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Thread: How much can bar diameter affect difficulty?

  1. #11
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Montreal, Canadia
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    449

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    My gym has the cheapest, shittiest possible 32mm bars with sleeves that don't spin and knurling that makes the bars seem 50 years old. They are fucking shit. I have been to other gyms with nice 28mm bars. The absolute biggest difference is with PCs and DLs obviously, and as Kyle said, if you can squeeze a bar harder you can lift it harder as well. I goddamn hate my gym's bars.

  2. #12
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    St. Louis, MO, USA
    Posts
    134

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    I tried to really focus on stretching my hand around the bar and gripping the bar really tightly today and my presses felt really light. So that might've been my problem. Thanks to all who suggested that!

  3. #13
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
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    636

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    I feel you op, I have small hands as well and dislike the thicker bars, I prefer the small bars. Squats seem to make no difference for me but whenever it's gripped, I lift more with a thinner bar.

  4. #14
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    West Bend, WI
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    10,925

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    starting strength coach development program
    I think it would be like this for most people:

    Squat- really uneffected by a thicker bar. A lot of feds use mastadon or other 8' squat bars that are 32mm+. No one really complains about it.

    Bench/Press- This could be an issue, but most likely there wouldn't be much of a difference based off diameter. A whippy bar could help for bouncing tng's.

    DL- This is where a thinner bar would help the most. If you have smaller hands, this is a lifesaver. Also whippy bars can help here too, especially if you are weak off the floor. I am weak at lockout, so there is no difference between a standard power bar and a 7.5' DL bar for me.

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