Thick bar

[cyclistrob]

I used a 2" thick bar today and I gotta say that I liked it a lot better than a traditional bar. Anybody else ever used a thick bar, if so did you like it? Besides developing better grip strength what other advantages can come from using a thick bar? Any disadvantages? Also, I feel that my wrist was placed in a different position, kinda felt more solid. Could a thick bar improve wrist strength as well?

[westside24]

i never knew there was thicker bars opposed to traditional, but if ya think about it, when you flex your wrists, with palms closed, then keep them flexed and open your hands, your forearms get bigger (around your wrists and hand meat anyways), which would, i imagine develop forearms really well, kind of goes with bicep theory, wrist inwards vs. outwards for curls and such. I dont see how this would be bad, other than it would focus "maybe" more on the forearms instead of what the movement is designed to do. not saying it wont still work the primary muscle/muscles intended for the exercise. thats just my critical thought tho... i really dont know... you prolly already analyzed it as much as I did, and told yourself them same, lol. so this is more of a statement than anything else.

hope ya find your answer homie.

[Dan C]

Thick bars are an excellent addition to any training program! The only draw back is that your grip will be the limiting factor in most exercises, which is fine if you're trying to increase your grip strength, but if you're trying to set a deadlift PR or increase your pull up numbers, using a thick bar is not the way to do it.

However, Richard Sorin (first man to ever close the COC #3 gripper) told me that he eventually surpassed his best deadlift using a 2" bar after a year's worth of training or so.

And Bob Whelan has 2" handles that he uses for super setting with his clients. He'll have you do a set of rows to failure with the 2" handles, then quickly remove them and have you continue on with the regular handles.

There are many ways to incorporate thick bar training into your routine.

[cyclistrob]

I've decided to use it all the time. Why can't you increase your pull up numbers while using a thick bar? Is it bad to do presses with a thick bar? Can I use a bar thicker than 2"? If so how can I know when it's time to get a thicker bar?

[Dan C]

The thicker the bar the harder it is to grip. You can't increase your pull up numbers if you can't hold onto the bar long enough to do your pulls.

I had both a 2" and a 3" bar made. The 3" I only use for curls and wrist curls, the 2" I do deadlifts and clean & presses with. You can use a thick bar for whatever you want to use it for but first ask yourself why.

Why are you using it for that particular exercise?

[westside24]

so in otherwords... you prolly could beat your existing pull-up record, after dropping the weight (more than likely you'll have to) and working your way back up???