How to Put Weights On a Barbell

How to Put Weights on a Barbell

When you are placing weights on the barbell or removing plates, there are a few key points that make it easier.

Choose the Right Plates

When setting up the barbell, first you need to choose the right plates. If you are using a power cage or squat rack, you are most likely using a 7-foot 20kg Olympic barbell. These are Olympic-sized barbells that can handle weights with a 2-inch diameter. If you are using a smaller, traditional-sized barbell, you will need 1-inch plates.

In the Correct Order

Put the bench on the rack and slide the heaviest weights on first. You need to do this to ensure that the weights are properly distributed and not overwhelming the bench. For example, if you place two 10kg plates on one end of the barbell, but one of the plates is larger than the other, go ahead and put the larger plate in there. However, when you are using a rack to load the barbell, the type of weight plates you use, such as bumper plates or cast iron plates, is not that important. Still, we recommend that you always use the same weight plates when loading the barbell. After that, you’ll also need to use a set of weight bar rings to hold the weight plates in place.

Place your hands on the sides of the home plate, not the top or bottom

This is the source of most people’s annoyance. When you try to move the weight from the top or bottom, the home plate tilts and the edge of the inside of the weight catches on the bar and prevents everything from moving smoothly and easily. So place your hands on the sides of the weight. Maybe a little lower than the center of the plate.

Keep the plates on or off the bench as close as possible

You tend to have the same trouble of getting the edge of the home plate caught on the bar when you try to press the weight on or off the bar. Instead, position yourself in a position where you can pull the bar plate towards you. This also makes it easier to grab the bar plate when it comes off the end of the bar.

Lift slightly and pull quickly

Since you’ve already placed your hands on the sides of the home plate and pulled it towards you as described earlier, this should be a piece of cake. Just give it a quick, hard pull. Kind of like a magician’s tablecloth trick. If you do this, quick things will happen more easily. Also, if you lift the plates slightly as you pull back, you won’t have to deal with the friction between the plates and the floor.

Spend More Time Lifting, Less Time Cleaning

That’s it. Now you’re ready to save some time and frustration in the weight room. There’s nothing magical here, but if you take a little time to think about how you’re going to go about moving the plates, you can get it done faster. It’ll be a lot less annoying for all of us, and I won’t feel the need to walk up and say “Let me do it!” Happy training.

Construction Video for How to Load a Barbell

How to Load a Barbell for a Deadlift

There are a few other things to consider when choosing the right plates for deadlifts.

• You should always use cushioned plates

All different types of cushioned plates have a rubber construction, which means they reduce noise when dropped. However, before you start deadlifting, you need to make sure of a few things:

• The plates should be in the correct order

When lifting weights, you need to make sure that the plates are the same size.
Most cushioned plates follow the IWF standard of 45 cm in diameter. However, some cushioned plates are not and may have different diameters. If you use different sized plates when lifting weights, you may have some problems. This is because when you lower the barbell, the smaller sized plates will not touch the ground. This puts more pressure on the largest sized plates, which will bear more weight when dropped or placed on the ground. As a result, you may damage the plates or even break them.

• You use the heaviest plates possible

For example, instead of using 4 5kg plates (2 per side), use two 10kg plates on each side.
The heavier the weight, the thicker the plate. Also, the thicker the plate, the higher its surface. This means that the force on the plate is less concentrated. This also means that lighter, thinner plates won’t support heavier weights as well.

Please remember, always use rings to hold the barbell in place.

How to Load a Barbell on the Floor

Loading a barbell on the floor can be complicated, especially if you’ve never done it before.

If you’re in a gym and there’s no one around, here are a few things you can do to make things easier:

1. With the barbell on the floor, lift one side and pull up the first weight plate. Always put the heaviest and largest weight on the barbell first. It’s important that you use the bumper plates for any lifts you start from the floor
2. Then slide the second weight plate to the other side in the same manner
3. Once you’ve loaded the first two weight plates, you can loosen up one side as well as one of the three-grip weight plates. This will help tilt the barbell upward so that you can slide the rest of the weight plates
4. Whenever you add or remove weight plates, always pull the weight towards you. This will definitely make everything go much smoother
5. Once your barbell is loaded, secure your plates with the barbell rings.

Loading a barbell on the floor (Video Construction)

If you have recently started adding deadlifts to your training and want to learn more, please refer to different types of deadlifts here. If you have any questions about any of our weight plates or barbell bars, please send us a message and we will be happy to help you. Besides, you can find us on youtube @China Manta Fitness