You’ve probably done deadlifts with a standard Olympic barbell, and you might have tried the same exercise with a hex bar. No doubt you noticed a difference between these different types of gym apparatus, and a study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research breaks it down to help you plan more effective workouts.

Twenty males with deadlifting experience were assessed for one rep max (1RM) before performing 3 reps at 65% and 85% of 1RM using each type of barbell on separate occasions. Although there were no significant differences in 1RM values, subjects achieved significantly greater peak force, power and velocity using the hex bar. That might make it a more effective tool for maximizing those aspects of athletic performance.