Rolling Thunder is a one-hand deadlift first developed in 1993 by IronMind Enterprises, Inc. It primarily tests grip strength 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. 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 HolderWeightEvent name and LocationDate Jan Bártl 1 May 2000 Jan Bártl 31 May 2001 Magnus Samuelsson 3 Jun 2003 Andrus Murumets 16 Jun 2003 Laine Snook Luton, United Kingdom 1 Aug 2006 Mark Felix 18 Jan 2008 Mark Felix Birmingham, United Kingdom 22 May 2012 Alexey Tyukalov Moscow, Russia 30 Jul 2013 Mike Burke San Jose, California, USA 10 Oct 2013 Alexey Tyukalov San Jose, California, USA 10 Oct 2013
Women's world record progression HolderWeightEvent name Date Becca Swanson St. Louis Steel Fingers Challenge 01 Jul 2002 Elizabeth Horne British Rolling Thunder Champs 07 Apr 2007 Jaana Tanner IronMind Grip Classic Volume II 28 Jan 2012 Jaana Tanner IronMind Grip Classic Record Breakers 26 May 2012 Irina Postnikova Armlifting World Championships 22 Sep 2012 Ludmilla Gaiduchenko Armlifting World Championships 22 Sep 2012 Hafsa Mason West Coast Arm Sports Hands of Doom II 21 Aug 2024
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 at .
'Gods of grip' Godlike rolling handle and 'Titan' rotating deadlift handle offer three handle diameter options at 2", 2.5" and 3".
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