Barbell size: novice question

likeschocolate

I workout at home, so space is limited. At the same time, don't want to compromise on form or harm results.

Am trying to determine if there are drawbacks to using a shorter (5-foot) barbell.
Edit: including for exercises such as squats, deadlifts

Web-research so far has been inconclusive. Best i could get was one comment at
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=107253421&page=1
saying : "longer bars activate more stabilizer muscles for exercises like bench pressing"

Thanks in advance.

PS: in terms of "weight" currently the max. i am lifting is 120lbs. Hoping this can go up to at least 200lbs on squats/deadlifts, God willing, though understandably it will be many months before I get there.

Sarauk2sf

Do you know whether the diameter of the bar is Oly size or standard size (narrower)?

likeschocolate

It's standard (1") diameter. Lighter than standard weight (which i guess is ok--as long as one adds weight up accordingly).

Edit: removed link so it doesn't stray into the zone of 'commercial

Hendrix7

Most of the weights for 1" bars are not standard olympic size so you would have to raise the bar up on something for it to be at the proper height for deadlifts.

I would look at getting a 6ft long olympic bar, might as well make the investment IMO as a decent bar will last a lifetime.

Also what are you planning to rack the bar in for squats, make sure it will actually fit in that first.

sjohnny

....

Also what are you planning to rack the bar in for squats, make sure it will actually fit in that first.

Something a lot of people don't think about. I bought a 6' standard bar that weighs 20 pounds to get my wife started with OHP and bench press. It just barely fits in our rack (I got the bar before I got the rack).

ItsCasey

If I were you, I'd go ahead and invest in either a 6' or 7' Olympic bar. I started with a standard bar, and when I started doing squats and OHPs, I had to buy an Olympic bar to fit in my rack, which also meant buying a new set of plates, since standard plates will not fit on an Olympic bar.

ArroganceInStep

Pulling at a deficit is a good thing, it puts you at a leverage disadvantage and makes the lift harder (unless you're like me and your strength is all quads). I'd say start with what you have and look into a more permanent long term solution. Understand that there'll be an adjustment period moving from your current bar to oly. From a form perspective, I don't think it matters that much, you have to be careful of form either way.

Hendrix7

Pulling at a deficit is a good thing

Not for a newbie, most people can't even get into a proper start position when the bar is at the normal height when they start out.

ArroganceInStep

Pulling at a deficit is a good thing

Not for a newbie, most people can't even get into a proper start position when the bar is at the normal height when they start out.

That's a fair counter, though I didn't have issues with it.

ilovedeadlifts

I'd personally try to find space to use an olympic bar

DaniH826

What about a squat rack/power cage?

Maybe check Craigslist or Play It Again Sports (if you have one) for deals before you make a final decision on the bar and plates, which is only one part of the equation (the other being the bench and rack/cage).

likeschocolate

Thanks everyone.

Appreciate the inputs.