Exercise movement reviewed by:Cody Lockling, MS, CSCS

How Iridium Programs This

Iridium accounts for the extended range of motion by assigning higher fatigue scores to your upper trapezius and erectors, counting this volume specifically toward your Maximum Recoverable Volume for the upper back. To manage the mechanical disadvantage of the wide grip, the AI tracks a separate 1RM estimate to keep your progressive overload targets realistic compared to a conventional deadlift. If your 7-day training history indicates your lower back is not fully recovered, Iridium will prioritize less systemically demanding hinge variations to ensure lifting quality.

Form Cues

Widen your grip until the barbell sits in your hip crease when standing tall
Drop your hips lower than a conventional deadlift to maintain an upright chest
Engage your lats and pull the slack out of the bar before lifting
Drive your feet through the floor to initiate the movement
Squeeze your glutes firmly at the top without hyperextending

Don't

Don't let your upper back round as the bar breaks the floor
Don't shoot your hips up before your shoulders rise
Don't jerk the bar off the ground; pull smoothly
Don't let the bar drift away from your legs during the ascent
Don't grip so wide that your fingers are crushed against the plates

Common Mistakes

Setting up with hips too high
Rounding the thoracic spine
Failing to use lifting straps when grip limits strength
Bouncing the weight off the floor
Allowing knees to cave inward

Muscles Worked

This exercise is a powerhouse for the entire posterior chain, placing exceptional demand on the upper trapezius, rhomboids, and lats to maintain the wide-grip position. The increased range of motion forces the glutes and hamstrings to work harder from a deeper starting point compared to a conventional deadlift.