Rolling Thunder is a one-hand
deadlift
The deadlift is a strength training exercise in which a weight-loaded barbell is lifted off the ground to the level of the hips, with the torso perpendicular to the floor, before being placed back on the ground. It is one of the three powerlifting ...
first developed in 1993 by
IronMind Enterprises, Inc. It primarily tests
grip strength
Grip strength is the force applied by the hand to pull on or suspend from objects and is a specific part of hand strength. Optimum-sized objects permit the hand to wrap around a cylindrical shape with a diameter from to . Stair rails are an examp ...
via a rotating, thick handle of 2 " (6.03 cm) in diameter and 7 " (19.05 cm) in length (rotating portion is 6" (15.24 cm)) attached to a weight loadable Olympic loading pin via a
carabiner
A carabiner or karabiner (), often shortened to biner or to crab, colloquially known as a (climbing) clip, is a specialized type of shackle, a metal loop with a spring-loaded gate used to quickly and reversibly connect components, most notabl ...
.
The thickness of the handle is derived from the
Thomas Inch dumbbell.
Throughout the years, it became an internationally recognized method to measure 'support grip'
which is one of the three facets of hand strength along-with crush grip and pinch grip.
Versions
The first version (V1), had a black coloured handle and was used from 1993 to 2008. However, as the records with this handle kept on increasing during the 2000s, it was observed that the handle drop test (which was used to verify the rotating nature of the handle) didn't work anymore. Despite rotating without added weight or upto moderate amounts of weight, it would not rotate at the verge of the world record weights at the time. To mitigate this,
Randall J. Strossen developed the second version (V2) which featured a dark blue coloured handle. It was better than its predecessor however, uniformity of the device was not even. When some of the devices rotated well, some exhibited the same issue V1 had which was not rotating at world record weights in 2012/13. Further developments were made and the third version (V3) was introduced with a dark blue handle which featured distinctive closed end caps contrary to the hollow cylinder of V1 and V2.
World record
* (with the V3) by
Alexey Tyukalov (2013 Visegrip Viking)
:→ ''Regarded as the current all-time world record since previous records with V1 and V2 were affiliated with flaws in the units.''
Progression of the world record
Women's world record progression
Similar equipment
Since IronMind, numerous other competitors have produced similar products specially following its flawed design with V1 and V2.
'Grip Genie RGT'
is known for being more difficult than IronMind V3 because it rotates more freely and rapidly due to less friction. The world record with this is held by
Carl Myerscough
Carl Myerscough (born 21 October 1979) is an English former track and field athlete specialised in shot put and discus throw and a world record holder grip strength specialist. His height of 208 cm (6 ft 10 in) earned him the nickname ...
at .
'Gods of grip' Godlike rolling handle and 'Titan' rotating deadlift handle
offer three handle diameter options at 2", 2.5" and 3".
Notes
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rolling Thunder (exercise)
Weight training equipment
Companies based in Nevada County, California