Thickness of bar affecting OHP & Military Press?

[Brampton_Boy]

While I know the thickness of the bar affects grip strength, and thus, exercises like deadlifts etc, has anyone experienced a difference when it comes to "pressing" movements?

There are several conventional oly bars in my gym, but one is slightly thinner and longer than the rest. Whenever I use this bar, my lifts on bench and shoulders go up by a solid 20+ lbs.

Thoughts?

 

[Cap'n]

While I haven't had a leap of 20 lbs when using the different bars at my gym, I have noticed that the cheaply made, slightly thicker bars they have feel WAY different than the "normal", slightly thinner bars.

Not really in a difference of weight used, but more in how awkward the bar is.

Perhaps the thinner bar you are using weighs less?

 

[Brampton_Boy]

To my knowledge, they all weigh ~45lbs. I tried to go back to the the thicker bar the other day, and my strict overhead press dropped from 195 for 3 to 175 for 4 (couldn't even get 185 up).

 

[Diomedes]

When I bench with a thick bar my triceps and back seem to receive more "attention", and with a thinner bar its the chest. Proper form for both of course.

 

[Diomedes]

Honestly with OHP I haven't noticed a difference.

 

[graedy]

All I know from personal experience is that for dips thicker handles are way better.

 

[Diomedes]

All I know from personal experience is that for dips thicker handles are way better.

Actually now that you mention it, a few years ago doing dips after a football practice with thin handles I semi-injured my wrist and had to take a few days off. My hand slipped off and my wrist jerked sideways/outward, didn't feel too good.

 

[CZMuayThai11]

for me, on everything, thinner bars = better numbers. i hate the bars at the gym im at right now because theyre thick actual oly bars (the ones that spin). lol, i still have a favorite barbell back at my old gym that i trained with for four years, i always said wed be together forever.

 

[enright3060]

This is interesting. I noticed the same thing. My numbers are better with the thinner barbells. I always thought it had something to do with my small hands.

 

[Eggs of Satan**]

thinner bar on pressing movements is harder for me then a thicker one.

I suggest weighing the bars.

 

[Firebrace]

Oddly enough I came across a relevant study last night during my nerdy musings regarding this topic, which can be found here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/e...ez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

The study involved measuring the 1 RM change that occurred in athletes using different thickness bars for 6 different lifts. The bar thickness varied from traditional olympic style, 2 inch, and 3 inch. The exercises studied were deadlift, bent-over row, upright row, bench press, seated shoulder press, and arm curl.

You can read the link for yourself but the overall conclusion seems to be that for the OHP and BP that no difference occurs in one's 1 RM through varying bar thicknesses. The most notable changes occurred in those where grip was most important, namely the deadlift, where a decrease of up to 55% of one's 1 RM was observed when using the 3 inch bar.

 

[blakethemus]

I would assume that the thinner bar weighs 20lbs less

 

[oyaji poi]

I recall reading on t-nation a coach had a guy with an injured shoulder bench with a thicker bar, and it helped immensely.

 

[niagareven]

Same for me. I don't know how big of a difference there is, but I can definitely press/jerk more on a barbell than on an axle.

 

[StevenCrowder]

For pull-ups and dips... Thicker bars are definately better.

As for barbells, I tend to prefer them thinner (standard Olympic bar).


Also, look at my crotch! *points to balls*

 

[Keith Wassung]

The diameter of the bar and the "spring" in the bar plays a very significant role in your overhead pressing ability. It is much better to use an olympic type bar--one that has a fair amount of play or spring into it as opposed to a thicker, more rigid power type bar--it makes a lot of difference.

Keith