Barbell
Encyclopedia
Exercise equipment
An apparatus or device used in any given physical activity for shaping and forming muscle groups for specific areas of the body. A mechanism or machine that is intended to promote health and fitness by using motion with varying degrees of resistance either fixed or adjustable.-Exercise...
used in weight training
Weight training
Weight training is a common type of strength training for developing the strength and size of skeletal muscles. It uses the weight force of gravity to oppose the force generated by muscle through concentric or eccentric contraction...
, weightlifting and powerlifting
Powerlifting
Powerlifting is a strength sport. It resembles the sport of Olympic weightlifting, as both disciplines involve lifting weights in three attempts. Powerlifting evolved from a sport known as 'odd lifts' which followed the same three attempt format but used a wide variety of events akin to Strongman...
. Barbells range in length from 4 feet (1.2 m) to 8 feet (2.4 m) although bars above 7' in length are used primarily by powerlifters and aren't commonplace. The central portion varies in diameter, but is close to one inch (2.54 cm), and is often engraved with a knurled
Knurling
Knurling is a manufacturing process, typically conducted on a lathe, whereby a visually attractive diamond-shaped pattern is cut or rolled into metal.- Uses :...
crosshatch pattern
Pattern
A pattern, from the French patron, is a type of theme of recurring events or objects, sometimes referred to as elements of a set of objects.These elements repeat in a predictable manner...
to help lifters get a good grip. Disc weights (plates) are slid onto the outer portions of the bar to obtain the desired total weight. These weights are often secured with collars to prevent them from sliding off during the exercise (which can result in injuries
Injury
-By cause:*Traumatic injury, a body wound or shock produced by sudden physical injury, as from violence or accident*Other injuries from external physical causes, such as radiation injury, burn injury or frostbite*Injury from infection...
) or flinging the unevenly-loaded barbell through the air.
Olympic barbells
An Olympic or weightlifting barbell consists of a bar in which the sleeves rotate. This enables the discs to spin on their own axis, which eliminates the rotational-inertia effect placed upon the lifter during such explosive lifting and enables him/her to descend under the bar easier.Men's bar
A men's Olympic bar is a metal bar that is 2.2 m (7.22 ft) long and weighs 20 kg (44.1 lbs). The outer ends are 50 mm (1.9685 in) in diameter, while the grip section is 28 mm (1.1024 in) in diameter, and 1,310mm (51.57 in) in length. The bars have grip marks spaced 910 mm apart to allow intuitive grip width measurement. It is the standard used in competitive weightlifting where men and women compete at the highest level - the Commonwealth Games, Pan-American Games, World Championships, and the OlympicsOlympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
. The total weight of the barbell varies based on the type and number of plates loaded onto the ends of the bar and the lift being performed and can be as much as 540 kilogram which is the limit of total load.
In addition to regular Olympic bars, powerlifting often requires use of sturdier bars to better accommodate the heavier weights being used in the sport. These bars can be longer (to allow loading of more plates) and thicker (to deform less under load). Additionally, powerlifting bars have their grip marks spaced closer, at 810 mm. This closer spacing is used to check legal grip width in the bench press
Bench press
The bench press is an exercise of the upper body. For bodybuilding purposes, it is used to stimulate the pectorals, deltoids, and triceps. While on his or her back, the person performing the bench press lowers a weight to the level of the chest, then pushes it back up until the arm is straight...
. The International Powerlifting federation does not, however, allow the use of bar with different dimensions than 29 mm grip section diameter and 2.2 m overall length.
Women's bar
A women's Olympic bar is similar to the men's bar, but is shorter - 2.05 m (6.73 ft) - and lighter - 15 kg ( 33.07 lbs) - with a smaller grip section diameter (25 mm). Also in contrast to the men's bar, the women's bar does not sport a center knurl.Plates
Plating used in Olympic lifting, which are often termed "bumper" plates, need to be able to be safely dropped from above head height and as such are coated in solid rubber. General strength/hypertrophy training plates are made from cast iron and are considerably cheaper.| Colour | Weight (kg) | Weight (lbs) |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | 25 kilograms (55.12 lb) | |
| 20 | 20 kilograms (44.09 lb) | |
| 15 | 15 kilograms (33.07 lb) | |
| 10 | 10 kilograms (22.05 lb) | |
| 5 | 5 kilograms (11.02 lb) | |
| 2.5 | 2.5 kilograms (5.51 lb) | |
| 2 | 2 kilograms (4.41 lb) | |
| 1.5 | 1.5 kilograms (3.31 lb) | |
| 1 | 1 kilograms (2.2 lb) | |
| 0.5 | 0.5 kilograms (1.1 lb) |
Additionally, different plates are used outside of IWF sanctioned competition, most prominently in powerlifting
Powerlifting
Powerlifting is a strength sport. It resembles the sport of Olympic weightlifting, as both disciplines involve lifting weights in three attempts. Powerlifting evolved from a sport known as 'odd lifts' which followed the same three attempt format but used a wide variety of events akin to Strongman...
