Rolling Thunder (exercise)

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 3⁄8" (6.03 cm) in diameter and 7 1⁄2" (19.05 cm) in length (rotating portion is 6" (15.24 cm)) attached to a weight loadable Olympic loading pin via a carabiner. ^[1] 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' ^[2] which is one of the three facets of hand strength along-with crush grip and pinch grip. ^[3]

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. ^[4]

World record

• 287.7 pounds (130.5 kg) (with the V3) by Alexey Tyukalov (2013 Visegrip Viking) ^{[5] [6]}

→ 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

Holder	Weight	Event name and Location	Date
Jan Bártl	265.4 pounds (120.4 kg) [7]	2000 Beauty & the Beast challenge [a] Honolulu, Hawaii, USA	1 May 2000
(Rule change: Previously, they allowed a competitor to use a thumbless (false) grip. Because it was later felt that this was not in the spirit of the lift, since it allowed strong-wristed competitors to remove the grip element of the event by cocking their wrists, thumbless grips are now no longer allowed. [8] )
Jan Bártl	258.5 pounds (117.3 kg) [7]	2001 Beauty & the Beast challenge [a] Honolulu, Hawaii, USA	31 May 2001
Magnus Samuelsson	262.0 pounds (118.8 kg) [8]	2003 IFSA/GNC Pro Strongman Challenge Las Vegas, Nevada, USA	3 Jun 2003
Andrus Murumets	267.0 pounds (121.1 kg) [9]	2003 IFSA All Strength Challenge Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada	16 Jun 2003
Laine Snook	274.2 pounds (124.4 kg) [10]	2006 Pullum Sports Exhibition Luton, United Kingdom	1 Aug 2006
Mark Felix	301.0 pounds (136.5 kg) [11]	2008 Mohegan Sun Grand Prix [a] Uncasville, Connecticut, USA	18 Jan 2008
(Version change: By now, the rotating nature of the handle was not happening anymore hence V2 was introduced. All records above, were with V1).
Mark Felix	323.5 pounds (146.7 kg) [nb 1] [12]	2012 Bodypower Expo Birmingham, United Kingdom	22 May 2012
Alexey Tyukalov	331.8 pounds (150.5 kg) [13]	2013 A1 Grand Prix Moscow, Russia	30 Jul 2013
(Version change: It was noticed that both above performances including Snook's unofficial record [nb 2] were done with official but flawed V2 handles which resembled the same error V1 had, hence V3 was introduced and all the previous records were nullified).
Mike Burke	282.2 pounds (128.0 kg) [6]	2013 Visegrip Viking San Jose, California, USA	10 Oct 2013
Alexey Tyukalov	287.7 pounds (130.5 kg) [6]	2013 Visegrip Viking San Jose, California, USA	10 Oct 2013

Women's world record progression

Holder	Weight	Event name	Date
Becca Swanson	135.0 pounds (61.2 kg)	St. Louis Steel Fingers Challenge	01 Jul 2002
Elizabeth Horne	144.4 pounds (65.5 kg)	British Rolling Thunder Champs	07 Apr 2007
Jaana Tanner	147.2 pounds (66.8 kg)	IronMind Grip Classic Volume II	28 Jan 2012
Jaana Tanner	152.7 pounds (69.3 kg)	IronMind Grip Classic Record Breakers	26 May 2012
Irina Postnikova	159.2 pounds (72.2 kg)	Armlifting World Championships	22 Sep 2012
Ludmilla Gaiduchenko	170.2 pounds (77.2 kg)	Armlifting World Championships	22 Sep 2012
Hafsa Mason	176.3 pounds (80.0 kg)	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' ^[15] 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 226.0 pounds (102.5 kg).

'Gods of grip' Godlike rolling handle ^[16] and 'Titan' rotating deadlift handle ^[17] offer three handle diameter options at 2", 2.5" and 3".

Notes

1. Considered a Rolling Thunder World Championship.

1. The lift was displayed 332.2 pounds (150.7 kg) during the event, but it was later revealed that the actual weight was 323.5 pounds (146.7 kg) and it was a computational error on the scoresheet.
2. On 8 Mar 2012 Laine Snook lifted an unofficial 332.0 pounds (150.6 kg) during training at his home gym. ^[14]

References

1. Strossen, Randall J. (April 27, 2021). "Rolling Thunder®: One-hand deadlift rules and world records". IronMind Enterprises, Inc.
2. "Rolling Thunder Revolving Deadlift Handle". www.gripandlift.com.au. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
3. "IronMind History". Archived from the original on 13 February 2009. Retrieved 14 September 2008.
4. "Official IronMind Rolling Thunder". www.godsofgrip.com. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
5. "STRENGTH RECORD, Section 14 - Grip". www.strengthrecord.com. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
6. "VISEGRIP VIKING 2013 SAN JOSE MEN". www.strengthresults.com. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
7. "IronMind Resource Pages About Grip Training, Hand Grippers, and Hand Strength". IronMind. Archived from the original on 27 November 2021.
8. Strossen, Randall J. (3 June 2003). "Magnus Samuelsson Breaks Rolling Thunder World Record". IronMind. Archived from the original on 1 May 2023.
9. Strossen, Randall J. (16 June 2003). "Rolling Thunder: Andrus Murumets Sets a New World Record at the IFSA All Strength Challenge". IronMind. Archived from the original on 27 September 2022.
10. Strossen, Randall J. (1 August 2006). "Laine Snook Breaks Rolling Thunder World Record". IronMind. Archived from the original on 20 October 2021.
11. "Rolling Thunder World Championships 2008 (Alternative names: Mohegan Sun Rolling Thunder™ Championships)". www.strengthresults.com. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
12. Strossen, Randall J. (22 May 2012). "Mark Felix Demolishes Rolling Thunder World Record". IronMind. Archived from the original on 14 August 2023.
13. Strossen, Randall J. (30 July 2013). "Rolling Thunder World Record Broken by Alexey Tyukalov". IronMind. Archived from the original on 28 October 2022.
14. "Laine Snook rolling thunder - new handle - 315lbs and 332lbs". YouTube. lainesnook. 8 March 2012. Archived from the original on 17 September 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
15. "Grip Genie RGT (Rolling Grip Thing)". www.gripgenie.com. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
16. "Godlike Rolling Handle". www.godsofgrip.com. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
17. "Rotating Deadlift Handles". Titan Fitness. Retrieved 1 November 2024.