For hamstring growth

Good Morning vs Single-Leg RDL

For hamstring growth, good morning rates higher on our research criteria: easier to progress.

Single-leg RDL is easier on the joints.

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.

Research score

Target tension

Strong

Loaded stretch

Excellent

Progression

Strong

Fair

Low cost

Fair

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 good morning

You want to keep adding weight in small steps

Good reasons to choose single-leg RDL

You train at home
You want something easier on your joints
One side is weaker than the other

Good Morning

Single-Leg RDL

You need

Barbell, squat rack

Dumbbells

Skill

Takes some practice

Type

Compound

One side at a time

Yes

Why they rank where they do

Good Morning. A big hamstring stretch, but the bar on your back makes it demanding on the lower back.

Questions

Which is better for hamstring growth, good morning or single-leg RDL?

For hamstring growth, good morning rates higher on our research criteria: easier to progress. Single-leg RDL is easier on the joints. 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 good morning or single-leg RDL easier to learn?

About the same: both take some practice.

Can you do good morning or single-leg RDL at home?

Good morning needs a barbell and a squat rack, so for most people it’s a gym exercise. Single-leg RDL needs dumbbells, so a home gym covers it.

Which is easier on the joints, good morning or single-leg RDL?

Single-leg RDL: it rates Good for joint and recovery cost in our research rubric, against Fair for good morning.

More comparisons

Good Morning Single-Leg RDL All hamstrings exercises

Good Morning vs Single-Leg RDL

For hamstring growth, good morning rates higher on our research criteria: easier to progress.

Single-leg RDL is easier on the joints.

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.

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 good morning

You want to keep adding weight in small steps

Good reasons to choose single-leg RDL

You train at home
You want something easier on your joints
One side is weaker than the other

Good Morning

Single-Leg RDL

You need

Barbell, squat rack

Dumbbells

Skill

Takes some practice

Type

Compound

One side at a time

Yes

Why they rank where they do

Good Morning. A big hamstring stretch, but the bar on your back makes it demanding on the lower back.

Questions

Which is better for hamstring growth, good morning or single-leg RDL?

Is good morning or single-leg RDL easier to learn?

About the same: both take some practice.

Can you do good morning or single-leg RDL at home?

Good morning needs a barbell and a squat rack, so for most people it’s a gym exercise. Single-leg RDL needs dumbbells, so a home gym covers it.

Which is easier on the joints, good morning or single-leg RDL?

Single-leg RDL: it rates Good for joint and recovery cost in our research rubric, against Fair for good morning.