One-hand deadlifts have long been a preferred means of testing and building one’s grip strength, and to put an edge on the challenge, a thick-handled bar was employed—this was the proving ground of many a grip strength legend. IronMind® developed the Rolling Thunder Revolving Deadlift Handle in 1993 and since then, it’s become known by strong men and women worldwide.
Included in backyard meets and major fitness competitons around the world, the Rolling Thunder soon became a staple of the grip strength world, and the first Rolling Thunder World Championships was held in 2000 in conjunction with Odd Haugen’s Beauty and the Beast strongman contest—a contest that included three World’s Strongest Man winners.
There’s little technique to the Rolling Thunder, so it just comes down to how strong you are. Our feeling at IronMind is that if you can’t pull at least 250 lb. or so on the Rolling Thunder and you think you’ve got a world-class grip, you must be swimming in the wrong pool.
Odd Haugen has probably pulled more world class lifts on the Rolling Thunder under official conditions than anyone else on the planet. Here’s Haugen lifting at the premiere IronMind Rolling Thunder World Championships—then, merely half a century strong, Haugen pulled an excellent 246.5 lb. ©Randall J. Strossen photo