do the rings on the olympic bar mean anyting?

[maassive]

Hey guys,

just wondering if the rings/groves on an olympic bar are significant in powerbuilding rules for anything, or are they just there as a convenience factor.

[drizzt]

From my understanding, these marks indicate a certain distance between each other, and you must have at least part of your forefinger on each of them (i.e. the widest legal grip), but can go closer than that if you like.

Wider grip shortens the ROM, and I believe is useful for chest development (again, as I understand it).

Close grip obviously hits the tris more, but there is an increase in ROM so is not really desirable for competition (thinking of a really narrow-grip).

If you're competing, best thing would be to find some sort of middle ground where you get the best out of your musculature, and hopefully not have to press it as far.

If you're not competing, then use those markers to find (and mark) a hand spacing that feels comfortable for you.

edit - from the IPF Rulebook:

The spacing of the hands shall not exceed 81 cm measured between the forefingers (both forefingers must be within the 81 cm marks and the whole of the forefingers must be in contact with the 81 cm marks if maximum grip is used). The use of the reverse grip is forbidden.

[maassive]

From my understanding, these marks indicate a certain distance between each other, and you must have at least part of your forefinger on each of them (i.e. the widest legal grip), but can go closer than that if you like.

Wider grip shortens the ROM, and I believe is useful for chest development (again, as I understand it).

Close grip obviously hits the tris more, but there is an increase in ROM so is not really desirable for competition.

Basically, if you're not competing, then use those markers to find (and mark) a hand spacing that feels comfortable for you.

edit - from the IPF Rulebook:

The spacing of the hands shall not exceed 81 cm measured between the forefingers (both forefingers must be within the 81 cm marks and the whole of the forefingers must be in contact with the 81 cm marks if maximum grip is used). The use of the reverse grip is forbidden.

Awesome. Thanks mate!

[tomsammce]

hahaha in that PL comp i did i got 160 on bench easy as then my 2nd attempt was 180 haha i gripped one ring on the right side and on the left i gripped one closer... (there is so many fucken rings) and ya know your all amped as to just SFW! almost fucked the left shoulder felt like some huge weight on one side... vikingpower who was head spotter will laugh lol... i managed to hold in da rage. lol

[steak]

hahaha in that PL comp i did i got 160 on bench easy as then my 2nd attempt was 180 haha i gripped one ring on the right side and on the left i gripped one closer... (there is so many fucken rings) and ya know your all amped as to just SFW! almost fucked the left shoulder felt like some huge weight on one side... vikingpower who was head spotter will laugh lol... i managed to hold in da rage. lol

your head turned purple

[Pseudonym]

do the rings on the olympic bar mean anyting?

They tell you how old it is. :nod:

Seriously though, do "proper" bars have more rings than the standard gym bar?

[tomsammce]

do the rings on the olympic bar mean anyting?

They tell you how old it is. :nod:

Seriously though, do "proper" bars have more rings than the standard gym bar?

yes i think so, some bars at my gym have no rings on them which makes it tricky to get an even grip sometimes

[Oblix]

a

[tinytraps]

Even the rings on an olympic bar are usually 81 cm apart. Any decent powerbar will have correct ring placements however to be sure always measure up. At work we have 6 diff bars with 6 diff ring placements only one of them has correctly spaced rings. My advice if you are competing is to make sure you know your placement so you dont get a shock on comp day. For general powerbuilding I think a grip that has your pinkys 81cm apart (aka pinkys on the rings) is a good medium.

[Cameron_R]

do the rings on the olympic bar mean anyting?

They tell you how old it is. :nod:

made me laugh

[olympia]

Dumb question im sure but how do the shorter guys with stumpy arms go against guys with longer arms in regard to the lifts?

[drizzt]

Dumb question im sure but how do the shorter guys with stumpy arms go against guys with longer arms in regard to the lifts?

Not a dumb question, it makes for a shorter ROM with the small arms.

One Japanese guy (I can't remember the name) has what appears to be a 1-2inch ROM, crazy! One of the PLs may know who I'm talking about, big arch + t-rex arms = moving it a very short distance for a legal lift :nod:

Here's an example, although I don't think it's the guy I'm thinking of:

[Best Bench]

Dumb question im sure but how do the shorter guys with stumpy arms go against guys with longer arms in regard to the lifts?

Not a dumb question, it makes for a shorter ROM with the small arms.

One Japanese guy (I can't remember the name) has what appears to be a 1-2inch ROM, crazy! One of the PLs may know who I'm talking about, big arch + t-rex arms = moving it a very short distance for a legal lift :nod:

Here's an example, although I don't think it's the guy I'm thinking of:

Yuji Watanabe springs to mind as one of the guys with a really short ROM. And Midote has some seriously short arms.

I have seen a video of him where the ROM looked even shorter. Shorts arms not so good for deadlifts though.

[drizzt]

^Ah yeah, Midote was who I was thinking of :nod: Cheers, crazy vids!