What is the difference between DOTS, Wilks, and GL?

DOTS (2019) is the current IPF formula, Wilks (2020 revision) is the legacy standard still used by many federations, and Goodlift (GL Points) is the newer IPF system that expresses scores as a percentage of world-record performance. Each uses different polynomial coefficients to normalize totals against bodyweight.

Which scoring system should I use?

Use whatever your federation requires for competition. For personal tracking, DOTS is the current IPF standard. This tool shows all three so you can see which one favors your weight class and total.

Why does GL Points give a different classification than DOTS?

GL Points scale differently — they represent performance as a percentage of a theoretical maximum, so the numerical ranges for each classification differ from DOTS and Wilks.

Does raw vs equipped matter?

Yes, for GL Points. The Goodlift formula uses different coefficients for raw and equipped lifting because equipped totals are systematically higher. DOTS and Wilks do not distinguish between raw and equipped.

Can agents run this deterministically?

Yes. Supply sex, bodyweight_kg, total_kg, and equipped as JSON to receive dots, wilks, gl scores and classifications deterministically.

Is this tool free and private?

Yes. All calculations run client-side in your browser. No data leaves your device.

Methodology: DOTS vs Wilks vs GL Calculator

Scope

Runs the DOTS, Wilks-2020, and IPF GL Points formulas against the same total and surfaces the one that favors the lifter's bodyweight most.

This is a comparison display, not a truth claim about which coefficient set is correct.

Formula

Each formula follows the same structure: score = total_kg x scale / polynomial(bodyweight). The polynomials and scale constants are sex-specific and federation-specific.

Coefficients

Parameter	Value	Note
DOTS scale	`500`
Wilks-2020 scale	`600`
IPF GL scale	`100`
Polynomial degree	`4`	All three formulas use degree-4 polynomials of bodyweight.

Data sources

IPF Technical Rulebook — DOTS and GL Points.
Wilks-2020 coefficient refit. — Published alongside the IPF's transition from DOTS back to GL Points for world-ranking purposes.

Assumptions

All three formulas receive identical total_kg and bodyweight_kg inputs.
Sex is used to select the correct coefficient row; there is no separate youth or master adjustment in the underlying formulas.

Approximation range

Output scores sit on different scales: DOTS and Wilks-2020 usually land in 300–600 for elite lifters, while IPF GL Points tops out near 100.

Rankings between the three can diverge by several percent for lifters at the light and heavy extremes of their weight class.

Limitations

Comparing scores across formulas is an apples-to-oranges exercise; the 'best' score is the one your federation uses.
Each polynomial carries the same caveats as its underlying DOTS/Wilks/GL fit range.

Reproducibility

See individual reproducibility notes on /methodology/dots-score-calculator/ — the combined tool runs the same arithmetic three times with different coefficient rows.

Change log

2026-04-24: methodology page first published.

Progressive Overload Planner — Project lifting progression with weekly overload and planned deload cycles.
One-Rep Max Calculator — Estimate one-rep max with Epley, Brzycki, and Lombardi formulas.
Strength Standards Calculator — Rank your lifts from Beginner to Elite based on bodyweight ratios.
DOTS & Wilks Score Calculator — DOTS & Wilks score calculator: compare powerlifting strength across weight classes with IPF DOTS and Wilks-2020 coefficients.

Worked example

Computed by the same engine bundle served at /engines/dots-wilks-gl-combined-calculator.js. Re-runnable: the values below are the literal output of compute(engineInput).

Input

tool: dots_wilks_gl_combined
sex: male
bodyweight_kg: 83
total_kg: 500
equipped: false

Output

dots: {"score":337.54368782723407,"classification":"Novice"}
wilks: {"score":334.0178452287817,"classification":"Intermediate"}
gl: {"score":69.2132912996361,"classification":"Intermediate"}
bestSystem: Wilks
bodyweightKg: 83
totalKg: 500
bwRatio: 6.024096

FAQ

What is the difference between DOTS, Wilks, and GL?: DOTS (2019) is the current IPF formula, Wilks (2020 revision) is the legacy standard still used by many federations, and Goodlift (GL Points) is the newer IPF system that expresses scores as a percentage of world-record performance. Each uses different polynomial coefficients to normalize totals against bodyweight.
Which scoring system should I use?: Use whatever your federation requires for competition. For personal tracking, DOTS is the current IPF standard. This tool shows all three so you can see which one favors your weight class and total.
Why does GL Points give a different classification than DOTS?: GL Points scale differently — they represent performance as a percentage of a theoretical maximum, so the numerical ranges for each classification differ from DOTS and Wilks.
Does raw vs equipped matter?: Yes, for GL Points. The Goodlift formula uses different coefficients for raw and equipped lifting because equipped totals are systematically higher. DOTS and Wilks do not distinguish between raw and equipped.
Can agents run this deterministically?: Yes. Supply sex, bodyweight_kg, total_kg, and equipped as JSON to receive dots, wilks, gl scores and classifications deterministically.
Is this tool free and private?: Yes. All calculations run client-side in your browser. No data leaves your device.