Originally Posted by Mark Rippetoe
Meh... maybe not important for a novice but I feel like some fatigue-management like RPE is a godsend for an experienced lifter who needs to increase volume to make progress. There's no reason to do basically "RPE 10" all-out sets across for volume work as you need constantly longer breaks, needlessly get drained by the workout and have to cut volume anyway to keep that intensity up.
Cutting the intensity (by percentages, RPE or whatever measure) to effectively keep around 2 reps in the tank for the work sets and simultaneously increasing volume is absolutely superior to grinding on every set and consequently doing less volume.
Practicing heavier weights and improving motor-unit recruitment has its place of course but why not just practice it regularly on slightly sub maximal singles (e.g. RPE 8-9 or some 90-95%)? It's more specific to 1RMs and thus have more carryover than sets of 5 at basically "RPE 10" anyway. Here's how I'd do the TM for instance:
VD: 5x5 across at something like RPE 7 type weights and later on something like 5-7 sets of 4-6 reps as ascending, descending or pyramid sets and stepping through ranges of RPE 6-9.
LD: e.g. the same schemes as in VD but with lighter variations of the lifts (e.g. front squats, or when closer to competition paused squats or pin squats, etc.)
ID: 1x1 at RPE 8-9, followed by 2x2 or 2x3 at RPE 8-9
I find that results in a higher overall volume and thus improved progress as well as better practice with heavier weights without draining you as much as the standard TM.
