Axle and Thick Bars
A thick bar is any bar or handle much thicker than a standard barbell. The best-known is the axle, a bar about 2 inches (50 mm) thick, used for deadlifts, holds and overhead lifts in grip sport and strongman. A thick bar stops the hand from closing around it, so the fingers and thumb cannot lock over each other and the grip, rather than the back or legs, usually limits the lift. It is one of the basic support grip tools.
Key facts
- Axle: about 2 in (50 mm), non-revolving in its classic form
- IronMind's Apollon's Axle: 2 in between the collars, 7 ft, about 33 lb (15 kg), introduced 1994
- Named after the strongman Apollon (Louis Uni) and his train-wheel axle
- Other common thick-handle sizes: about 60 mm (2-3/8 in) and up
- Clamp-on rubber grips such as Fat Gripz make any bar thick
Origins
The axle takes its name from Apollon the Mighty, the stage name of the French strongman Louis Uni. His best-known implement was a pair of railway wheels on a 2-inch axle, weighing about 166 kg. He was known for cleaning and pressing it, and challenged other strongmen of his day to do the same. The Apollon's axle is still lifted in strongman contests, and the name has passed to plain 2-inch bars loaded with plates.
IronMind Apollon's Axle
IronMind introduced its Apollon's Axle in 1994. It is a non-revolving bar of polished steel, 2 inches thick between the collars and 7 feet long, weighing about 33 lb (15 kg). The 17-inch loading sleeves take Olympic plates. Because the bar does not revolve, the plates turn with the bar, which makes cleans and presses harder than on a revolving barbell.
Other bars and thick handles
| Maker | Product | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| IronMind | Apollon's Axle | 2 in, 7 ft | Non-revolving, about 33 lb |
| Fat Bastard Barbell Co. | Andrew's Axle | 2-3/8 in, 7 ft | Non-revolving, 37.5 lb; named for Andrew Durniat |
| Fat Bastard Barbell Co. | Saxon bars | 2.5 × 5 in, and 2 in | 7 ft and 6 ft lengths |
| Gods of Grip | Olympic Strongman Axle Bar | 50 or 60 mm | 6 or 7 ft |
| Arm Assassin Strength Shop | Inch/Axle Wrench – Finger Tip | 60 mm (inch) and 51 mm (axle) | Short handle for one-hand work |
Sizes in grip sport cluster around two traditions. Axle size is about 2 inches (50 to 51 mm). Inch size is about 60 mm (2-3/8 inches), named after the thick handle of the Thomas Inch dumbbell. That is also the diameter of the Rolling Thunder. A Saxon bar is not round: it is a flat bar, wide from front to back, that is pinched as much as gripped.
Modern strongman axles are often revolving, and contests specify the bar they use; Armlifting USA, for example, uses a Rogue axle. A lifter training for an event should train on the same bar.
A few millimetres of diameter changes a thick bar lift a great deal. Measure a bar with calipers rather than trusting the label, and record the bar used with every result.
Thick-grip attachments
Rubber sleeves that clamp around an ordinary bar or dumbbell handle are a cheap way to train a thick grip without a dedicated bar. The best-known are Fat Gripz, sold in three sizes: Fat Gripz One (1.75 in, 4.5 cm), Fat Gripz Pro (2.25 in, 5.7 cm) and Fat Gripz Extreme (2.75 in, 7 cm). A rubber sleeve does not feel the same as a solid steel bar of the same diameter, so results on the two are not comparable. They are a training aid, not a competition implement.
Training
Thick bar work usually means deadlifts, holds for time, and carries, done for low reps or short holds at loads well below the lifter's barbell deadlift. Many lifters rotate several diameters and handles across weeks. British lifter Steve Gardener, for example, described rotating 50 mm thick bar deadlifts, an adjustable thick handle and the Rolling Thunder, training each lift about once every three weeks. For programming, see Support Grip: How to Train It and Grip Endurance.
See also
- Support Grip: How to Train It
- Rolling Handles: Types and Brands
- IronMind Rolling Thunder
- Fat Gripz
- Evaluating Grip Equipment
- A–Z of grip tools
Heavy thick bar pulls can tear calluses and strain the fingers. Build up gradually and see safety.
Sources
- IronMind company timeline and Apollon's Axle catalogue entry: https://ironmind.com/main/ironmind-enterprises-highlights-timeline
- BarBend, Apollon's Axle: https://barbend.com/news/strongman-apollons-axle/
- Fat Bastard Barbell Co., Andrew's Axle: http://www.fatbastardbarbellco.com/AndrewsAxle.html
- Arm Assassin Strength Shop: https://www.armassassinstrengthshop.com
- Fat Gripz: https://www.fatgripz.com