BARBELLS
As the name suggests, barbells are metal bars with weights loaded on both ends. Some come pre-loaded, and others can be adjusted to suit your weight preferences. Exercising with barbells engages multiple joints and muscles, which is why this gym equipment is utilized for various workouts.
Tonic Performance is a certified Precor dealer that offers a variety of barbells to help you achieve your fitness goals. Our gym consultants will guide you through the process of selecting one, considering your budget as well!
How to Choose the Right Barbells
Tonic Performance has a variety of barbells to suit your needs and training style. From knurl type, rotation pattern, needle bearing sleeve length to the weight it can hold, we will help select the most appropriate bar for you!
What to Consider While Purchasing Barbells:
- Knurling
- Bar Weight
- Spin
- Whip
- Yield
- Sleeve Length
Benefits of Barbells
Barbells are best known for helping you burn calories and build muscle mass. Lifting weights with barbells activates your entire body, therefore it speeds up your metabolism and boosts your overall athletic performance.
Exercising with barbells is a type of resistance training that promotes heart health and reduces the risks of diabetes. These exercises also strengthen your stabilizer muscles, thus resulting in improved posture and minimized pain and risk of injury.
Barbells are adaptable to your needs; you can start with smaller weights and progress by adding more to help build and strengthen your full-body muscles.
Tonic Performance offers a range of barbells, varying in weight. From practice barbells weighing 15lbs to standard Olympic barbells weighing 45lbs, we have the right bar for you.
There are several exercises that can be executed with a barbell, but the most popular and effective would be:
- Bench Press
- Bent-Over Row
- Deadlift
- Squat
- Overhead Press
- Lunge
- Power Clean and Press
The knurling on a bar is present to increase friction and improve your grip on the bar.
It is important to consider the type of workout you’ll be doing in order to decide which barbell is best for you. If you’re focusing on Powerlifting, we recommend the TP Powerlifting bar, 1500lbs tested or the TP Olympic Chrome Bar, 1200lbs tested. If you’re focusing on more dynamic Olympic lifting, we recommend the TPWOD Elite Bearing Barbell or the TP Cherry Cross-training barbell.
This question has sparked debate for a long time. Although it’s difficult to pinpoint what time of day is best to train with barbells, what’s most important is to pick a time that will allow you to be most consistent. If you find yourself being the most motivated and energized in the morning, then it could be argued that the training in the morning is the best time. If your schedule only permits you to train in the evening, then this could be arguably the best time to train. All that said, the best time to train is when your schedule permits and allows you to be most consistent.
Adding resistance training to your workout routine can certainly help promote weight loss.
This is an ongoing debate that must take many factors into consideration. In a nutshell, using a barbell will allow you to lift a heavier, more stable load. Dumbbells on the other hand, allow you to freely move your hands independently and rotate your wrists at any point during the movement. ROM and allowing each side of the body to push the same weight without compensation is equally important to building strength. When it’s all said and done, we still maintain the importance of using both barbells and dumbbells for chest workouts.
The sleeves on Olympic barbells are designed to spin or rotate in order to protect the wrists, forearms and elbows, reducing the torque transferred from the weighted plates during explosive, dynamic movements.
The amount of weight that a barbell can hold will vary from one type of barbell to another. Some are tested up to 700lbs, others up to 1500lbs. It’s very important to verify the bar specifications to know the maximum threshold of the bar you’re looking to purchase. You will also want to take into consideration the current load you’re able to lift and make your purchase accordingly.
It’s recommended to incorporate barbell workouts a minimum of 2 days per week to experience the benefits of resistance training. We encourage you to meet with a certified personal trainer to establish a workout plan tailored to your desired goals.