Reps for MASS. How low should you go?

[slobberknocker]

3-5

 

[guldukat]

I've always used the heaviest weight I can lift with good form and either shoot for 8 reps per set or I do pyramids starting with 8 reps 8-6-4-2-1-2-4-6-8.

If you're main goal is lifing for mass, what's the "lowest" useful number of reps you should use?

Conversely, what's the highest number you should ever be doing for a given set?

Hmm...that's kinda tough. I think leg pressing upwards of 50 reps CAN be enormously productive here and there. And there's nothing like sets of 20 rep squats or deadlifts.

In general, I like lifting in the 5-6 range, and in some exercises I gain best when hovering around that mark (any shoulder press, very strict skullcrushers), but I don't go below 8 reps on anything these days. I'm oftentimes at 10-12. DC training's rest-pauses require that, on most exercises, you keep the reps fairly moderate.

But that's in the context of doing one HARD work set. With 5x5 or other methods, I think it can be better to go lower than 8 reps. And I certainly know some real powerhouses who don't do a lot of work sets AND keep their reps low (e.g., Slobberknocker).

 

[coolcolj]

it doesn't matter

 

[Mike_Rojas]

If you progressively add weight to the bar your muscles will get bigger

 

[IronLion]

1-25

 

[b fold the truth]

1-25

What? I've been doing sets of 32 with the baby blues and I am getting HUGE growth!!!!

B True

 

[IronLion]

oh yeah, don't make me break out the studies on ya

 

[ffknight84]

3-5 for me

 

[p0ink]

it's weird reading these responses and then comparing them with some of the threads on the EF archive. it appears the opinions on reps for growth has greatly changed over the past 3 years on this site.

in the archives, a lot of people swore up and down that low reps weren't good for size, and that higher reps were the way to go.

 

[pwr_machine]

it's weird reading these responses and then comparing them with some of the threads on the EF archive. it appears the opinions on reps for growth has greatly changed over the past 3 years on this site.

in the archives, a lot of people swore up and down that low reps weren't good for size, and that higher reps were the way to go.

Back to my original idea; you need variety!