How to do a Sumo Deadlift High Pull
Reviewed by Jim Parker, CPT, B.A. Kinesiology
About Sumo Deadlift High Pull
Workouts with Sumo Deadlift High Pull
Target muscles worked
Instructions for Proper Form
The Sumo Deadlift High Pull is a compound exercise that combines the wide stance of a sumo deadlift with a high pull, targeting the legs, glutes, back, shoulders, and arms. This movement begins with a wide-legged stance, lifting the barbell from the ground and then pulling it to chin height with elbows high. It emphasizes power, strength, and coordination, enhancing muscle engagement across the posterior chain and upper body. Ideal for building explosive strength and improving functional fitness, this exercise also promotes cardiovascular health when performed at a higher intensity.
- Stand in an upright posture with your feet in a wide stance angled out slightly positioning a loaded barbell an inch away from the front of your lower legs.
- Hinge at the hips and flex your knees to drop down allowing your shins to drop forward to grab the barbell with a double overhand grip.
- Maintain a neutral spine as your press through your heels to pull the barbell off the ground in a vertical path next to your body by extending your legs.
- Once the barbell passes over your mid thigh, explode your hips, knees, and ankles into extension to pull the barbell up to shoulder height keeping your elbows above the barbell.
- Drop the barbell back to waist height before lowering back to the starting position.
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Alternative Exercises to Sumo Deadlift High Pull
1. Sumo Deadlift
88.9 mSCORESWAPPED 47 TIMESSumo Deadlift is a variation on the more standard Deadlift. Like other Deadlifts, this is a compound exercise that primarily targets muscles in the rear chain (backside of the body), and especially hamstrings and glutes. While this exercise receives some criticism, it’s a perfectly valid choice for building strength, and a great addition to your leg days.
- Intermediate
- Hamstrings
- Barbells
2. Dumbbell Romanian Deadlift
97.6 mSCORESWAPPED 21 TIMESThis exercise is a variation on Romanian Deadlifts. Like other Romanian Deadlifts, this is a compound exercise that primarily targets your hamstrings and glutes. The use of dumbbells can help with some limitations in mobility, and is a great starting point for anyone working towards performing Deadlifts or Romanian Deadlifts with a barbell.
- Beginner
- Hamstrings
- Dumbbells
3. Seated Leg Curl
98.8 mSCORESWAPPED 19 TIMESSeated Leg Curl is a weighted, isolation exercise that targets the hamstrings. Because a vast majority of lower body exercises tend to be compound movements, this exercise is a great way to isolate the hamstrings for building muscle mass, and developing strength. The use of a machine restricts your range of motion, and adds stability, allowing you to focus on exertion more than stabilizing the movement.
- Beginner
- Hamstrings
- Leg Curl Machine
4. Romanian Deadlift
98.6 mSCORESWAPPED 17 TIMESRomanian Deadlift is a variation on the more standard Deadlift. It’s a compound exercise that primarily targets your glutes, and hamstrings. Unlike the standard Deadlift, this variation focuses mostly on driving your hips forward to raise the weight, and restricts movement in your knees. This is a great exercise for building strength, and can translate well to other exercises that utilize a hip hinge.
- Intermediate
- Hamstrings
- Barbells
5. Kettlebell Sumo Squat
87.3 mSCORESWAPPED 17 TIMESKettlebell Sumo Squat is a squat variation. Like other squat variations, this exercise is a compound movement that targets the hamstrings, glutes and quads. Positioning your feet wider than you would for a standard squat helps to recruit the inner thigh, as well as help individuals with mobility limitations.
- Intermediate
- Hamstrings
- Kettlebells
6. Deadlift
98.7 mSCORESWAPPED 13 TIMESDeadlift is one of the three powerlifting movements. It’s a compound exercise that primarily targets muscles in the rear chain (backside of the body), and is great for developing strength in these muscles. It’s a staple in most programs, and is often used as a metric for tracking strength.
- Intermediate
- Hamstrings
- Barbells
7. Single Leg Romanian Deadlift
80.8 mSCORESWAPPED 13 TIMESSingle Leg Romanian Deadlift is a variation on the more standard Romanian Deadlift. Like other Romanian Deadlift variations, this is a compound movement that primarily targets the glutes and hamstrings. Performing this exercise on one leg, is a great way to identify, and help address, discrepancies in mobility, strength, and stability between sides. This is a great exercise for anyone looking to improve their ability to perform a large number of other compound lower body movements like Squats, Lunges, or even Olympic lifts.
- Intermediate
- Hamstrings
- Dumbbells
8. Dumbbell Good Morning
63.8 mSCORESWAPPED 13 TIMESThe Dumbbell Good Morning is a strength exercise that focuses on the posterior chain, including the hamstrings, glutes, and lower back. Holding a dumbbell at chest level or placing two dumbbells on the shoulders, you hinge at the hips and lean forward with a straight back, then return to the starting position. This movement emphasizes hip mobility and back strength, improving posture and stability. It's a versatile exercise suitable for all fitness levels, offering a low-impact alternative to enhance lower back and hamstring flexibility and strength.
- Beginner
- Hamstrings
- Dumbbells
9. Good Morning
90.4 mSCORESWAPPED 11 TIMESGood Morning’s are a compound exercise that primarily target muscles in the rear chain (backside of the body), but especially the hamstrings, and lower back. While this can be an effective exercise, there is some risk to performing this exercise with a loaded barbell on your back. If you’re unfamiliar with this exercise, try starting with a dumbbell variation as you learn the movement.
- Intermediate
- Hamstrings
- Barbells
- Squat Rack
10. Kettlebell Sumo High Pull
67 mSCORESWAPPED 10 TIMESA compound exercise combining elements of a sumo deadlift and a high pull. It targets the posterior chain, particularly the glutes, hamstrings, and upper back. The sumo stance increases hip engagement, while the high pull adds an explosive element, promoting power development.
- Intermediate
- Trapezius
- Kettlebells