IPF GL Points Calculator (lb/kg)

In powerlifting, weight classes exist to eliminate any bias against smaller and female athletes. This is because research indicates that muscular strength is affected by an individual’s inherent size and gender ^[1]. However, professional bodies must impartially declare the top powerlifter in open competitions. To do that, they determine the overall powerlifting score using IPF GL points.

What’s My IPF GL Score?

---

---

Powerlifting is growing as a professional competitive sport. More and more athletes belonging to different weight groups and height classes are showing up to challenge their peers ^[2]. 

However, they cannot all compete against each other fairly because of differences in their physical characteristics. As a solution, bodies like the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) have come up with different methods to standardize the scoring system for all athletes.

Among them, the IPF Goodlift score is the most popular. It takes many factors into account, including the athlete’s weight, gender, and the type of lift that they have performed. Based on the points they score, they can be positioned on the standard table accordingly and compared against other athletes who might have performed in a different weight class or a different kind of lift.

For example, it was nearly impossible to compare powerlifters performing raw lifts and assisted lifts. But with the help of IPF GL coefficients, the same can be done without any bias against athletes. You can easily get your IPF GL score using our calculator above.

Unlock More Fitness Insights:

 

What is IPF GL Points?

IPF GL stands for the International Powerlifting Federation GoodLift. It is a standardized scoring system that is used by major bodies like the IPF and all the corresponding affiliates, including Powerlifting America.

The method is used for evaluating the best lifter of the competition across all weight classes, genders, and powerlifting rules (raw/equipped). It does so by taking into account the weight and gender of the athlete and standardizing the score based on predefined parameters or coefficients.

IPF GL points is the most widely used method for comparing powerlifters today. It was introduced in 2020 and immediately replaced its predecessor, IPF Points. The new formula addressed many criticisms of the IPF Points, including the lack of consistency and accuracy for extreme values.

In 2020, the IPF GL method ranked first in IPF’s Evaluation of Scoring Methods, based solely on accuracy and overall efficacy.

How are IPF GL Points Calculated?

IPF GL points can be calculated using a standardized formula. It is a sophisticated method that involves many parameters, including the weight of the athlete, their gender, as well as the type of lift performed.

The last parameter is especially important in the fair evaluation of powerlifting scores. This is because raw and equipped powerlifting competitions have produced substantially differing records ^[3]. 

IPF GL Formula

The IPF GL formula is given below:

IPF GL Score = (100×w)/(A – B × e^-Cx)

Where,

• x = weight of the athlete
• w = weight lifted by the athlete
• e = natural logarithm
• A, B, and C = parameters or coefficients given by the IPF

Here, the formula takes into account two key variables – the weight of the athlete and the total weight lifted during the lift.

Apart from that, standardizing coefficients are used based on the gender of the athlete and the nature of the lift.

IPF GL Coefficients

The IPF GL parameters or coefficients are given by the International Powerlifting Federation itself. They are carefully calibrated to accurately reflect variations in performance due to the athlete’s gender or the nature of the lift.

The IPF GL coefficients are given as follows:

To give an example, here’s how we’ll calculate the performance of Inzarkin Dmitry (Russian Powerlifter) in the 49^th edition of the Men’s Equipped Powerlifting World Open Championship held in 2019.

The variables are as follows:

• Body Weight: 93 kilograms
• Powerlifting Total: 0 kilograms

Based on the parameters, the calculation will be:

IPF GL Points: 0.109039 * 1035.0 = 112.855365 points

Unlock More Fitness Insights:

 

Is DOTS or IPF GL Better?

On the basis of accuracy, the International Powerlifting Federation GoodLift (IPF GL) score is the best way to evaluate and compare the performance of distinct powerlifters.

The DOTS, or Dynamic Object Team Rating System, is another method to standardize the performance of athletes belonging to different age groups, weight classes, and genders.

However, the DOTS formula does not take into account the nature of the lift as a key parameter. The formula is given by the equation:

DOTS Coefficient = 500/(a+bx+cx²+dx³+ex⁴)

Where,

• x = the overall body weight of the athlete
• A, B, C, D, and E = fixed standardizing coefficients

The coefficients are given on the basis of the gender of the athlete and are pre-determined by the concerned bodies.

The main difference in the DOTS method lies in the absence of additional factors like equipment (Raw/Classic or Equipped) and Meet Type (Full or Bench Only), which are crucial for determining the best lifter in the competition.^[4]

That is why the DOTS score ranked 2^nd behind the IPF GL method in the 2020 Evaluation of Scoring Models. In terms of overall consistency, precision, and efficacy, the IPF GL points are superior to DOTS points.^[5]

Final Words

The growing popularity of powerlifting as a competitive sport requires a foolproof way to standardize scores of different athletes to determine the best among them.

For this, the International Powerlifting Federation GoodLift (IPF GL) points stand out as the most efficient method for evaluating and comparing powerlifters across diverse weight classes, genders, and lifting styles.

While older methods like IPF Points have always existed, they did not have the precision or sophistication of the parameters associated with the GL system. IPF officially declared that the older formula was not entirely true and fair to participants of all weight classes. As such, they introduced the GoodLift system with improved coefficients and a revised formula for the same.

As a result of these changes, the IPF GL scoring system is the most popular for all major powerlifting federations and bodies.

References

1. Nuzzo, J. L. (2022). Narrative review of sex Differences in muscle strength, endurance, activation, size, fiber type, and strength training participation rates, preferences, motivations, injuries, and neuromuscular adaptations. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 37(2), 494–536. https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0000000000004329
2. Van den Hoek, D. J., Owen, P. J., Garrett, J. M., Howells, R. J., Pearson, J., Spathis, J. G., & Latella, C. (2022). What are the odds? Identifying factors related to competitive success in powerlifting. BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-022-00505-2
3. A comparison of world records between the EQ and RAW powerlifting. . . (n.d.). ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/figure/A-comparison-of-world-records-between-the-EQ-and-RAW-powerlifting-divisions-in-female_tbl3_346650321
4. Bishop, P. A., Williams, T. D., Heldman, A. N., & Vanderburgh, P. M. (2018). System for evaluating powerlifting and other multievent performances. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 32(1), 201–204. https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0000000000001808
5. Oleksandr Kopayev, Borys Onyshchenko, and Anatoliy Stetsenko (2020) Valuation of Wilks, Wilks-2, Dots, IPF and Goodlift formulas for calculating relative scores in ipf powerlifting competitions https://www.powerlifting.sport/fileadmin/ipf/data/ipf-formula/Models_Evaluation-I-2020.pdf