DOTS, classic Wilks, Wilks 2020 and IPF GL all relate a lifted performance to bodyweight, but they are different scoring systems. A number without its formula name is incomplete information.
The practical differences
| System | What matters when using it |
|---|---|
| DOTS | Uses a fourth-degree bodyweight polynomial and separate male/female coefficients. |
| Classic Wilks | Uses a fifth-degree polynomial. Label it “classic” to distinguish it from Wilks 2020. |
| Wilks 2020 | Uses revised coefficients and a different scaling constant. It is not interchangeable with classic Wilks. |
| IPF GL | The IPF’s GL formula uses category-specific parameters. It is a separate system from DOTS. |
Why a higher number is not proof of a better formula
The output scale depends on how a formula is constructed. If one formula produces 400 and another produces 470 for the same lifts, the athlete has not become stronger. The scales and bodyweight curves differ. Compare each athlete under one selected system; do not subtract a Wilks number from a DOTS number.
A controlled way to compare two lifters
Suppose lifter A weighs 83 kg and totals 600 kg. Lifter B weighs 93 kg and totals 650 kg. Using the male DOTS formula gives approximately 405.05 points for A and 413.56 for B. B has both the larger total and the higher DOTS score in this example, but that is not guaranteed for every pair of bodyweights.
Now keep the inputs and switch the scoring system for both lifters. Any change in their score difference is caused by the formula, not a change in performance. This makes a side-by-side comparison useful; an unsourced star rating for “fairness” does not.
Which should I use for a meet?
Use the method specified by the federation or meet organiser for that award. The IPF states that IPF GL points replaced its previous formula in May 2020. That does not make DOTS equivalent to IPF GL. A website displaying DOTS cannot, by itself, determine an official IPF best-lifter result.
Which should I use to track my own progress?
Choose one clearly labelled formula and keep it consistent. Record your bodyweight and total as well as points, so you can understand what changed. If you switch from classic Wilks to Wilks 2020, recalculate earlier entries before drawing a trend line.
Keep other conditions visible too: raw versus equipped lifting, a meet total versus gym lifts, and a three-lift event versus bench only. None of these distinctions disappears because both results have a score attached.
Why calculators sometimes disagree
First check formula version and unit conversion. Then check bodyweight rounding, the boundary convention and whether an age multiplier was added. Compare the unrounded calculation before rounding the final result to the displayed precision. A disagreement in a last decimal is different from using the wrong formula entirely.
Compare two lifters with DOTS or read this site’s implementation notes.