Legs · Kettlebell

Kettlebell Single Leg Deadlift

How to do the kettlebell single leg deadlift, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.

Animated demonstration of the Kettlebell Single Leg Deadlift
Equipment
Kettlebell
Difficulty
Intermediate
Logged as
Weighted reps
Movement
Hinge
Mechanic
Compound

How to do it

Stand on one leg holding a kettlebell in the opposite hand. Hinge at the hip, lowering the bell toward the floor while extending your free leg straight behind you. Keep your back flat, then drive through the standing heel to return to upright and finish your reps before switching sides.

  1. 1Hinge at the hip and feel the hamstring and glute of the standing leg
  2. 2load up
  3. 3Keep your hips level and back flat while your core balances you
  4. 4Drive through the heel to stand and squeeze the glute at the top

Common mistakes

  • Do not round your spine or let your shoulders slump forward
  • Avoid letting your hips twist or the raised leg drop out of line
  • Do not use a bell so heavy it wrecks your balance or form

Muscles worked

The kettlebell single leg deadlift mainly works the glutes, lower back, and hamstrings, with the forearms, quads, upper traps, upper abs, and calves assisting.

  • GlutesPrimary
  • Lower BackPrimary
  • HamstringsPrimary
  • ForearmsSupport
  • QuadsSupport
  • Upper TrapsSupport
  • Upper AbsSupport
  • CalvesSupport

Kovo programs the kettlebell single leg deadlift for you and tracks it every session.

We build your whole program, drop the right lifts into each workout, and adjust your weights as you get stronger. Free on iOS and Android.

More glutes exercises

See all glutes exercises →

Last reviewed June 2026.