Learn How to Make a Floor Bar That Doesn't Bend

Floor bars are one of my favorite teaching tools at all levels.  They aid in skill development and add a fun twist to some basic drills.  Check out some insider tips on lesson planning.  A floor bar is an easy item to make at home.  This new version is even stronger than our previous floor bar with added dowel support to prevent bending.  Have ripped hands?  Learn how to make a tape grip here.

What you need to make a floor bar:

• 2 - 12 in pieces of 4x4 wood
• 1 - 4ft 1 1/4 inch PVC pipe
• 1 - 4ft 1 1/4 inch dowel rod
• 2 - 1 1/4 inch galvanized clip hangers
• PVC glue
• 4 - 1 1/4 inch Kreg pocket hole screws
• 2 - 2 1/2 inch Kreg pocket hole screws
• Drill
• Optional - cute helper 
• Watch the full video here!

Instructions to make a floor bar:

1. Place the dowel rod inside the PVC pipe.
2. Place one piece of 4x4 under each end of the PVC pipe.
3. Put PVC glue on a galvanized clip, place in the middle of the 4x4 and secure with one 1 1/4 screw on each side.  Repeat on the other side.
4. Use 2 1/2 inch screw to drill through the PVC pipe and dowel rod into the 4x4 just outside the galvanized clip area. Repeat on the other side.
5. Have your tester try them out!

Please remember that I make these bars for my personal use at home and at the gym under strict instruction.  They are called floor bars for a reason.  Keep them on the ground, never elevate.

 What Do You Do With A Floor Bar?

There are seemingly endless uses of a floor bar.  I frequently keep one next to me while I coach bars as I love to pull athletes to work one on one on a problem part during their workout.  However, floor bars are not just for Competitive Team athletes.  We use them all the way down to our preschool program teaching front support and cast shaping. 

Basic uses:

• Bear crawl forward
• Bear crawl sideways
• Cartwheel hop over
• Horsie kick

Intermediate uses:

• Tuck hold
• Pike hold
• Straddle hold
• Cartwheel over

Advanced uses:

• Handstand against wall
• Press to Handstand
• Pirouette
• And much, much, more!

Happy Training!

Morgan Kuchynka