Comments on: Grooves on Olympic Barbell Sleeves

By: David Kiesling

David Kiesling — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 12:07:44 +0000

In reply to Robert Polanski.

Ok, thanks for the news! I’m emailing you to get more info.

By: Robert Polanski

Robert Polanski — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 07:50:10 +0000

From Eleiko Service I was told, that all their barbells also have grooved sleeves now. :(

By: John

John — Thu, 02 Aug 2018 01:07:23 +0000

In reply to John B.

I don’t generally collar my weights, except when deadlifting. Even with the grooves, touching the floor between reps causes the weights to “walk” out a bit. Not so they’d fall off, but they get sloppy and distracting.

For squats and overhead presses, I don’t collar and have never had a problem. For bench press, I would never collar the weights for the reason you mentioned. Even though I moved to benching in a rack, it feels safer not to collar (I lift alone).

The real problem for me with grooved sleeves is the noise from adding/removing weights, which is a problem in my home gym at night.

By: David Kiesling

David Kiesling — Wed, 01 Aug 2018 20:05:07 +0000

In reply to John B.

I’m a smooth sleeve guy, mainly for the lack of noise. I always use collars, without which the plates shift easily, but then maybe that wouldn’t happen if I used a bar with grooved sleeves! I just happen to be using the Troy GOB-1800 now.

By: John B

John B — Wed, 01 Aug 2018 17:13:54 +0000

I read the SS thread, but I won’t lie, I skipped the physics debate. I have a CAP barbell with grooves, and a SSB that is smooth. I don’t know anything about the cost to manufacture and all that; I consider the grooves to be a safety feature, because on any reasonably level rep, you don’t need collars (due to more friction than a smooth sleeve not less), but if you had to dump the plates so as not to die on a failed rep on a bench press or squat, you can tip up 1 end and they slide right off (not a problem for me, I lift in a rack). but the SSB, with smooth sleeves, requires collars on every rep.

downsides to the grooves: some find the noise of loading/unloading annoying, and if you’re not careful, you’ll occasionally get steel shavings splinters in the skin of your fingers (hurts pretty bad).

By: David Kiesling

David Kiesling — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 23:35:16 +0000

In reply to John.

Thanks, and I also checked with Rogue today – They confirmed that they are making all the bars with grooved sleeves. So I need to update the article!

By: John

John — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 23:30:17 +0000

In reply to John.

Sorry, see my reply above, out of sequence.

By: John

John — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 23:29:01 +0000

This thread on the Starting Strength board is about grooves sleeves, and quotes Rogue CS. I realize this is third hand info, but if true it does indicate Rogue is defaulting to grooved sleeves for newer bars. It’s a good thread, but I would ignore the discussion of coefficients of friction and centrifugal force, unless you’re into that sort of thing.

https://startingstrength.com/resources/forum/mark-rippetoe-q-and-a/82242-rings-knurling-sleeves-barbell-2.html#post1695147

By: David Kiesling

David Kiesling — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 15:48:54 +0000

In reply to John.

John, could you share a link where it’s mentioned that newer Rogue bars have grooved sleeves? Sometimes it’s not clear when someone is talking about an older bar they have that they assume is the same as the newest version.

By: John

John — Sun, 29 Jul 2018 22:33:03 +0000

I believe that most Rogue bars now have grooved sleeves, according to threads on other boards. Rogue doesn’t mention grooved vs smooth sleeves on their site, that I can find.