Atomic Athletic Bomb Proof Bulletin: Rotating Thick Bar or Pipe

Here is a great question. Just last night I had a customer ask why he should get a rotating thick bar, instead of a piece of pipe. A thick piece of pipe that will actually fit your Olympic plates is great, because it is cheap. Of course, you have to watch dumping it, because it will bend. Some collars will also crush it, but if you don't have much money, go to the hardware store and get one. After you have your piece of pipe, start saving up for an actual bar.

http://www.atomicathletic.com/store/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=Y02988

Deadlifts with a Bull Moose Thick Bar

Ultimately, you will want to do clean grip high pulls and power cleans with your thick bar. Power cleans with a non-rotating bar are a totally different kind of lift. They can be fun and useful, but watch yourself. It is a completely different skill set that doesn't really transfer to your Olympic lifts. I have also seen a lot of sprained wrists from people who tried to do it using the same technique as a rotating thick bar. Additionally, you can't lift as much weight with the non-rotating bar. You are already lifting less weight, because the thick grip is harder to grab. So you need to decide on the goal behind your thick bar training.

If you don't already have some lighter bumper plates, pick up some 15 or 25 pounders. Of course, if you are going to step up to the next level, then you will be wanting to do snatch based exercises, like overhead squats, power snatches and snatch pulls. For that, you will really need that rotating bar. However, not everyone is up to that challenge.

Here is the best deal on a great quality Olympic rotating thick bar.

http://www.atomicathletic.com/store/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=Y02988