Power rings
 

Can't find anything online very useful detailing the purpose of the "power rings" on barbells and if they signify or dictate anything in competition or training.

Thanks.

They mark the maximum grip width for benching in competition. You must have at least one finger covering them.

LtL

Good to know. Do they vary between barbells, or are they all the same? I swear they were farther out on bars at my old gym than at the new one.

81cm is far apart they are. I believe they where originally meant as a guide for hand placement in the oly lifts.

My gym has some cheap horrible bars and the rings vary on them quite a lot. I messed my bench session up a few weeks ago when I didn't realise I was far wider than my normal grip. Silly mistake :march:

I have 2 quality barbells at home...a 1500 pound rated with a thicker handle and a 1000 pound rated. They are the same, but I have noticed when I train away from home some of the cheaper bars don't seem to have the same spacing.

Doesn't surprise me. Every plate I own has a different diameter.

very useful info thanks guys!

so all this considered, a grip with the pointer finger on the rings is the widest legal grip?

Yep.

awesome, thanks again.