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Thread: Which Barbell to Use? | Ray Gillenwater

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    Default Which Barbell to Use? | Ray Gillenwater

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    How many different barbells can there be? A lot. Different sizes, different weights, different features. Starting Strength Coach Ray Gillenwater discusses what you should look for in a barbell.

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    The videos keep getting better, my man!

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    Ray Gillenwater's Avatar
    Ray Gillenwater is offline Administrator, Starting Strength Gyms
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    Thank you! The goal is one video per week at this level of quality or better.

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    Question

    Ray, Would you say a 5"6' and 155 lb "master" could expect a used Rogue Ohio Power Bar found in the local marketplace be the only bar needed if intending to stick to the SS exercises and probably never deadlifting past 2x bodyweight? Thank you.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Fleischman View Post
    Ray, Would you say a 5"6' and 155 lb "master" could expect a used Rogue Ohio Power Bar found in the local marketplace be the only bar needed if intending to stick to the SS exercises and probably never deadlifting past 2x bodyweight? Thank you.
    I think you (and your elbows) will be happier with a bar that has a center knurling. If that's the only bar you have access to, you might want to get into the habit of squatting with a bar-grip shirt (the shirts with sticky patches on the upper back).

    Also, I suggest not setting any barriers in your mind about the upper-limits of your strength progression. We have a guy in his 70s deadlifting 425lbs at SS Dallas. You might surprise yourself if you're consistent in the gym and your programming/form is dialed in. Good luck!

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    The Ohio Power Bar has center knurling; the Ohio Bar doesn’t.

    You may or may not care about the .5mm extra diameter (as compared to Rip’s bar). A more important issue is the small collar width: on some racks, near the bottom of a squat, you’ll have a good chance of hitting the safeties. I do that pretty often.

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    The center knurling really isn't as big of an issue as it's made out to be. No amount of knurling is going to keep a bar in place if it isn't balanced. And the stronger and more muscular you get, the more skilled you become at balancing the bar and the more muscle you have to form a shelf. Point being, don't make a decision solely based on the knurling. It's nice to have, but you'll be able to squat just fine without it.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Shiva Kaul View Post
    The Ohio Power Bar has center knurling; the Ohio Bar doesn’t.
    Thanks for catching this.

    Quote Originally Posted by asm44 View Post
    The center knurling really isn't as big of an issue as it's made out to be.
    The bar slipping further down into the shelf than you want it is a real problem. You want your attention focused on mechanics, not on a slippery barbell that's threatening to move around during a heavy set.

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    Quote Originally Posted by asm44 View Post
    It's nice to have, but you'll be able to squat just fine without it.
    Yes, each little equipment detail is minor, but they add up. At some point, you find yourself low-bar squatting in a CrossFit box, with huge imprecise Hi-Temp bumpers loaded on a smooth noodle bar, barefoot on a rubber mat cratered by kettlebells, tempted to rerack to the cheap stand because you have no spotters...and wondering why no one else is partaking.

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    starting strength coach development program
    Thank you everyone for their input on bars.

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