. These include:
| Colour | Weight (kg) | Weight (lbs) |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | 50 kilograms (110.23 lb) | |
| 45 | 45 kilograms (99.21 lb) |
45 kg plates are fairly rare, typically only used in some powerlifting federations, including the IPA, WDFPF and their affiliates.
Plates used in training need not conform to IWF or powerlifting specifications, and can be of any color.
All Olympic plates of 10 kg or more are 450 mm in diameter. 450 mm versions also exist of the lighter 5 kg and 2.5 kg plates to accommodate the proper starting position for weaker athletes. These can be aluminum or plastic and may have rubber edges.
Collars
Standard collars can be of any material, usually metal, and they can weigh up to 2.5 kg each for both men and women.A bar with a pair of collars, the plates not counted, can weigh as much as 25 kg for men and 20 kg for women depending on the collars.
"Standard" barbell
Apart from olympic barbells, there is no standard length or weight -- although for computing total plate/bar weight, the "standard" bar is 7 feet (2.1 m) long and weighs approx. 22 lb (10 kg). As opposed to a 2 inches (51 mm) thick olympic barbell, a standard barbell is approx. 1 inches (25 mm) thick all the way along, except for wider rings delimiting the end sections. It is a single solid piece of metal without rotating parts. EZ Curl bars are shorter and weigh less -- estimate weight of bar at approx. 3 kgs./ft.EZ curl bar
The EZ curl bar is a variant of the barbell that is often used for biceps curlBiceps curl
The biceps curl is any of a number of weight training exercises that target the biceps brachii muscle in order to develop one or more of the following attributes:*size*definition*strength*endurance*power...
s, upright row
Upright row
The upright row is a weight training exercise performed by holding a barbell with the overhand grip and lifting it straight up to the collarbone. This is a compound exercise that involves the trapezius, the deltoids and the biceps. The narrower the grip the more the trapezius muscles are exercised,...
s, and lying triceps extensions
Lying triceps extensions
Lying triceps extensions, also known as skull crushers and French extensions, are a strength exercise used in many different forms of weight lifting. Lying triceps extensions are one of the most stimulating exercises to the entire triceps muscle group in the upper arm. It works the triceps from...
. The curved profile of the bar in the grip region allows the user's wrists and forearms to take a more neutral, less supinated position. This reduces the risk of repetitive stress injury in these exercises. However, when performing the biceps curl, using an EZ curl bar prevents full contraction of the biceps-which can only occur with the wrist fully supinated-and thus may prove a less effective exercise.
Fixed barbell
Primarily found in gyms, these are bars with weights already attached and welded to the bar, and in some cases, a covering of plastic/rubber around the plates. These allow for speedy transitions between various weights if one is doing multiple weights in quick succession. Additionally, fixed barbells are great for beginning lifters who often lack the upper body strength to pick up an empty olympic bar, as the total weight of fixed barbells can be far less than even a 5' long, 2" thick bar.Thick-handled barbell
These specialty items are designed to challenge the grip. They're used in strongman competitions for the deadlift and overhead presses, such as Apollon's Axle.Triceps bar
Similar in function to an EZ curl bar, the triceps bar consists of two parallel handles mounted in a cage. It is used to perform triceps extensionsLying triceps extensions
Lying triceps extensions, also known as skull crushers and French extensions, are a strength exercise used in many different forms of weight lifting. Lying triceps extensions are one of the most stimulating exercises to the entire triceps muscle group in the upper arm. It works the triceps from...
and hammer curls.
Trap bar
A diamond shaped bar in the middle of which the user stands and grasps the bar, via handles, with a neutral grip. The use of trap bars places the center of gravity closer to the lifter. Trap bars are used primarily for performing deadlifts and shrugs.See also
- DumbbellDumbbellThe dumbbell, a type of free weight, is a piece of equipment used in weight training. It can be used individually or in pairs .-History:...
- KettlebellKettlebellThe kettlebell or girya is a cast-iron weight used to perform ballistic exercises that combine cardiovascular, strength and flexibility training.Sizes may range from to...
- Bulgarian BagBulgarian BagThe Bulgarian Bag , also known as the Bulgarian Training Bag , is a crescent-shaped exercise equipment used in strength training, plyometric weight training, cardiovascular training, and general physical fitness...
- Trap barTrap barThe trap bar is an implement used in weight training. It is an assemblage of bars welded into a shape which lies flat in a plane, consisting of:...
- Weight lifting belt