Sandbag Drag

Haul a bag along the floor hand over hand or by the handles, walking backward. Heavy concentric-only work that spares the joints while taxing the whole system.

DIFFICULTY
Beginner
EQUIPMENT
Sandbag
PRIMARY MUSCLES
Quads · Glutes · Lats
ALSO WORKS
Lower back · Forearms & Grip · Biceps · Calves
HOW TO DO IT
  1. 01Grab the bag by an end handle or by the fabric with both hands.
  2. 02Set a low athletic stance with the hips back and the chest over the bag.
  3. 03Walk backward in short steps, keeping constant tension so the bag never stops moving.
  4. 04Keep the arms slightly bent and the shoulder blades pulled down and back.
  5. 05Cover a set distance, turn around and drag it back to the start.
COACHING CUES
  1. 01Hips back, lean into the drag.
  2. 02Never let the bag stall.
  3. 03Pull with the back, not the biceps.
COMMON MISTAKES
  1. 01Standing upright and pulling with straight arms, which puts all the tension on the elbows and grip.
  2. 02Taking long backward steps, which loses tension and makes each restart a fresh maximal pull.
  3. 03Dragging on a surface with too much grip, which stops the bag dead and turns it into a jerking pull.

Note: Reference material, not a prescription. Load, volume and whether this movement suits you at all depends on your assessment — if something hurts, stop and get it looked at.

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