Evolution of equipment: The downfall or savior of Powerlifting?

[barbndr]

Equipment enthusiasts will tell you that they leave their squat and bench suits in the corner of the gym when they aren't using them and never once have seen them perform a lift. Obviously pointing out the fact that it is still the person performing the lift.

The use of equipment in powerlifting has evolved from a injury prevention measure to a science of physics and leverage in order to drive totals through the roof. In the past, equipment consisted of a flimsy belt, worn "to keep my back safe", some weak ace wraps for the knees...and that's about it. The first advances came in increasing the durability of the belt...still no real harm done even if you consider the try power belts of today (lever or otherwise). Then knee wraps changed to the point people were wrapping tennis balls behind their knees for compression and drive (enter the need for newer and stronger fabrics). Today, knee wraps are wrapped tight enough to cause serious circulatory damage if left on too long. Lifters of old would wear singlets...put on with ease. Today, if you can get your squat or deadlift suit on with the help of only one person it's much too loose (in general). Single poly bench shirts were about all that was available 15 years ago, then 2 ply, denim, canvas. I know I'm leaving out some but I'm trying to hit the high points.

So what gets the biggest advantage? The bench, hands down. Take a look at raw bench totals compared to equipment (and I'm talking equal comparison lifter to lifter). We see, what...a 200-300lb jump. Squats are next probably adding at least 100-200lbs. Deadlifts are last IMO benefiting least from equipment. Why? Take a look at deadlift totals from 20-30 years ago. The best deadlifts of that age (Kuc, Inaba, Bridges, Pacifico...etc) could easily compete today, and your average lifters of those eras had the same deadlift totals today. Kuc pulled well over 800 with no belt (absolutely raw) in Hawaii at the World's. Think about putting Kuc in today's top equipment in all 3 lifts. He would probably refuse to wear it but I think you'd have the top total ever (pure speculation but an interesting thought). Now I know the best deadlifters of today outperform the best of that era, however it's not by the massive amounts as seen in the bench and the squat. I'm not saying equipment doesn't help the deadlift, personally I think I get about 50-60lbs from a good deadlift suit, but not near to that of the BP and SQ.

My point is where do we draw the line. When will it go too far. I'm sure I can bench 2000lbs with the new hydraulic assisted, counterbalanced, leafspring aided, electromagnetic trapper keeper 5000 bench shirt developed by Microsoft so Bill Gates is not only the richest person in the world but also has the best bench. I'm not taking anything away from the lifters of today. Nor am I forsaking the use of equipment. I personally use equipment as there is no way to be competitive if you don't. I also enter my fair share of raw meets. But are we going too far? When does it become more of how much your equipment can do rather that what you do. When will we see a guy with a 400lb raw bench throw up 800lbs? Are we there already?

[Doc.Sust]

down fall, i hate the new equipment, but i do use it to keep my numbers upwith everyone else, i rather do raw meets, that is my true test of strength

[Squatman51]

i think single ply suits and shirts, knee wraps, and belt are all good, but when you start putting on the canvas and double denim, i think that is kinda ridiculous

[phreezer]

downfall

[Doc.Sust]

the single ply is now becoming just as bad as the double ply, checkout the single ply boss suit by titan it is supposed to be single ply. yet it is thicker that my double ply karin squat suit. jeff lewis just squated 1214 using the boss suit,proves my point, the only true test of strength is RAW lifts

[barbndr]

I have to agree with you Doc. Even the one ply suits get outstanding boosts. A perfect scenario would consist of 2 powerlifting organizations. One drug free, and one not drug tested. All raw meets. Lifts judged by the rule book, as they were meant to be (take the old USPF rules). Don't even get me started about squat depth at the Arnold meet as most didn't even come close to parallel. Ah well, never happen but a nice thought.

[RJstrong]

one upside that I can think of is the economics of lifting gear... we all know how expensive it is! if these same companies grow larger and in return put more money back into the sport than maybe some of these pro's (along with other interested lifters) will have something other than pride to lift for... I haven't seen it yet but I am fairly new to the sport... I suppose the question may be do we want the sport to grow into something larger than it is now? Is the sport better off with money behind it or not? gear is here to stay from what I can tell and these same companies have the power to move it in a direction that is very subjective... good or bad. I use gear and have made some progress with it over the years... but I often wonder when I meet is over who is really the strongest raw? raw strength is no doubt the truest test!!!

[powerliftmike]

Well, most federations dont allow canvas. Its always going to be an argument, but thats why we have raw and equipped meets. I prefer equiped tho. I have also heard the arguments about the fiberglass pole for vaulters. It lead to immediate increase in jump height, should this new technology be banned? Equipment advances have influenced every sport and will continue to do in the future.

In fact the only reason performance across all sports has increased is b/c of science. A better understanding of the human body's adaptations to training, diet science, pharmacological, and new equipment technology.

[xeclipsex]

IMO ol doc sust said it right. I only use equipment to prevent old injuries from coming back personaly.

