Modified Deadlift (MDL) for Tennis

Resistance Training · Book exercise 6.17

Watch the movement and compare the setup with the tennis book.

Exercise Video

How to Perform the Exercise

Stand wider than shoulder width with knees slightly flexed and toes turned slightly outward. Flex the hips and knees to reach the bar, take an alternating grip inside shoulder width and extend the knees and hips to stand. Lower the bar under control and return to the start.

Technique Cue

Keep the weight through the heels and the spine and pelvis neutral. The 45-degree footage shows the wider stance and full lift, though the precise foot angle is easier to check against the book photograph.

Book Technique and Progression

Book difficulty: 1 (the book’s exercise rating). Check the prerequisites and use loading suited to your technique and training history.

Use the book’s wider-than-shoulder stance, bend at hips and knees to reach the bar, then extend to stand with the spine neutral and weight through the heels. The video should be used with the written foot-position guidance because its view does not show the feet clearly.

Related exercises: Romanian Deadlift and Back Squat. See the tennis conditioning book for the full exercise description, and browse complete tennis workouts when ready to combine movements.

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