What Is The Difference Between A Straight Bar And A Z Bar?

What Is The Difference Between A Straight Bar And A Z Bar?

The main differences between a straight bar and a curve, or "Z", are Find in your weight, shape and the position of the hands that you use when holding them for different exercises. These are two of the most common pieces of gym equipment you will find in the resistance training section. These bars can sometimes be used alternately, which is beneficial if the particular bar you want to use is not available; however, there are some things you should consider when using the bars as a substitute between them.

Weight

Each bar weighs differently. This is important to determine how much weight you are really lifting so that you calculate how much you need to add to the bars to have an effective workout. A straight bar commonly weighs 45 pounds, while a curve weighs 25 pounds. The difference in size is mainly because the Z-bar is smaller in length than the straight.

Form

As the name implies, the straight bar, also called simply bar, is cylindrical and straight. On each bank there are two attached rods that are also cylindrical and straight. This is the area of ​​the bar where the weight plates are placed to increase the resistance. The curved bar is smaller and has a "W" shape. On each bank there are straight rods where the weight discs are placed to increase the resistance.

Hand position

The reason for the difference in both bars is reduced to how the hands are placed when grasping them. Because the bar has no folds, you can assume any type of grip. The angle of your wrists with a common bar is straight; however, your wrists rotate slightly when you use a curved bar, so they have a small angle. A curved bar allows you to grab it with a "natural" inverted grip with your wrists in slight supination. You can also use the inverted grip with your wrists in light pronation inwards.

Considerations

The curved bar is commonly used for exercises that work smaller muscle groups, such as biceps and triceps. These muscles usually require less weight than exercises that use the straight bar as the chest and legs. Because the curved bar already has less weight, it is possible to add 25 to 45 pounds when performing exercises that focus on smaller muscles. Also note that the curved bar has a more natural grip position for exercises that require bending the elbows. The straight bar increases the torque on your wrists because you must maintain the position of your wrists when they naturally want to turn outwards or inwards, depending on the exercise.This can lead to pain or injury to the wrists if you are not used to using a straight bar or you have little force on the wrists.

Video Tutorial: EZ Curl Bar vs. Straight Bar | Which Builds Bigger Biceps?.

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