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Letters/numbers.......in or out


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Old 10-18-2004, 08:29 PM   #1
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Letters/numbers.......in or out

Chris and I are having a debate regarding how the plates should be placed on the barbell.... numbers/letters facing in or facing out.

I say it doesn't matter, HE says they HAVE to face in. or it will be easier to lift. No really, he says it makes a difference. WELL??? Opinions???????????



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Old 10-18-2004, 08:39 PM   #2
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Darlin you know the answer to that. It depends on what time it is ... and more importantly the COLOR of the wieghts. Please remember to never load red and blue plates on the same bar as they will explode.





















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Old 10-18-2004, 09:43 PM   #3
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I will humor the question.... I do not feel it makes a difference. How does Chris feel about mixing different brands/makes of plates?



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Old 10-18-2004, 09:49 PM   #4
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Plates facing IN always. It does matter.(the weight doesnt change though)

You place the plates flat side out, so that if you put a smaller plate on the outside(say a 45lb then a 10lb next to it) that they fit "snug".



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Old 10-18-2004, 09:53 PM   #5
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I put my plates in the dishwasher a certain way. seems to me if i don't my dishwasher could become unbalanced. hum wonder if that aslo applies to a BB?
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Old 10-18-2004, 10:11 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PreMier
Plates facing IN always. It does matter.(the weight doesnt change though)

You place the plates flat side out, so that if you put a smaller plate on the outside(say a 45lb then a 10lb next to it) that they fit "snug".

I typically have the letters facing out. I have no problems with the plates being snug since I do not use the useless springy things for collars. I use collars like OSC-2-1/2K Cast Iron Olympic 2" Spin Collar. See http://www.multisportsfitness.com/weights.htm I do not trust the springy collars. I do not use them for anything. I have like 10 sets, that I have acquired over the years collecting dust in my garage. I have heard of folks using them as 1 pound wts on dumbbells. But I have the collars with T-handles for that.



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Old 10-18-2004, 10:16 PM   #7
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In this pic, ALL the numbers are in. All I can say, is its the right way.




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Old 10-18-2004, 10:25 PM   #8
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right, letters always face inward.



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Old 10-18-2004, 10:27 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PreMier
Plates facing IN always. It does matter.(the weight doesnt change though)

You place the plates flat side out, so that if you put a smaller plate on the outside(say a 45lb then a 10lb next to it) that they fit "snug".
Exactly what he said.



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Old 10-18-2004, 10:31 PM   #10
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Quote:
Plates facing IN always.
OH IT MATTERS.

I know there is no real backing to WHY it matters. But it does. If I load a big squat with a plate the wrong way, I miss it. It's always worked out that way. When I worked out with my brother, it was that way for both of us. We used to fuck with each other and slip a plate on backwards, and like clockwoprk, we would miss the lift.

I can't explain it, but it is CRUCIAL that the numbers/letterswhatever face IN.



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Old 10-18-2004, 10:44 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PreMier
In this pic, ALL the numbers are in. All I can say, is its the right way.


I looked at an old Golds Gym Mass Building book that I have, and every single picture (and there are lots of them) have the letters facing in, just as many of you have stated. I do not understand why it would make a difference though. Is it tradition? Or is there a real reason? Is it easier to hold the plates with the lip away from your body (so fingers can grab edges)? I am not trying to be a smart ass, I am just trying to understand the logic to something I never gave much thought to. Especially since there seems to be many folks who feel the letter should go in and not out.



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Old 10-19-2004, 09:14 AM   #12
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We have rubber coated plates at my gym, numbers on both sides. I may never be able to lift anything heavy now. I might as well quit now or find a different gym.
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Old 10-19-2004, 01:23 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pmech
We have rubber coated plates at my gym, numbers on both sides. I may never be able to lift anything heavy now. I might as well quit now or find a different gym.



