where are my hamstrings?!?!?!

No, I'm not an idiot. I know where my hamstrings are. I just can't seem to load them during a deadlift. I typically do conventional deadlifts.

I feel my hammies and glutes when I do hip raises and when I do squats, but can't seem to load them doing deads.

I've seen some people do a roll out with the weight then pull it back, but that doesn't seem to work for me. Any good videos or suggestions?

I just feel that if I try to just keep pulling with my back, someday there will be a loud pop. I want to work my hip strength more

Romanian Deadlifts will murder your hamstrings. Especially if done right after traditional deads.

Check out Boltons and Konstanvos starting position.

I just feel I need to get stronger to throw further. I think some of my technique issues in my worst events are partly due to lack of strength. I believe that I am missing out on huge strength potential because my DL technique is not locked in. I don't think I will ever pull a HUGE DL, but I feel I have a lot more to pull if I can utilize all my muscle groups available for the lift.

I think I will spend some time trying to bring my hamstring and glute strength up. Then they should be able to kick in more when they are supposed to.

Thanks Rob and Don, I will try to get some video up when I get a chance.
I know when I do my heaviest deadlifts, I seem to get pulled forward. I do have a slightly rounded back throughout the movement, but that's my posture and it stays solid.

I am also afraid of getting hurt, so if I feel only my back working, I drop the bar.

Try Deads with a 25lb plate under the balls of each foot. It will tilt you forward some which, will make the Hams work harder at keeping you upright. You could also try Deadlifting the weight up then lowering it Stiff Legged style with an arched back. When you bottom out on the Stiff Legged ROM, let the legs bend and put the bar back on the floor. Do your reps this way on warmups then go to regular Deads. Should be interesting. Yes, you can do this with or with out the plates under the balls of the feet but, the plates will engage the Hams more and will stretch the hell out of your Calves and Hams. Also, something I read about in PL USA was a Deadlift done in the rack with pins set at a 45 degree angle. One end would be against the OTHER side of the rack on the floor and the other end would be against the rack near you at about hip level. You'd have the bar on top of the floor pins at the start.You would pull from the floor with the bar on the other side of the rack. As you pulled, the bar would slide up the pins getting closer to you. At the top, the bar would be in its normal top position. Good luck,I hope this helps and let us know how it goes. If I find the PL USA article, I'll try to post it.

Nothing wrong with that pull. Hips don't shoot up first, looks like you're pushing your feet through the floor.

You want to pull more? Upper back work is always a plus, more core strength always helps and I'm a huge fan of the snatch grip RDL for hamstrings.

Never been a fan of deficit pulls my own self but you can't argue that some guys get tons out of them. For me the risk/reward curve never seemed right.

Sean wrote: Nothing wrong with that pull. Hips don't shoot up first, looks like you're pushing your feet through the floor. You want to pull more? Upper back work is always a plus, more core strength always helps and I'm a huge fan of the snatch grip RDL for hamstrings.

Sean wrote: Never been a fan of deficit pulls my own self but you can't argue that some guys get tons out of them. For me the risk/reward curve never seemed right.

???? risk/reward????? Get your back set tight and drive your feet through the floor. That's all there is to it. What risk/reward are you talking about?? Am NOT trying to be a dick, I just never heard anyone talk about getting hurt on deficit pulls. Also, with deficit pulls, have to hold onto the bar a bit longer which benefits your grip endurance/strength. Good luck

"Once you get into 4-5-6" territory it makes it very difficult to keep your butt down. If you slip up and your hips come up too soon, now the bar is way out front and you're pulling with your lower back in bad position. Just because your back is straight doesn't mean you can't hurt it." jsully, I don't think we were talking about that extreme of a deficit.

I usually tell my throwers you can find your hammies IF you pull your head out of your ass.  There are 2 parts to the hammies.  The hip attachment and the knee attachment.  You are obviously very strong at the hip attachment.  What about the knee attachment?  Leg curls of many kinds will help that if you even need it.  Glute/ham raises and reverse hyper specifically work the hip attachment part but if you can dead lift like that you certainly don't have a weakness at the hip.  

still haven't found my hamstrings. I'm going to try to work that in the next routine.

However, today I pulled my first 500 lb deadlift. I will get some video up shortly. I feel I do have a bit more, but my mid-back was definitely starting to break down.

I'm thinking of trying some Nordic leg curls for the hammies and good mornings for the hammies and mid back extensors.

Thoughts?

My two cents if it adds anything but I'm the light skinny guy.

I've felt that just an inch or two too forward in the set up position and pull that I loose the sit back'd loaded legs feel of a good pull.

You may be a bit too forward on your pull looking at the vid - angle from your hands to your shoulders. The way I learned DLs is that I want to be directly over the bar as measured by the arm hang. With my scapula squeezed and back held rigid my arms will be straight down, shoulders/scap more or less over the bar. I get a nice sit back over the bar feel on the pull. My legs feel "used"

I also recommend Romanian DLs and Front Squats.