@Dustin07. Regarding our race to new PRs on DL …
My conventional DL max is 450 lbs (but with straps), back when I was 42-43; so we have similar maxes.
I haven’t done DLs historically; when I was young, I was trained as a wrestler to do power cleans instead, not sure why (maybe injury prevention or even school liability), and never broke out from that pattern until my 40s. At any rate, I’ll be sticking with the hex bar DLs exclusively until I hit 500 lbs, at which point I’ll consider resuming conventional DLs.
The thing is, I have permanent nerve damage at my left elbow (have had 3 surgeries on my left elbow), which impairs my grip strength. And I can’t do heavy over/under grip bc I’ve torn each of my biceps, the left one twice. So the neutral grip of the hex bar suits me best.
As such, I propose that we race to 500 lbs, you on conventional and me on hex bar. Given your recent 300x17, you’re def closer than me — even more so if I’m using my new hex bar with 32mm grips.
At some point, and perhaps soon, I may need to break down and use straps for heavy singles. With that said, I’m going to start working my grip, hopeful to fend off the straps as long as I can.
Fair?