1. What is the Wilks Score?

The Wilks Score (or Wilks Coefficient) is a measure of strength relative to body weight used in powerlifting. It allows for fair comparison between lifters of different body weights by normalizing their total lifts.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Wilks formula:

Where:

• \( total\_lifted \) — Sum of best squat, bench press, and deadlift (kg)
• \( bw \) — Body weight (kg)
• \( a-f \) — Gender-specific coefficients

Explanation: The equation accounts for the non-linear relationship between body weight and strength potential, with different coefficients for men and women.

3. Importance of Wilks Score

Details: The Wilks Score is crucial for comparing powerlifters across weight classes in competitions and for tracking personal progress relative to body weight changes.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter your total powerlifting score (sum of squat, bench, and deadlift) in kg, your body weight in kg, and select your gender. All values must be valid (total > 0, body weight > 0).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why use Wilks Score instead of raw totals?
A: Wilks Score allows fair comparison between lifters of different body weights by normalizing performance to a standardized coefficient.

Q2: What is a good Wilks Score?
A: A score of 300+ is considered good, 400+ is excellent, and 500+ is world-class for natural lifters.

Q3: How does gender affect the Wilks Score?
A: The formula uses different coefficients for men and women to account for physiological differences in strength relative to body weight.

Q4: Are there limitations to the Wilks formula?
A: It may be less accurate at extreme body weights and doesn't account for factors like height or body composition.

Q5: Is Wilks still used in competitions?
A: Some federations still use Wilks, while others have adopted newer formulas like IPF Points (formerly IPF GL).