Olympic Bumper Plates Explained

Personal Training, Bumper Plates

Olympic Plates Explained

It is no accident that the Olympic bumper plates used in competition are different colors. This isn’t just so they look nice, these colors serve a useful purpose. The colors allow someone to quickly and easily visually identify the amount of weight loaded on the bar.

Who Sets the Standards

Who sets the standards for these colors? The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) sets the specifications and rules for the equipment used in all Olympic weightlifting competitions. The International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) requires a similar color code.

How accurate are these weights? The plates used in competition are expensive because they are high quality and exacting calibration. If you are going to set a world record the weight plates better be accurate. It’s not uncommon for a competition bumper plate to be +/- 15 grams of the claimed weight. In addition to the colors required, the IWF specifies the competition Olympic plates 10 kilograms and heavier must be 450 mm (18 inches) in diameter.

How do you calculate the weight of a fully loaded bar?

When calculating the fully loaded weight of a bar, don’t forget that an Olympic bar typically weighs 20 Kg (15 kg for women) and the collars (which ensure the plates don’t come off and are required in competition) weigh 2.5 kg each.

What about pounds?

    The IWF and IPF require the use of plates in kilogram denominations. But you can buy Olympic plates in pounds as well. For those the color coding is typically as follows:
  • Red = 55 Lbs
  • Blue = 45 lbs
  • Yellow = 35 lbs
  • Green = 25 lbs
  • White = 10 lbs
  • Blue = 5 lbs
  • Green = 2.5 lbs
  • White = 1.25 lb

Personal Trainer Palm Beach

Get the shirt at gottado.threadless.com

 

The take-away.
Kilograms or Pounds it doesn't matter unless you are an Olympic lifter. Performing Olympic lifts is a great way to chnage your routine. So try to incorporate the Olympic lifts in your next training program.

… Just do something. The results will Come!!!!

Call Steve, In-Training Sports | 561-281-8330
In Training Sports
www.intrainingsports.com
Personal Trainer, servicing West Palm Beach, Palm Beach, Wellington and Jupiter Florida
3131 Village Blvd, #305
West Palm Beach, FL 33409