In early 2020, as the pandemic swept across the globe, my gym was shut down by local government restrictions. Like many others, I found myself grappling with how to continue my training, along with my gym clients with minimal equipment. My background in Olympic Weightlifting had instilled in me a deep appreciation for the challenge of the Snatch—an exercise demanding perfect body position, precise bar path, strength, stabilization, accuracy, and concentration. These elements made the Snatch unique among strength and conditioning movements, offering a complexity and difficulty that I missed during the lockdown.

As I began training at home using only a dumbbell, kettlebell, and a loaded backpack, I noticed several shortcomings when it came to training with these implements, especially for my clients without supervision from a professional. They lacked the specific challenge associated with Olympic Weightlifting and presented problems such as inefficient positioning during overhead movements, which led to unnecessary stress on the shoulders, elbows, and wrists. This was particularly evident as my own body struggled with years of heavy loads of traditional snatches and clean and jerks.

Training with lighter weights forced my clients to rely on self-correction and self-coaching, which exposed the limitations of these basic tools. The kettlebell, for instance, often shifted behind the wrists in overhead positions, forcing excessive anterior shoulder engagement and not targeting the areas I wanted to strengthen.

It was clear that existing equipment was falling short in providing the necessary feedback for effective training. This realization sparked an idea: what if there was a tool that combined the benefits of unilateral training with the ability to provide real-time feedback on position and movement patterns, while mirroring the demands of the Snatch? This implement would need to engage body position, bar path, strength, precision, stabilization, accuracy, and concentration to keep athletes fully engaged.

Drawing upon my background in welding and fabrication, I began sketching and developing a prototype for what would become the Freebell. The first tests of the prototype were exhilarating. The smooth motion and feedback from the offset weights along with the rotating handle were beyond my expectations. The open design allowed for proper joint alignment and safety, while the offset load and spinning handles recreated the sensation of Olympic lifts in a compact form.

The Freebell offered a new challenge with lighter loads, allowing for powerful movement while keeping the body healthier. It provided the crucial elements of weight path, stabilization, precision, accuracy, and concentration, effectively bridging the gap between traditional equipment and the unique demands of Olympic Weightlifting.

Thus, the Freebell was born out of a need to innovate and adapt, bringing together my passion for strength training with my skills in fabrication to create a tool that meets the rigorous demands of athletes at all levels.

The evolution of the Freebell has been a journey defined by the principle of "Harder to Heavier." The core idea has always been that intensity doesn’t merely come from increasing weight but from enhancing the challenge in various ways. Just like a biathlete must make a precise shot under the pressure of fatigue, the Freebell challenges athletes to maintain focus and control, elevating the intensity of their workouts beyond just adding more load.

As I worked through multiple prototypes, it became clear that the Freebell’s true strength lies in its ability to demand more from every movement. With each iteration, the design was refined to ensure that the dynamic actions required of the Freebell would test concentration and control. This meant that even without increasing the load, athletes had to engage more deeply with their movements, creating a higher level of intensity and challenge.

Training myself and my clients with the Freebell provided further insights into its potential. I observed its effectiveness in isolation bodybuilding movements, where it required precise tempo and control, thus generating greater tension throughout each rep. The leverage changes and end-range mechanics introduced by the Freebell create a mechanical disadvantage, intensifying muscle stress in the lengthened position and optimizing muscle growth.

A particularly intriguing development came from discussions with my partner and colleague, Caitlin Ciccone, a Doctor of Physical Therapy for the US Olympic Ski Team. Caitlin recognized the Freebell’s unique stabilization requirements as beneficial for her corrective and rehabilitation work. She began integrating it into programs designed for activation, corrective movements, and rehabilitation exercises, demonstrating its versatility and value beyond traditional training.

The creation of the Freebell has been an intense, four-year journey filled with innovation and refinement. I am thrilled to finally share the results with you. Thank you for taking the time to understand the process behind the Freebell. I look forward to seeing how you will incorporate it into your own training and rehabilitation efforts.

Thomas Lower, Freebell Founder and Owner