What does your sets look like???

[tzan]

Whats up guys? I've been doing sets by pyraming the weight and reps for as long as I can remember. For example for bench I usually do:
1 set- 275x10
2 set- 295x7
3 set- 315x4
4 set- 325x2

I used this just as an example for what I do for pretty much everything(obviously not always the same amount of reps). My question is would it be a good idea to say instead of pyramyding just use the same weight for the sets? For example:
1 set- 315x??
2 set- 315x??
etc.......

What does your ests look like?? Do you guys pyramid?? If not what do you do??

Thanks a lot, I really want to change up the way I do my sets.

 

[Stryc-9]

I just did chest today....killer pump!!

Try this mix after warming up:

1 Set - incline presses (working weight)
followed immediately by:
1 Set - flat presses (same weight)
followed immediately by:
1 Set - decline presses (same weight)

Or try alternating one set of flat barbell presses with an immediate set of incline dumbbell flyes.....the point is to shred the chest from every angle possible!!

Sorry this is just specific to chest.......but my pecs are still burning!

 

[needsize]

I never got into pyramiding, too many reps before my truely heavy sets make me too tiredto go heavy enough. I just warm up thoroughly and go right to first heavy set, ie, this is my warm up for deadlifts
135 5 reps
225 5 reps
315 3 reps
385lbs 3 reps
455 for working sets of 5 reps

 

[Thaibox]

I'm with needsize, pyramiding makes me unable to go heavy. I warm up, do a couple of light sets than right to the heavy stuff.

 

[tzan]

Thanks for the repies

I've been lifting for about 7 years and I've always pyramided. I can't believe I've never changed it up. I've always just figured this was the best way to lift. Just to make sure I'm getting you guys right, after you guys are all warmed up say your going to do 4 sets. What you guys do is aim for a certain amount of reps and try to hit that with the same weight on each set correct?? You guys never raise the weight after your first working set??
Thanks, I really appreciate the help with this. I can't stand it if I'm somehow cheating myself.

 

[tzan]

bump

 

[Jvesti1234]

yeah pyramid sets got me know where strength or mass wise, maybe definition

i like mainstay reps

 

[needsize]

tzan, I do use the same weight for the first 3-5 sets, if I can do all the sets on that weight it's time to add 5lbs for next week, I can usually do that every week during a heavy training cycle

 

[tzan]

Needsize- I tryed your style today, good pump. Instead of benching how I was in the past, I just did 4 sets with 305x5. Next week, I'll try to bump the weight to 315. Since I couldn't do the same weight every set on all my lifts, do you drop the weight down to try and get the same reps?? For example, on Incline DB's I repped 100's for 6 on my first two sets, but then on my third and fourth I only could get 5 and 3. Would have been smarter for me to drop down to say the 90's on my last sets, or am I doing it right??
Thanks again

 

[The Dude]

I mix the two, but rely more on pyramiding to some degree. The weight increases aren't big between sets (i.e. target 12,9,6, 10-15 where if I hit my target, my weight for THAT set goes up next time). I really like it, but straight sets definitely have their place with me too. Don't go down in weight when your reps start to decline unless your workout is designed to do a reverese pyramid.