In the fitness world, dumbbells are considered one of the most important types of equipment that you can use, especially as a beginner. They offer a lot of versatility and control, and they’re easy to use. And whether you decided it was time to purchase your first set of dumbbells or to finally join your local gym, you’re going to notice something very interesting, and that’s the fact that the majority of these types of equipment are round. That includes dumbbells, free weights, and so on. So with that being said, why are dumbbells round?
The main reason why dumbbells are round is that it’s cost-effective when it comes to the manufacturing process. They’re a lot more simple to lift and put back down, easy to pass around, and would not cause serious fractures or damage if it lands badly on your feet or on the floor.
In this article, we’ll talk about the main reasons why dumbbells are round, as well as if their shape matters.
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Main Reasons Why Dumbbells Are Round
There are several reasons why dumbbells often come in a round shape:
Cost-Effective Manufacturing Process
When it comes to the manufacturing process of dumbbells, the majority of them are made by casting, meaning that you pour molten metal into a mold that’s often made from sand. At this point, since the metal is extremely hot, it can whatever shape the manufacturer wants, but that’s not the cost-effective part. The real cost comes from the sand mold which is made using advanced machinery.
And when it comes to machines, most of the time, making something that’s round is the cheapest and quickest way of manufacturing hence the round shape of most sand molds that are used to make dumbbells. Shaping them into a different shape like a rectangle will only cost more time and money which is not ideal for the manufacturer. And it’s the same for all types of dumbbells, whether they’re metal, iron, rubber, and so on.
Equally Distributed Force
Don’t worry, even if you hate maths and physics, I’ll try to explain it as simply as possible. Try to picture a rectangular-shaped adjustable dumbbell (meaning that the weight can spin freely around the dumbbell handle) and a round-shaped one. Imagine you’re lifting both of these dumbbells on each side of your hand. The rectangular one on your right hand and the round one on your left. Just as you lift them, the weights start to spin around the dumbbell handles due to gravity. Since the dumbbell on your left is round, the weight will be distributed equally while rotating from its center. However, that’s not the case for your right side. Since the dumbbell is rectangular, the weight is gonna be all over the place and you’re not gonna feel a good balance while lifting it.
And that’s exactly why most manufacturers and gym-owners prefer to have round dumbbells which are ideal for everybody aesthetically and scientifically.
They Prevent Damage
Round dumbbells also prevent damage to both your surroundings and yourself. To put this into perspective, imagine you’re hitting your usual gym session and you decided to start off with a round of dumbbell bicep curl, you lift them up like you always do but all of the sudden, both of the dumbbells fell from your hand, one of them landed on your feet and the other on the floor.
If they’re round dumbbells, then they’ll probably only cause a bit of pain, some minor scratches, and no damage to the floor. However, if they were rectangular or any other shape that has a pointy edge, it’ll probably cause a fracture to your feet and a lot of damage to the floor which the gym owner isn’t going to be too happy about.
And you can also put them back on the floor without giving them much thought to the way that they should land.
Easy to Pass Around
Round dumbbells are also super easy to pass around without having a pointy edge that can get in the way and they’re also simple to carry. As a gym owner, you want your clients or yourself (if it’s a home gym) to feel as comfortable as possible and only focus on finishing their intense workouts with ease. Having distractions like an irregularly-shaped dumbbell can provide a bad experience for them which can be demotivating sometimes. And that’s why round dumbbells are a must in every gym.
Does The Shape of the Dumbbell Matter?
It’s true that when it comes to weight-lifting, the shape of the dumbbell isn’t as important as its main purpose which is to provide enough resistance for you in order to build your muscles. However, the shape can make it a little bit uncomfortable to focus on your main goal of growing and getting stronger especially if it’s an irregular one. And that’s exactly why you should opt for round dumbbells since they’ll provide you with the best results. But then again, you should choose according to your own preference and what makes you the most motivated to finish your intense training routine.
Conclusion:
As you can see, there are many reasons why the majority of dumbbells that you see are round. They’re cost-effective when it comes to the manufacturing process, they have an equally distributed force, they prevent damages in case they fell on your feet or the floor, and they’re easy to pass around which makes them the best shape for a dumbbell. But at the end of the day, the shape of the dumbbell should rarely matter as long as you’re having a good workout and focusing on the essential things that will make you build your muscles and grow stronger.