Olympic Weights or Standard Weights?

When it comes to weight plates, there are two configurations available:

• Standard
• Olympic

The only different here is the size of the middle hole that the bar goes in.

Olympic weights, which, as the name indicates, are used in the Olympics, have a 2-inch diameter hole. Olympic weights are also the most common weights found in professional fitness centers. Olympic weights require the use of an Olympic bar, which is typically 7 feet long and built with special rotating ends to fit the 20inch diameter hole. The most common set sold is the CAP Fitness 300 pound Olympic weight set.

Standard weights, in contrast, have 1-inch diameter holes. This is the size most often seen used for home fitness weight sets, such as those purchased from Sears. Standard weights are not typically used in professional fitness centers.

One of the most well know manufacturers of Olympic weights is CAP Fitness Equipment, located in Houston, Texas. You can see CAP Barbells in fitness centers all over the country.