[Doc.Sust]

one upside that I can think of is the economics of lifting gear... we all know how expensive it is! if these same companies grow larger and in return put more money back into the sport than maybe some of these pro's (along with other interested lifters) will have something other than pride to lift for... I haven't seen it yet but I am fairly new to the sport... I suppose the question may be do we want the sport to grow into something larger than it is now? Is the sport better off with money behind it or not? gear is here to stay from what I can tell and these same companies have the power to move it in a direction that is very subjective... good or bad. I use gear and have made some progress with it over the years... but I often wonder when I meet is over who is really the strongest raw? raw strength is no doubt the truest test!!!

the companies are even becoming more powerful tahn we think. inzer was going to sponsor a gene rychlak meet, jon inzer mad gene get rid of the raw division because it was a conflict of intrest to his products, how about that for bullshit, gene will not tell you it was ALL johns fault, but word around the camp fire is that it is true

[RJstrong]

the companies are even becoming more powerful tahn we think. inzer was going to sponsor a gene rychlak meet, jon inzer mad gene get rid of the raw division because it was a conflict of intrest to his products, how about that for bullshit, gene will not tell you it was ALL johns fault, but word around the camp fire is that it is true

ya I figured it could be a more negative issue rather than positive... wishful thinking on my part I suppose. The gear is hear to stay and really from what I can see it is the only money making part of the sport??? (not that I've seen the books on any of these businesses). Obviously bodybuilding has quite the edge in this dept. between publishing and supplement gross profits which allow many to prosper and dump a reasonable amount of money back into the sport that makes them rich!!! I suppose it's an apple and oranges comparison but companies like inzer should really be putting their money where their mouth is and reinvest in a sport that could surely use it. I do have a hard time with companies having too much control (in any aspect of life) and it is really a shame if they pushed big Gene into doing something he would rather not do... whether meets are raw or equipped, big name guys as himself should put on meets of all kind, it can only help the sport IMO, companies like inzer should support powerlifting as a whole and if they don't we all will pay in some way.

[RJstrong]

the companies are even becoming more powerful tahn we think. inzer was going to sponsor a gene rychlak meet, jon inzer mad gene get rid of the raw division because it was a conflict of intrest to his products, how about that for bullshit, gene will not tell you it was ALL johns fault, but word around the camp fire is that it is true

ya I figured it could be a more negative issue rather than positive... wishful thinking on my part I suppose. The gear is hear to stay and really from what I can see it is the only money making part of the sport??? (not that I've seen the books on any of these businesses). Obviously bodybuilding has quite the edge in this dept. between publishing and supplement gross profits which allow many to prosper and dump a reasonable amount of money back into the sport that makes them rich!!! I suppose it's an apple and oranges comparison but companies like inzer should really be putting their money where their mouth and reinvest in a sport that could surely use it. I do have a hard time with companies having too much control (in any aspect of life) and it is really a shame if they pushed big Gene into doing something he would rather not do... whether meets are raw or equipped, big name guys as himself should put on meets of all kind, it can only help the sport IMO, companies like inzer should support powerlifting as a whole and if they don't we all will pay in some way.

[RJstrong]

sorry about the double post... trust me what I have to say is really not that important...

[power65]

I have written about this several times. Equipment today is the down fall of our sport. I think gear is great when it helps protect from injury, and if it helps give you a little start out of the hole that's fine too. But if equipment is adding 100's of pounds to lifts, then that is just bad. Where is the pride in that???? If I know I can bench 500 in one shirt, and by adding another layer to my shirt I can bench 600.....am I actually stronger???? Heck no. Therefore I wouldn't appreciate the lift. All I did was manipulate my gear in order to increase the result. But I didn't really gain any strength. Right??? It is a problem that is here to stay. Not sure what to do about it. As long as egos continue to drive this sport we are helpless.

[Squatman51]

I think its a downfall... the only way it would be an olympic sport if it were raw, or IPF rules

[Squatman51]

The IPF is recognized as the sanctioning body for powerlifting by the GAISF, the IOC and etc.

[Needle_Newb]

How is IPF superior, the Rage X is a rediculous shirt. I've heard people getting close to 300lbs in it. They got guys unable to touch over 700lbs with that shirt. Single ply equipment will continue to evolve too, belt and maybe knee wraps should be the only things allowed. You got dorks that will say its evolution like nascars and pole vaulters improving poles, that's not the same, you can improve the barbell, the racks, the benches, but don't make something that does like 30-40% of the lift for them.

[Squatman51]

im not sayin any one organization is superior over another i was just stating that many organizations such as the International Olympic Comittee recognizes it as the sanctioned body for PL

[Velkar182]

downfall. It has created two sports. One for guys with insane lockouts and another for guys like me who have insane raw lifts but can't lock out much more than they can do full range. In trying to keep up with my RAGE X, I have found myself doing partials, chains, and band work non stop. Can this be what the creator intended? By the way, me balls don't appreciate squats suits none either!