Another question pertaining to the alternate-grip deadlift is, “When in my workout should I start using the alternate grip?”The answer is that, at a minimum, your last warm up set and work sets should be performed with the alternate grip, as you don’t want to introduce any new variables into the equation between the last warm up and the work set. It’s kind of like the “When should I put on my lifting belt?” question in this regard.
Knowing all this, why would we choose to deadlift using this grip? Sometimes the hook grip is just not a good option due to equipment, anthropometry, pain tolerance, or other factors, and we still need to get strong, right? Moreover, if someone is going to a powerlifting meet, they’ll need to find a suitable grip since straps are not allowed. This question becomes a bit more nuanced for the non-competitor population.