Relationships Between Hex Bar Deadlift One-Repetition Maximum and Maximal Isometric Pulls

This study sought to determine relationships between hexagonal barbell (HBB) deadlift one-repetition maximum (1-RM) and force-time characteristics of maximal isometric pulls. Twenty-three healthy adults (13 men [8 trained], 10 women [4 trained]) completed three visits consisting of a familiarization and anthropometrics session, a HBB deadlift 1-RM session, and a performance session with three maximal isometric pulls at three positions: lift-off (FLOOR), knee-passing (KNEE), and mid-thigh (MT). Correlation analyses assessed relationships between 1-RM and force-time characteristics at each position with significance set a priori at α ≤ 0.05. Correlation coefficients between 1-RM and force-time characteristics at all positions presented large to very large relationships to peak force (PF; r = 0.695-0.879, p ≤ 0.001), large to very large relationships to all time-specific force variables (r = 0.506-0.812; p ≤ 0.014), moderate to very large relationships between rate of force development (RFD) time-bands (r = 0.430-0.752; p ≤ 0.041), and large to very large relationships to impulse (r = 0.575-0.778; p ≤ 0.004). Collectively, more very large effect sizes (r = 0.7-0.89) were observed at FLOOR (n = 8) and KNEE (n = 6) than MT (n = 0). PF at FLOOR and KNEE presented as strongest predictors of maximal strength in the 1-RM HBB deadlift. The observed differences between positions may be due to exercise-specific disadvantageous positions commonly observed as isometric sticking points. Coaches should consider incorporating isometric pulls from the lift-off or knee passing positions as it appears to be better related to maximal strength than the isometric mid-thigh pull.