My gym has octagon shaped weights. This pretty much makes more than 1 rep of deadlifts a pain in the ass, because every time I bring the weight down, it rolls forward or backward a few inches and sometimes only on side rolls while the other stays put.
What Ive been doing is just re-setting between reps, which Ive heard can be be better anyhow because it ensures proper form each rep. But I often have to COMPLETELY move and after a set of 3-5 reps, Ill be at a random 35 degree angle and 9 inches in front of from where i was originally.
[quote]jetztodernie wrote:
My gym has octagon shaped weights. This pretty much makes more than 1 rep of deadlifts a pain in the ass, because every time I bring the weight down, it rolls forward or backward a few inches and sometimes only on side rolls while the other stays put.
What Ive been doing is just re-setting between reps, which Ive heard can be be better anyhow because it ensures proper form each rep. But I often have to COMPLETELY move and after a set of 3-5 reps, Ill be at a random 35 degree angle and 9 inches in front of from where i was originally.
Any possible solutions? Rack pulls?[/quote]
Ask ownership to provide proper weights…
Rack pulls at the lowest setting might help. Our Power rack has square steel legs which hole a round 45 lb plate about 1/2" off the ground.
Personally, I prefer pulling from the floor, but this may be your only option.
[quote]jetztodernie wrote:
My gym has octagon shaped weights. This pretty much makes more than 1 rep of deadlifts a pain in the ass, because every time I bring the weight down, it rolls forward or backward a few inches and sometimes only on side rolls while the other stays put.
What Ive been doing is just re-setting between reps, which Ive heard can be be better anyhow because it ensures proper form each rep. But I often have to COMPLETELY move and after a set of 3-5 reps, Ill be at a random 35 degree angle and 9 inches in front of from where i was originally.
Any possible solutions? Rack pulls?[/quote]
Yep, rack pulls standing on a step or a couple of plates to get normal depth.
its not THAT bad. me and a bunch of other guys who all train at the same Bally’s (which uses hex/oct w/e plates) all DL and it sucks but you do what you gotta do.
I’ll probably try rack pulls next time i go. See if it’s proper height. I dont want to stand on anything, because that’ll throw my form off kilter, I think.
If rack pulls dont work, maybe I can just do a whole lot of singles (8x1 or something).
I usually stand up completely in between reps and re-adjust my stance. But ya, its annoying as hell. Clearly these weights were only put in the gym for bench pressing.
Are you saying it’s a pain in the ass to reset? if so then why does it roll forward or back if you don’t reset? your hand should be on the bar keeping it from moving. Otherwise your resetting which you have to do anyway.
Try doing a rack pull from the lowest setting, and standing on a pair of 45 or 35 lb plates. You’ll have plenty of room for your feet, it won’t feel off balance at all.
I go to the Y and they’ve got some old ass equipment … shit works though … they have everything I need and I love the dungeon feel of it … you see some seriously big dudes in there, but it’s just occurred to me … I’ve never seen anyone else use the squat rack or do deadlifts besides me … weird … as far as your little hexagon/dodecagon “problem” … you could always try to, i don’t know, suck it up? Or the rack pulls, or ask your mom for her pads because obviously it’s almost that time of the month for you … no offense of course.
[quote]waylanderxx wrote:
I hate octagon weights. Outside of my high school gym I have never seen the good ole metal round plates, its always the gay ass rubber octagon ones.[/quote]
Agreed, octagonal ones suck. I’m a little OCD so if they’re not totally lined up, I get a bad ju-ju.
On that note, try placing a 10 lb plate under the first plate on the bar. The hole in the 10 lb plate should keep it from rolling, as long as you have it lined up. Actually, having the plates spin point down just makes it easier to keep them centered.
I think the octagon weights are cheaper. I know when I was buying for my home gym, I could of got them alot cheaper then round, then I realised how fucking annoying they would be.
Glad I went with the round ones.
And no, your gym will not likely reduce its profits and buy round weights cos you ask.
[quote]schultzie wrote:
using only one set of 45s then 35s of smaller would reduce the problem wouldn’t it?[/quote]
yes. it makes loading the bar a lot easier too. i thought of that one day and then just never did it lol, i guess its just habit to use the 45’s when you can…kinda like a rite of passage in sliding on that new plate.
It is annoying & awkward but most gyms have these plates now, sadly - easier for the clients to carry around, I guess.
Stickng with the 45 base plate then stacking 35 (spaced with 5 or 10 pounders works too) To the OP: Think of controlling the drifting forward/backward & 35 degree angles as extra challenges in working your stabilizer muscles.
I guess you could lay down thick towelling or rubber mats where the plates land to even out the angled edges <?> if that helps…
I noticed that the octagons at my local gym have a slightly smaller radius than the traditional round olympic plates measured flat side to opposite flat side. Point to point they are very close in size by my eyeballing them. Smaller plate radius = greater ROM. I have used all 35s for deads for just this reason before.