Exercise Comparison
Axle Deadlift vs Seated Good Mornings




Side-by-Side
Muscle Analysis
Shared
Only in Axle Deadlift
Instructions
Axle Deadlift
Approach the bar so that it is centered over your feet. You feet should be about hip width apart. Bend at the hip to grip the bar at shoulder width, allowing your shoulder blades to protract. Typically, you would use an over/under grip.
With your feet and your grip set, take a big breath and then lower your hips and flex the knees until your shins contact the bar. Look forward with your head, keep your chest up and your back arched, and begin driving through the heels to move the weight upward.
After the bar passes the knees, aggressively pull the bar back, pulling your shoulder blades together as you drive your hips forward into the bar.
Lower the bar by bending at the hips and guiding it to the floor.
Seated Good Mornings
Set up a box in a power rack. The pins should be set at an appropriate height. Begin by stepping under the bar and placing it across the back of the shoulders, not on top of your traps. Squeeze your shoulder blades together and rotate your elbows forward, attempting to bend the bar across your shoulders.
Remove the bar from the rack, creating a tight arch in your lower back. Keep your head facing forward. With your back, shoulders, and core tight, push your knees and butt out and you begin your descent. Sit back with your hips until you are seated on the box. This will be your starting position.
Keeping the bar tight, bend forward at the hips as much as possible. If you set the pins to what would be parallel, you not only have a safety if you fail, but know when to stop.
Pause just above the pins and reverse the motion until your torso it upright.
Verdict
Both exercises target the lower back. Axle Deadlift is a intermediate exercise using other, while Seated Good Mornings is intermediate and uses barbell. Choose Axle Deadlift if you have access to other, or Seated Good Mornings if you prefer barbell.