Longest linear progression?

[Hawkpeter]

Rip,

what's the longest linear progression for the back squat you have seen?

What's humanly possible?

[Mark Rippetoe]

I would guess about 5 months. Most people's patience erodes before their potential. But the math will calculate it for you. Say a kid starts at 135 x 5 x 3, takes 10 lb jumps to 185, 5 lb jumps after that, and ends up at 335 x 5 x 3. That's 12 weeks. The reality is that there will be breaks, injuries, and homework. But this happens frequently, 135 to 335, and that's pretty good strength for 5 months.

[MazdaMatt]

Conversely, since I'm a pussy and I'd like to make myself feel better... What would you say is a poor end to linear progression from a fellow who actually tries but is just genetically lame (Let's say 5'11" who read A Clarification and worked up to 200lbs in the process without getting too fat, lets say I... er... this peson... is in their late 20's)?

Would this low ending weight, or the "good" weight be drastically affected by good coaching vs no coaching?

[radiator41]

What would be the expected body weight gain for an individual with this type of strength gain?

[Mark Rippetoe]

Coaching would definitely be a factor, especially if you needed it and didn't have it.

Bodyweight gain would be 30-40 lbs.

[HardGraft]

I have recently went from 100kg for 3 sets of 5 to 187.5kg for the same. There were a few breaks (e.g. holiday) and plateaus but that took about 5-6 months. I gained 10kg in bodyweight.