@tlgains Like @oldbeancam was joking about, there’s no “bar” after axle, in much the same way you wouldn’t say “barbell bar”. That said, @dagill2 gave some great summaries.
This is the axle I use
This is the buffalo bar
And the swiss bar I use was made by an independent welder, but it’s a common design
I use the axle for 2 reasons. The first is that a barbell is pretty much never used in strongman, and the closest thing is the axle, so I use the axle whenever possible so that I maintain familiarity with the implement. This way, whenever I approach one in competition, it never feels alien. In an interesting point of fact, my axle is .1" larger in diameter than many on the market, so I actually tend to have better luck in competition, as their axle feels smaller in my hand. In addition, the wider diameter in the axle means my connective tissue gets beat up less compared to using a barbell on pressing and curls. The axle is a little more challenging to press overhead, since the wider diameter places it further in front of me than with a barbell.
The buffalo bar is gentler on my shoulders but also challenges me more on the squats, because it’s limited knurling and cambered design means I can’t place the bar as far down on my back as I can with a barbell. Forces me to be a bit more honest on the squats.
I use the swiss bar on incline bench because my right shoulder is a horror film, and though I can get away with just about anything, incline benching with a straight bar just doesn’t work.
YESTERDAY’S AM WORKOUT
MAX EFFORT LOWER
(4) Mat Pulls
5x135
5x225
3x315
1x405
1x495
1x585
1x635
1x640
2x585
GIANT SETS (dead-row-chin)
2 second pause deadlift 315
3x10
T-bar rows 3 plates and a 10
3x8
NG chins (various grips)
5,3,3
PM WORKOUT
Grippers
Started with the #2 for 10 reps, worked down to 1, then went to the #1 and did the same.
Notes: 3:45 between heavy pulls, 2:00 between giant sets. Very productive max effort day. Can definitely note my leverages improving on the deads with the weight loss. Was good to be able to hit so many high effort sets in a row. Trying to add more onto the back work on this day, even if it’s just a handful of chins. Speaks to how much this hammers my back. I’m already breaking protocol by training barbell deads twice in a row for the supplemental work, but decisions are being driven by schedule. I work 7 on/7 off right now, and so on the days I’m on I’m trying to train quickly. Going from the barbell max effort to barbell supplemental is faster than trying to take all the plates off and load onto a new implement.
Can already see the effects of the gripper work: I ripped 405 off the floor double overhand during the warm-ups. Usually it’s something that is a bit tentative due to grip. No issues now. Can also see the effects in that my left hand aches and swells the day after grippers, but it’s not something I can’t live with.
