I'm interested in learning about the properties of competition bars for different powerlifts.
I know, e.g., that a deadlift bar will have
- deep knurling to help you hang on
- slightly thinner diameter, again to help grip
- will flex a little to allow the center of the bar to move up before the plates come off the ground.
If anyone has been involved in bar selection for meets, bar design, or otherwise just knows, I'd like to know more about SQ and BP competition bars. While I'm interested to know about specific brands and models, I'm more interested in the properties the designers are trying to achieve.
I own an Okie Bar, which is for deadlifting. This bar was the official AAU DL bar at the last few national and world meets I attended. It's affordable - $370 now, was less when I bought mine around 7-8 years ago - which is why I can own it. I love it, BTW.
My guess is that a squat bar will not flex much, if at all, since the bar flapping around requires extra work to stabilize, and likewise the same for the bench press. I'm also guessing that knurling isn't an issue for a squat bar, but that it might be for a bench press bar.
Thanks in advance for your replies.
Steve Freides, StrongFirst Team Leader
http://www.kbnj.com
http://RideChickens.blogspot.com
http://StrongFirst.com
I know, e.g., that a deadlift bar will have
- deep knurling to help you hang on
- slightly thinner diameter, again to help grip
- will flex a little to allow the center of the bar to move up before the plates come off the ground.
If anyone has been involved in bar selection for meets, bar design, or otherwise just knows, I'd like to know more about SQ and BP competition bars. While I'm interested to know about specific brands and models, I'm more interested in the properties the designers are trying to achieve.
I own an Okie Bar, which is for deadlifting. This bar was the official AAU DL bar at the last few national and world meets I attended. It's affordable - $370 now, was less when I bought mine around 7-8 years ago - which is why I can own it. I love it, BTW.
My guess is that a squat bar will not flex much, if at all, since the bar flapping around requires extra work to stabilize, and likewise the same for the bench press. I'm also guessing that knurling isn't an issue for a squat bar, but that it might be for a bench press bar.
Thanks in advance for your replies.
Steve Freides, StrongFirst Team Leader
http://www.kbnj.com
http://RideChickens.blogspot.com
http://StrongFirst.com