A guide for different weight plates
Exercising should be a part of our everyday life. Exercising helps in reducing stress, by working out we relieve all the stress in the form of sweat. The more we sweat, the better we feel. The physical activity relaxes our body and helps us to increase positivity. Exercising enhances the quality of our sleep, by making our mind calm and boosting positiveness. Exercising is the best way to increase the glow of your skin. Due to the release of sweat, all the impurities are removed, which makes the skin healthier and beautiful.
Weight plates are circular discs which are put at the end of the weight bar for weight training. Weight plates are used in building muscle strength. They are available in different sizes and made of different materials, also, different types of plates are used in different types of exercises.
The different sizes of weight plates :
- Olympic disc: Olympic is a standard size of the weight plates known across the fitness industry. It has around a 2” diameter center hole, that could fit all commercial bars easily.
- Standard disc: commonly, they are used in home gyms having a 1” diameter center hole. These weight plates do not fit any Olympic bar.
- Studio disc: these plates are rubber coated, not so heavy, small-sized, commonly with handles, and brightly colored. These weight plates are easy to store and have a 30mm center hole.
Advantages of the Olympic weight plates :
- Olympic weight platesare more steady on the weight lifting bar.
- An Olympic weight plateis more adaptable, as several exercises could be performed with it.
- Olympic weight lifting bars are built to take up a greater weight.
Bumper plate -
A bumper plate is a solid rubber weight disc that can be safely used for performing Olympic lifts and can be dropped from a height during exercises like snatches and presses. The purpose of bumpers is to create a safe environment and allow certain exercises to be performed without the risk of damages to the floor, equipment, or athlete.
Different types of Olympic plates :
All different types of weight plates are summarized here like; rubber-coated, bumper, technique, fractional, competition, and cast iron.
- Rubber-coated plates - they are very similar to cast iron plates but with an extra layer of rubber coating for safety and protection. The rubber-coating helps the plate to last longer.
- Training Bumper plate- these plates have the exact dimensions of competition weight lifting plates. These are more affordable, they are used in the commercial gym.
- Technique bumper weight plates- These are very basic and made from a simple single piece of rubber, without a metal ring around the hole. These only come in light weights and are perfect for introducing beginners to Olympic lifts and helping athletes improve their technique. Facilities tend only to have a small set of technique plates and they are normally only produced in 2.5kg and 5kg weights.
- Fractional plates - these weight platesinclude weights of 0.5kg. 1kg, 1.5kg. 2kg, 2.5kg, and 5kg discs. The fractional weight plates have no metal within the center circle. This is perfect when in competition, it means you can add these on the end without removing the cuff.
- Competition bumper plates - according to competition rules, the plates need to be accurate to +0.1% and -0.05%. This means that the production of a 25kg plate only has a 25-gram margin for error. The result is that Competition bumper plates are incredibly accurate and consistent, so the weight you are lifting is absolutely what you think it is.
Cast iron plates - they are also known as powerlifting plates, which commonly come in cast iron, steel, or a chromed0 metal. They are thinner as compared to other plates, therefore they allow that the weight is added to the bar.