What's the difference between a Standard and Olympic barbell?

[fixationdarknes]

The barbell I have now is pretty cheap and weighs about 20 lbs. If I ever buy a barbell someday, should I buy a standard or olympic barbell? Btw, this would be used in squatting, benching, deadlifting, and perhaps some cleans and snatches.

[cosmicdebree88]

Definitly go for the olympic. The standard bars bend too easily once you start putting alot of weight on them.

[RickTheDestroyer]

:withstupi

[fixationdarknes]

Alright cool. I might go to a public gym soon though instead of staying at home and lifting, so at the public gym, how do I know which barbell is the olympic one? Do public gyms usually have standard or olympic barbells?

[RickTheDestroyer]

They're usually olympic.
Olympic will usually be a thicker bar, and the ends are heavy, about 2" in diameter, and are on bearings so they can spin freely. They also weigh 45 pounds and are 7 feet long, typically.

Sometimes you'll see racks of standard bars that are already loaded with weight at set amounts. That's usually in the curl-jockey area of the gym.

[Sensei]

Alright cool. I might go to a public gym soon though instead of staying at home and lifting, so at the public gym, how do I know which barbell is the olympic one? Do public gyms usually have standard or olympic barbells?

DenimDemon's description is right on. The small diameter bars that take plates w. small holes (about 1" diameter hole vs. 2" for olympic-sized) are the "standard" ones and don't have revolving sleeves. Most gyms have olympic-sized bars and barbells.

[fixationdarknes]

Okay thanks guys. Very helpful.

[ElPietro]

Yeah, and the fact that the thick ends are on bearings makes a huge difference. Try doing a power clean without those bearings and you'll understand why they are made that way.

[fixationdarknes]

Oh...lol. Maybe that's why I was having trouble doing power cleans with my standard barbell.