The official IPF comparison metric
The International Powerlifting Federation scores its meets with GL points (also called Goodlift points). Where Wilks and DOTS use polynomials, the GL system uses a smooth exponential curve of bodyweight, which the IPF found fit its competition data better — especially at the heavy end. If you compete under IPF rules, GL points are the number on the results sheet.
How it works
The points are computed as:
GL points = 100 / (A − B · e^(−C · bodyweight_kg)) × total_kgHere e is Euler’s number and the three constants A, B, and C are chosen from a lookup of four categories: men raw, men equipped, women raw, and women equipped. As bodyweight rises, the exponential term shrinks toward zero, so the denominator approaches A and the coefficient flattens out — exactly the behaviour the IPF wanted for super-heavyweights.
Why GL replaced the older IPF formula
The original IPF formula (used until 2019) was a polynomial that, critics argued, under-scored lifters at both extremes of the bodyweight range. The GL exponential curve was fitted to a larger dataset of IPF competition results and produces a more balanced comparison between the lightest and heaviest weight classes. It also naturally avoids the oscillation artefacts that high-degree polynomials can produce outside their fitted range.
GL vs Wilks vs DOTS
| Formula | Function shape | IPF official? |
|---|---|---|
| Wilks 2020 | 5th-degree polynomial (men/women) | No (used by many federations) |
| IPF GL | Exponential | Yes (since 2019) |
| DOTS | 5th-degree polynomial | No (used by some German feds) |
The three formulas give similar rankings in the middle bodyweight ranges but can diverge significantly at the very light and very heavy ends. If you track your progress over time, use the same formula consistently — mixing GL and Wilks numbers across different years is not meaningful.
Interpreting your score
GL points scale with both bodyweight and total, so there is no single “good” number independent of context. Rough benchmarks for raw competition:
- Below 50 — recreational / beginner level
- 50–70 — solid club-level competitor
- 70–85 — strong regional competitor
- 85–100 — national-level competitive range
- Above 100 — international / elite
These are rough illustrations, not official thresholds. Actual results depend on the depth of the field in each federation and weight class.
Notes
GL points are only meaningful within the same sex and equipment category, so always set those correctly. Because the curve flattens for heavier athletes, lighter lifters gain more points per extra kilogram of total. Use the kilogram total from the platform; never convert from pounds after the fact.