Minimum Parallel Bar Length

Now that F2 is out I see I'll need to add a set of parallel bars to my home gym.  I currently have a dip station but don't think the length of the handles is suitable for some of the single bar and double bar exercises in F2 (and beyond?).

Anyway, since it will go into a home gym I'd like to make it as small as possible, but large enough to accomodate all exercises in F1-F4.  With this in mind, what would be a good length that should suffice?  I obviously don't want to put in standard 11-footers if I don't need to!

I won't be needing these anytime soon, as I have a ways to go on F1, but it doesn't hurt to start planning and building.  

Zach Armijo said:

Keep in mind the room needed for Korean dips and leg travel as well as possible swinging dip room. So the bottom of a dip with the legs traveling in front of you. This room should also cover Russian dips as well.

Oh yeah, I'm considering this as well.  I have a vision of a standalone set that can be pulled away from the wall if need be, so that should handle the leg room in the horizontal.  I was thinking something along the lines of 5 ft. high to cover this leg room in the vertical dimension.  But I wasn't sure about the length - would something like 3 ft. work, which would be a little wider than shoulder width (for single bar work), or might there be other exercises that might require something even wider?

And on second thought, might there be anything forthcoming that might require some under-the-bar work to where I may want to go higher than 5 ft (I'm 5'9")?  I already have a pullup bar, so if it's just single bar pullups then I have that covered.

If 1.5x shoulder width is greater than 36-40 inches... I want pics! I made mine 5 feet long and it was WAAAAAAAY more than I needed!

Joshua Naterman said:

If 1.5x shoulder width is greater than 36-40 inches... I want pics! I made mine 5 feet long and it was WAAAAAAAY more than I needed!

That's good to hear - I was hoping I could get away with something smaller than 5 ft., but without knowing what's coming down the line in F3 and F4 I wasn't sure.  How tall are yours?

I made them 5 feet tall, but that was to be able to practice dynamic skills as well. FYI, I am 6'1" tall.

Joshua Naterman said:

I made them 5 feet tall, but that was to be able to practice dynamic skills as well. FYI, I am 6'1" tall.

And I guess so far you've found that height to be sufficient for pretty much everything?  I'm only 5'9", so if it works for you at 6'1" then it'll obviously work for me too.

Parallel Bar Width

A former gymnast (70 years old) friend of mine said when he was trained in the 50's they were told the width of the bars s/b determined by measuring the length from one's longest finger tip to one's elbow.

Is this still a good way to determine the custom width of the bars for practicing Gymnastic Strength Training™?