Jim,
I’m having a torn labrum in my shoulder fixed in a week. After I’m good to lift again, I’d like to start benching with a neutral grip barbell the majority of the time. EFS has the Swiss log bar, Swiss press bar, and football bar. I have no idea which one is better.
Which do you prefer?
Steel, I’ve owned the EFS Swiss bar for a few years now. Bought mine because I had a mechainical injury to the shoulder and wanted to try something other than a straight bar. I absolutely love it. I have used a football bar and while the angle grip was ‘slightly’ easier on the wrists I found the grip angles to be pretty much annoying in all the movements, especially OHP.
I put the Swiss bar on top of my power rack and it makes a great pull up bar. Mine is the older style 3grip, straight grip bar. I think the new one has angled inner grips and 3 straight. My bar weighs 35# so I just put some 5’s on the bar to keep the math easy and ‘standard’.
My shoulder surgery just over a year ago. (labrum, rotator and biceps tendon repair) I found that pressing with the SW hurt more than with a straight when I came back. Granted my injury was a ‘hat trick’ with 3 things being FUBAR lol. I now have to touch a about 3" higher up on my chest now a days, about nipple level and I cannot tuck my elbows as much because it dumps the weight into my shoulders and for me that feels like a steak knife stabbing where I had the repairs.
BUT that was the first 8 months or so post surgery. Now, I am GTG but still weaker lol. I have another guy at work with a repaired shoulder who’s used the bar. He didn’t find it to be drastically easier on the shoulder as opposed to a straight bar / dumbbells either. I write this to say that if you are buying this to have another bar in your arsenal by all means, get it. You will love it and will use it for all kinds of things.
However, if you are solely considering this because it is purportedly easier on the shoulders, you may find yourself disappointed as I was. Hope this helps man and good luck with your shoulder.
I’ve linked another source for bars. Black widow. Made in NY, so you might save a bit on shipping being in PN.
Wow, thanks for taking the time to write all of that up. Extremely helpful. Yes, i was just looking to buy it to help my shoulder post-recovery. I guess I will give the regular straight bar a go and see how it treats me.
Glad I can help. I also have a YOKE bar. That bar has done more to help the shoulder out than anything I have because it gives my shoulder a break. Lets me squat but is very shoulder friendly. Plus it really adds depth to my squatting, by that I mean adds variety. Can do walking lunges, GM’s and since one doesn’t have to hold the bar you can do “cheat reps” with yourself.
I hold the power rack and squat till I can’t stand any more can pull yourself up or help for even more reps. I also have a Spider bar. That is cool with light weights but when I get heavy I always tweak my back. I’m probably going to cut the handles off and just use it as a regular cambered bar.
I only use the bar with straight handles (the original Swiss bar) but have used the angled bar - to me it doesn’t matter too much as long as you have a variety of widths to choose from. That bar and the Yoke bar are huge life saved for my shoulders. The difference in pressing with a straight bar and Swiss bar is day/night - straight bar ruins it.
Now I still have one shoulder that is torn to hell and there is no way it would survive week after week of using a non-gay bar. I wish I would have used both bars years ago exclusively. If you have the cash and no plans in competing, use them.
Thanks for the advice guys. Definitely planning on getting a yoke bar. Probably swiss bar too since it’s not too expensive.