lift, my back rounds and stays rounded. Is it becase I open my hip and back angles first rather than knee angle? Is there any cue to fix this?

Thanks.

So should I back off my weights?

[Rorschach]

There's plenty in the book, but I'd just like to add some anecdotal evidence.
My deadlift was sticking, with my weakness being my lower back (tended to round). Alongside deadlifts, I did some assistance work (mainly good-mornings and glute-hamraises), and this helped a lot in getting my back strength up to match my leg-drive.
It also helped a lot with the squat as I was having problems keeping my lower back tight there too.

Carryover between lifts? Whoda thunk it?

[LudwigVan]

Coach, is there any way for the lifter to figure out which of those two possibilities applies to him?

[Mark Rippetoe]

So should I back off my weights?

If they are too heavy, yes. The way you tell by looking at the lifter is if the lumbar goes into good extension before the pull starts. If it does, he knows how to put it there. If he releases this position before the pull starts, he doesn't know how to hold the position. If it comes out of position during the pull and the bar is moving well, he doesn't know how to hold the position through the pull. If it comes out of position while the bar is slowing down, it is usually a strength issue.