Barbells For Everyone!
August, 2024
Happy August, BHC-Fam!
I trust you’re enjoying the sunshine and keeping your fitness on track. My topic this month is about the almighty Barbell and the different types we have in the club. Let’s get started.
In most gyms and health clubs you will find a typical, one- size-fits-all barbell that is approximately 7’ in length, weighs 20 kilograms or approximately 45lbs and has a diameter or grip that is 28 millimeters. Each barbell will have “knurling” which is the rough surface of the bar that helps with gripping, and a smooth portion of the bar that essentially creates lines or marks to help with grip placement. At Ballard Health club, we’ve gone above and beyond to have the right barbell for the different types of lifts. Here we go…
The Powerlifting Bar:
The Powerlifting Bar is designed for the 3 compound movements that make up the sport of Powerlifting. They are the Back Squat, Deadlift and Bench-Press. The Rogue Ohio Powerlifting Bars that we have are 7’2-½” long (standard length) and have a 29mm diameter grip. The additional 1mm diameter allows the bar to stay more rigid and minimize flexing during heavy lifts.
This bar also has “center knurling.” This rough surface in the very middle of the bar is to keep the bar from sliding when in the back-rack position during a back squat. The knurling catches on to your shirt which helps the bar stay in place.
The Deadlift Bar:
We carry the Rogue Ohio Deadlift Bar. While this bar can be used for Powerlifting as well, its manufactured specifications are primarily for heavier Deadlifts. The first spec that makes this bar different is the length which is 7’7-½ “. The extra 5 inches simply allows you to put more plates on the bar. With a deadlift world record at 501 kilograms (1,105lbs) that is a lot of plates!
The other spec of the Deadlift bar is a slightly more narrow diameter at 27mm. This allows it to be easier to grip, but also adds “whip” or “flex” to the bar which allows the lifter to pull from a higher point before the plates break off the floor.
Olympic Weightlifting Bar:
We recently added 2 shiny, new bars to the gym and they are the PR-Lifting Weightlifting Bar. The name is generic and the specs are standard at 7’2-½” long and a 28mm grip. However, these bars are designed primarily for Olympic Weightlifting which consists of the Clean and Jerk, the Snatch, and all the accessory exercises that are used to train these 2 lifts.
What makes these bars different and good for the Oly lifts are the rotating sleeves (the ends you slide the plates on) which allows the plates to spin freely during the transition of the lifts. These bars are also made to allow for a “quiet drop” as In the sport of Olympic Weightlifting and Powerlifting the athletes are lifting multiple times their body weight and it can be dangerous to lower the weight without making noise. This technique is also the reason we’ve invested in the new Eleiko platforms. (2024 Olympics - Olympic Weightlifting coverage begins Wednesday August 7th. Olivia Reeves is my favorite!).
25mm Olympic Weightlifting Bar:
We have the Rogue 25mm Olympic Weightlifting Bar. This bar is slightly shorter at 6-½’ and weighs 15 kilograms or approximately 35lbs. It has all the specs of the Olympic Weightlifting Bar above but what sets it apart is a 25mm diameter grip. This bar is designed for Olympic Weightlifters with smaller hands so they can use a technique called a “hook grip.” The hook grip is wrapping the thumbs around the bar and the index-finger and middle-finger wrap over the top of the thumb. This is how world records are set and that is the reason for this bar.
Technique Bar:
The last bar I’ll mention in detail is what we call the Technique Bar, also referred to as “Training Bars.” They are shorter at 6’6” and weigh approximately 12 lbs. These bars are designed for beginning lifters who want to practice with the feel of a full size barbell without the weight, or for a seasoned Olympic Lifting who wants to practice technique at a lighter weight. One important thing to mention about these bars is that they are aluminum and not made to be loaded with heavy weight.
There you have it. So many bars to choose from. And while some have cross-over usage, they all have a specific purpose. The world of weightlifting is vast and when done correctly will make you strong, fast and fit. If you have any questions or would like more information about our barbells please contact me at kyle@ballardhealthclub.com and I’d be happy to answer your questions.
Yours in weightlifting,
Kyle Hyde
Fitness Director