Single-Leg Deadlift trains the glutes, hamstrings, and back through a hip hinge with a controlled trunk position.
Primary musclesGluteus maximus, Hamstrings, Erector spinae
Secondary musclesHip adductors, Quadriceps, Latissimus dorsi, Forearms
Follow the sequence in order, paying attention to the starting position, movement path, and finish described in each step.
For Single-Leg Deadlift, balance on the working foot with a soft knee, square the hips, and hold the load close to the thigh.
Brace around the trunk, set the shoulders, and keep the load close to the legs before initiating the hinge or floor pull.
Take the slack out of the bar or handles, keep the load over the mid-foot, and prepare to raise the shoulders and hips together.
Drive the floor away and raise the shoulders and hips together while the load travels vertically close to the body.
Drive through the floor and bring the hips forward to stand tall without leaning back, then reverse the path under control when the exercise begins from standing.
These are the form changes most likely to move work away from the target muscles or make the repetition harder to control.
Stop the hinge or floor pull before the spine rounds; more depth is not useful when position changes.
Keep the resistance close to the legs so the hips and posterior chain remain the focus.
Do not rock onto the toes or heels. Keep the load balanced over the middle of each foot.
Control the transition and avoid bouncing out of the bottom or jerking the load from the floor.
Programming guide
Use Single-Leg Deadlift early in a session focused on glutes, or early in a full-body session, when it is a priority lift; place it later when it supports volume for another main movement.
Use Single-Leg Deadlift early in a workout focused on glutes, or early in a full-body workout, when strength or technical progress is the priority; place it later when it supplies secondary volume.
Use one to three times per week as part of training the relevant muscle groups at least twice weekly; the same exercise does not need to appear in every session.
| Goal | Sets | Reps or time | Rest | Effort and execution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Technique | 2–4 | 3–6 per side | 90–180 sec | Light to moderate; 3–5 reps in reserve |
| Strength | 2–4 | 3–6 per side | 2–4 min | Heavy, usually 2–3 clean reps in reserve |
| Muscle growth | 2–4 | 6–12 per side | 90–180 sec | Usually 1–3 clean reps in reserve |
Use double progression: reach the top of the repetition range across all sets with the same technique, then add the smallest practical load and return to the lower end.
Scale the movement
Keep a dowel in contact with the head, upper back, and pelvis while learning to send the hips backward.
Raise a light kettlebell so the start can be reached without losing trunk position.
Lengthen the lowering phase to reinforce load control and a consistent stopping point.
Increase unilateral and anti-rotation demand only after the bilateral hinge is repeatable.