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Old 10-19-2004, 01:32 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sapphire
Chris and I are having a debate regarding how the plates should be placed on the barbell.... numbers/letters facing in or facing out.

I say it doesn't matter, HE says they HAVE to face in. or it will be easier to lift. No really, he says it makes a difference. WELL??? Opinions???????????
Sapphy...Chris doesn't really think it makes a difference, does he?

By the way...I like em facing in just because.



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Old 10-19-2004, 01:33 PM   #15
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hahaha.

There is no real reason to face the plates in any direction. For me it's superstition. Although it's true we've missed lifts simply because a plate or two were facing the wrong way.



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Old 10-19-2004, 01:52 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gopro
Sapphy...Chris doesn't really think it makes a difference, does he?

By the way...I like em facing in just because.
Chris is sitting right here and insists that YES it does make a difference, cause Arnold says so.



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Old 10-19-2004, 02:03 PM   #17
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i like them facing in b/c it's somehow just seems more tidy/consistent and "right"

but then again...i'm kinda nuts



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Old 10-19-2004, 02:14 PM   #18
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Hot. But nuts.



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Old 10-19-2004, 02:22 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sapphire
Chris is sitting right here and insists that YES it does make a difference, cause Arnold says so.
Tell Chris that he should NOT consider becoming a physics professor, but might want to teach a class in mysticism.



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Old 10-19-2004, 04:46 PM   #20
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I workout with my Dad, he is very anal about the letters/numbers facing out so you can read what you have on the bar, I face them in because I figure you know what you are putting on the bar, so why would it matter, but he is psycho crazy about it, I get a kick about it!!! sometimes I even set him up my way on purpose, just to see him go insane!!!



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Old 10-19-2004, 05:48 PM   #21
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I believe in powerlifting circles, they put the innermost plate facing in and all others facing out. A PLer I know was very anal about that, I personally don't care.

Plus now I have the same issue as pmech since all of our weights are rubberized with numbers on both sides.



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Old 10-19-2004, 10:59 PM   #22
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Think about the physics of the situation. The force of gravity on the bar is the mass x acceleration. Let's say the bar totals 50KG (Mass) with the weights included; the acceleration of gravity is 9.81m/s*s (Seconds are squared) towards the ground. Therefore, the force in the downward direction is 490.5N.

Guess what happens if you flip the weights around? The force in the downward direction is still exactly the same. Therefore, the force required to move the weight in an upward direction is still exactly the same. You can prefer to have the weights facing a certain way, but it makes no difference...



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Old 10-20-2004, 12:05 AM   #23
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Oh my. Cow is citing physics. If you were a girl I'd be in love.



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Old 10-20-2004, 08:37 AM   #24
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CowPimp
Think about the physics of the situation. The force of gravity on the bar is the mass x acceleration. Let's say the bar totals 50KG (Mass) with the weights included; the acceleration of gravity is 9.81m/s*s (Seconds are squared) towards the ground. Therefore, the force in the downward direction is 490.5N.

Guess what happens if you flip the weights around? The force in the downward direction is still exactly the same. Therefore, the force required to move the weight in an upward direction is still exactly the same. You can prefer to have the weights facing a certain way, but it makes no difference...
Great answer, but do you REALLY think that such detail was needed to figure this one out



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Old 10-20-2004, 09:59 AM   #25
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Quote:
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Great answer, but do you REALLY think that such detail was needed to figure this one out
Apparently it is. I thought people were going to refute this with something simple like, "It's still the same amount of weight!" It appears that simple logic like that isn't enough. I thought it was a little crazy myself, but maybe it will make the difference to Sapphire's man.



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Old 10-20-2004, 11:18 AM   #26
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CowPimp
Apparently it is. I thought people were going to refute this with something simple like, "It's still the same amount of weight!" It appears that simple logic like that isn't enough. I thought it was a little crazy myself, but maybe it will make the difference to Sapphire's man.
I'm still hoping he was just kidding around.



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