Critique my PL plan

[Alex Bond]

So I am planning my training week that I will follow for a while. My goals are mainly to make linear progress in the PL lifts, especially bench and deadlift, which are weak relative to my squat. This plan was inspired by the various "Advanced Novice" plans I've seen Rip discuss. All notation is sets x reps.

Day 1: Bench 3x5, Squat 3x5, Machine Row 3x5, DB Row 1 per hand x Max Reps
Day 2: Rest
Day 3: Press 3x3, Front Squat 3x3, Power Clean 3x3, Curls 3x10, Top of DL static hold for time
Day 4: Rest
Day 5: Bench 3x5, Squat 3x5
Day 6: Deadlift 1x5, whatever accessory crap I am in the mood for which will probably be some mobility stuff, maybe pull-ups and dips, short conditioning
Day 7: Rest

Everything goes up in weight every time I do the exercise, except the DB rows, where I will take a weight, try to get a target number of reps with each arm, I'm thinking 25, and will up the weight when I hit that number. The DL static hold for time won't be to failure - I think my target will be to get to 30 seconds, when I do that I'll up the weight. Conditioning will be running and will be short and not super intense, unless it is raining or something and then I will figure something else out but it will still be <10 minutes.

I'll explain why I'm doing what I'm doing. I used to do the Day 5 and 6 workouts in the same day - squat, bench, dead like in SS. But the weights were going up, and I was tired enough after doing squats and bench that I felt like I wasn't giving my deadlift the proper effort it deserved, and I wasn't making linear progress at weights I knew I should. I think that splitting off the DL means I'll be able to get after it more. With regards to the rows, the owner of my gym (who I've seen bench 495#) really loves this certain machine for rowing, so I'll take his word and do that. I'm doing the 1 arm DB rows since I've heard they are good too, and the max rep set will work the grip and core a little extra and pump up the row volume, which is a little low at only 3x5 on the main machine. My back is my weak point for benching, so I want to work hard on back work. I'm doing the DL static hold since my grip is my weak point in my DL, so I want to get that in shape. On day 3, everything is 3x3 instead of 3x5 since the lower reps will reduce the chance of fatigue spilling over to the end of the week - make it more like a Texas method light day - and to make it easier to make consistent linear progress up. Conditioning is just enough that I don't get out of breath if I have to run to catch a bus or whatever - nature punishes the specialist, right guys?

So my plan is to make linear progress for a while. At some point, this will stop. I've already reset bench and squat once each while trying to make linear progress, so I figure I will reset them once more each then have to move into something more intermediate. I have two options. I could go right into Texas method for squat and bench, doing 5x5 on day 1 and 5RM, 3RM, etc on day 5. My other idea would be to stay doing 3x5 on day 1 and doing 3x3 at a higher weight on day 5, then do the day 5 3x3 weight for the next week's day 1 3x5. For example, 400#x3x5, 405#x3x3, 405#x3x5, 410#x3x3,... This might be a way to keep week to week linear progress in the 3x5 going by introducing the higher weight at a easier, lower number of reps before having to do it for 3x5. The other stuff, if I stall I will just reset down 10%. This probably goes for DL too, though I might need some more ideas of what to do there.

What are people's thoughts? Looking forward to any kind of feedback!




My numbers from my last competition a few days ago: squat: 418#; bench: 245# and just barely got red lights for improper technique on 265#; deadlift: 412# and almost got 440# if it weren't for the grip failing me. Press was at 165#x3x3, front squat 280#x3x3, power clean 210#x3x3, the rest don't really matter. Bodyweight 240#, I eat my share of food but I can't go nuts since I want to stay in the 242#s.

[The Laughing Man]

Well your program doesn't look much like a powerlifting program, it looks like a general strength program - which incidentally would happen to increase your numbers on the PL lifts.