DOTS Score Calculator Formula

Understand the math behind the dots score calculator. Each variable explained with a worked example.

Use the DOTS Score Calculator

Formulas Used

DOTS Score

dots_score = round(total_kg * dots_coeff * 100) / 100

Total in Pounds

total_lbs = round(total_kg * 2.20462)

Body Weight in Pounds

bw_lbs = round(body_weight_kg * 2.20462 * 10) / 10

DOTS Coefficient

coefficient = round(dots_coeff * 10000) / 10000

Variables

VariableDescriptionDefault
body_weight_kgBody Weight(kg)82
total_kgPowerlifting Total(kg)500
genderGender1
male_denomDerived value= -307.75076 + 24.0900756 * body_weight_kg - 0.1918759221 * pow(body_weight_kg, 2) + 0.0007391293 * pow(body_weight_kg, 3) - 0.000001093 * pow(body_weight_kg, 4)calculated
female_denomDerived value= -57.96288 + 13.6175032 * body_weight_kg - 0.1126655495 * pow(body_weight_kg, 2) + 0.0005158568 * pow(body_weight_kg, 3) - 0.0000010706 * pow(body_weight_kg, 4)calculated
dots_coeffDerived value= 500 / (gender * male_denom + (1 - gender) * female_denom)calculated

How It Works

How the DOTS Score Works

DOTS (Dynamic Objective Team Scoring) is a modern coefficient for comparing powerlifting performances across weight classes.

Formula

DOTS Score = Total (kg) x DOTS Coefficient

The coefficient uses a 4th-degree polynomial fitted to updated performance data, providing a more balanced comparison across weight classes than the older Wilks formula.

Advantages Over Wilks

DOTS uses more recent competition data and provides a fairer comparison at the extreme ends of the body weight spectrum.

Worked Example

An 82 kg male lifter with a 500 kg powerlifting total.

body_weight_kg = 82total_kg = 500gender = 1
  1. 01Calculate denominator for male at 82 kg using polynomial
  2. 02DOTS coefficient is approximately 0.687
  3. 03DOTS score = 500 * 0.687 = 343.5

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