There’s nothing like pulling twice your bodyweight or more for reps to increase force production from the ground. For many of my athlete’s and clients—I have switched over from traditional deadlifts to the hex OR trap bar. I still teach the RDL or Romanian deadlift; as I believe it’ s still an important movement. However, if the goal is to prevent back injuries, stay on the course or the field, or simply pick the exercises that most effectively train the most skeletal muscle…this is one of them. Most of us have poor thoracic extension and rounded shoulders from desk work and school/ cell phones. The trap bar gives access to more shoulder external rotation by pulling the weight from the side instead of the front. In doing so, this allows the kinetic chain to activate the oblique slings and lats in a more functional, movement pattern. It’s safer, more effective for athletic development and the older, more sedentary populous. Train for hypertrophy 6-30 reps. Train for strength with 1-6 reps. Keep your spine neutral, go hard, have fun.