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Every exercise ranked by research, by lifters and by results. Find what’s S-tier for your goal, then train it.

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Explore/Hamstrings/Compare

For hamstring growth

B-Stance Romanian Deadlift vs Stiff-Leg Deadlift

For hamstring growth, B-stance Romanian deadlift and stiff-leg deadlift score the same.

B-stance Romanian deadlift is easier on the joints; stiff-leg deadlift is easier to progress.

Both are good choices that train the hamstrings the same way, so they swap freely. Rotating between them every few weeks is an easy way to vary your training.

A
#4
of 18
B-Stance Romanian Deadlift
Dumbbell
A
#7
of 18
Stiff-Leg Deadlift
Barbell
Research score
81
81
Target tension
Strong
Strong
Loaded stretch
Excellent
Excellent
Progression
Strong
Excellent
Low cost
Strong
Good
See the full hamstrings ranking
What these mean
Target tension.
Whether the muscle you’re training is what gives out first, not your grip, balance or other muscles.
Loaded stretch.
How hard the muscle works while stretched. Training it there is linked to more growth.
Progression.
How easily you can keep adding weight in small steps over months and years.
Low cost.
How easy it is on your joints and recovery, and how quickly you can learn it.

The research score comes from these, scored by hand from the studies. Lifter scores appear once an exercise has 10 ratings. How scores work

When each one fits

Good reasons to choose B-stance Romanian deadlift

  • You train at home
  • You want something easy to learn
  • You want something easier on your joints

Good reasons to choose stiff-leg deadlift

  • You want to keep adding weight in small steps
B-Stance Romanian Deadlift
Stiff-Leg Deadlift
You need
Dumbbells
Barbell
Skill
Easy to learn
Takes some practice
Type
Compound
Compound
One side at a time
Yes
No
Why they rank where they do

B-Stance Romanian Deadlift. Most of the load on one leg gives each hamstring a deep stretch with half the weight a regular RDL needs.

Stiff-Leg Deadlift. Like the Romanian deadlift with straighter legs: a big hamstring stretch, with similar lower-back fatigue.

Questions

Which is better for hamstring growth, B-stance Romanian deadlift or stiff-leg deadlift?

For hamstring growth, B-stance Romanian deadlift and stiff-leg deadlift score the same. B-stance Romanian deadlift is easier on the joints; stiff-leg deadlift is easier to progress. Both are good choices that train the hamstrings the same way, so they swap freely. Rotating between them every few weeks is an easy way to vary your training.

Is B-stance Romanian deadlift or stiff-leg deadlift easier to learn?

B-stance Romanian deadlift is easier: it’s easy to learn, while stiff-leg deadlift takes some practice.

Can you do B-stance Romanian deadlift or stiff-leg deadlift at home?

B-stance Romanian deadlift needs dumbbells, so a home gym covers it. Stiff-leg deadlift needs a barbell, so for most people it’s a gym exercise.

Which is easier on the joints, B-stance Romanian deadlift or stiff-leg deadlift?

B-stance Romanian deadlift: it rates Strong for joint and recovery cost in our research rubric, against Good for stiff-leg deadlift.

More comparisons

  • B-Stance Romanian Deadlift vs Dumbbell Romanian Deadlift
  • B-Stance Romanian Deadlift vs Romanian Deadlift
  • Dumbbell Romanian Deadlift vs Stiff-Leg Deadlift
  • Romanian Deadlift vs Stiff-Leg Deadlift
B-Stance Romanian DeadliftStiff-Leg DeadliftAll hamstrings exercises