Hamstrings · Barbell

Single Leg Romanian Deadlift (Barbell)

A compound movement that trains your hamstrings, done with a barbell. Your glutes, lower back and abs help out.

EquipmentBarbell
TypeCompound
Push or pullPull
LevelExpert

Muscles you'll work

Single Leg Romanian Deadlift (Barbell) muscles worked, front viewSingle Leg Romanian Deadlift (Barbell) muscles worked, back view
HamstringsPrimaryGlutes · Lower Back · AbsSecondary

How to do it

  1. Stand upright holding a barbell with an overhand grip, hands slightly wider than shoulder-width apart. Keep your feet hip-width apart.
  2. Shift your weight to one leg, keeping a slight bend in the knee of your standing leg. Allow the other leg to slightly lift off the floor or remain lightly touching for balance if needed.
  3. Hinge at your hips, pushing your glutes back as you slowly lower the barbell towards the floor. Keep your back straight, chest up, and core engaged throughout the movement.
  4. As you hinge, extend your non-standing leg straight back behind you to help maintain balance and keep your body in a straight line from your head to the heel of your extended leg.
  5. Lower the barbell until you feel a good stretch in the hamstring of your standing leg, or until your torso is roughly parallel to the floor, without rounding your lower back.
  6. Squeeze your glutes and hamstrings of the standing leg to pull yourself back up to the starting position, keeping your core tight and back straight. Maintain the extended position of the non-standing leg.
  7. Complete the desired number of repetitions on one leg before switching to the other leg.

More hamstring exercises

Romanian DeadliftCleanGood MorningHang Snatch
Free · No card required

Log this lift and watch it climb

Every set you finish decides the next one — heavier, more reps, or hold. You get the number and the reason before you lift it.

  • Free AI plans, no card
  • Every weight has a reason
  • Miss a day, the week re-fits

The AI writes the plan. The engine keeps coaching every session after that — free.