Phenomenal knurling, it’s aggressive, not sharp, and grippy. When I used the Fray beater bar I had to chalk up for every movement. With this Vulcan Absolute I only have to use it for deadlifts. I do front squats and power cleans so the passive center knurl is a thoughtful detail. The bar is stiff. No whip at all. It’s great for bench and squat, but took a little getting used to for DLs. I don’t think it has a negative impact on performance, though. I am not convinced that the ribbed sleeves actually generate enough friction to keep plates on, but either way I love the mat finish and overall aesthetic of them. Also the delivery was super quick. The website says there is a lead time of over a week. I got my “shipped” notification within 3-5 days and the bar arrived the next day. The packaging was bulletproof. 7/5 would recommend for serious lifters.