Reverse Pyramid on Routines

Hi folks,

I wonder (simply out of curiosity) if there’s anybody who ramps the weights in a reverse pyramid fashion (but keeping the reps) on routines like texas method/madcow and all the other routines where you’re doing ramping weight sets.

Wouldn’t it be more efficient to f.ex. do the warm up sets->max load and then ramping down?
Or is it simply because the workout would be extremely lomg oif doing so?

Would like to hear you opinion

For me to call it a “ramp” the last few ramp sets have to be done for fewer reps than the main work sets, so I might do 135 x 10, 185 x 5, 225 x 2, 255 x 1, 275 x 1 and then 5 x 3 at 290.

Sometimes I will “accumulate” reps by doing the same or slightly more reps on the last few steps, for example 125 x 10, 185 x 5, 225 x 6, 245 x 6, 265 x 3 x 4, 5 or 6.

And rarely I will go up to a “hard” double or triple or 5 spot and then cut for my main sets, example, 135 x 10, 185 x 5, 225 x 3 then 255 x 2, 270 x 2, 280 x 2, 290 x 2, 300 x 2, then 275 x 3 x 4, 5 or 6. I actually do not like to do this on presses, squats or deads. I think that reducing the weight after hitting a heavier weight, while the weights might feel lighter, decreases the productivity. I usually only do this on Rows, high pulls and chins/pulldowns where my goal is not to max. So I might go for a fairly hard 5 on pulldowns, then drop back 25% and rep out for a few sets, or a hard double or triple and then sets of 4-7 or so at 15-25% less.

[quote]mertdawg wrote:
For me to call it a “ramp” the last few ramp sets have to be done for fewer reps than the main work sets, so I might do 135 x 10, 185 x 5, 225 x 2, 255 x 1, 275 x 1 and then 5 x 3 at 290.

Sometimes I will “accumulate” reps by doing the same or slightly more reps on the last few steps, for example 125 x 10, 185 x 5, 225 x 6, 245 x 6, 265 x 3 x 4, 5 or 6.

And rarely I will go up to a “hard” double or triple or 5 spot and then cut for my main sets, example, 135 x 10, 185 x 5, 225 x 3 then 255 x 2, 270 x 2, 280 x 2, 290 x 2, 300 x 2, then 275 x 3 x 4, 5 or 6. I actually do not like to do this on presses, squats or deads. I think that reducing the weight after hitting a heavier weight, while the weights might feel lighter, decreases the productivity. I usually only do this on Rows, high pulls and chins/pulldowns where my goal is not to max. So I might go for a fairly hard 5 on pulldowns, then drop back 25% and rep out for a few sets, or a hard double or triple and then sets of 4-7 or so at 15-25% less. [/quote]

Care to expound on why you feel decreasing weights on the big lifts reduces the sessions productivity?

[quote]WhiteFlash wrote:

[quote]mertdawg wrote:
For me to call it a “ramp” the last few ramp sets have to be done for fewer reps than the main work sets, so I might do 135 x 10, 185 x 5, 225 x 2, 255 x 1, 275 x 1 and then 5 x 3 at 290.

Sometimes I will “accumulate” reps by doing the same or slightly more reps on the last few steps, for example 125 x 10, 185 x 5, 225 x 6, 245 x 6, 265 x 3 x 4, 5 or 6.

And rarely I will go up to a “hard” double or triple or 5 spot and then cut for my main sets, example, 135 x 10, 185 x 5, 225 x 3 then 255 x 2, 270 x 2, 280 x 2, 290 x 2, 300 x 2, then 275 x 3 x 4, 5 or 6. I actually do not like to do this on presses, squats or deads. I think that reducing the weight after hitting a heavier weight, while the weights might feel lighter, decreases the productivity. I usually only do this on Rows, high pulls and chins/pulldowns where my goal is not to max. So I might go for a fairly hard 5 on pulldowns, then drop back 25% and rep out for a few sets, or a hard double or triple and then sets of 4-7 or so at 15-25% less. [/quote]

Care to expound on why you feel decreasing weights on the big lifts reduces the sessions productivity?[/quote]

I think that if you go pretty heavy, like 90% for a rep or two, and then drop down to 70-85% for reps, the 70-85% feels easier primarily because you are more efficient, and more “elastic” losing less energy to inter and intra muscular inefficiency. That is not all bad, but you may end up with a pop off the chest with 70-85% that does not mimic the same strength curve as when the 80% is your top load. So you may just throw it through your sticking point all the time, and never get any work in there. When you just do 5 x 3 at 80% the first set is usually the hardest off the chest, and you get more elastic and efficient for 2-3 more sets, and then fatigue starts to set in and the weight gets slower for sets 4 and 5. That way, using a single load you are able to build the whole bench press, (or squat) top to bottom.

If you think about training heavy as basically accomplishing 3 things: 1) cranking up the elastic efficiency of the muscles (Rate of force development), 2) Training optimal motor unit firing frequencies (maximum quasi-isometric strength), 3) Fatiguing motor units, when you do the heavy first, you have accomplished #1 already so speed/ballistic reps are overkill. #2 then is not going to get trained at lighter weights for full range movements because you will be faster than normal, and 3 can be trained, but it actually takes more work to fatigue the motor units because their is less energy lost.

Going heavy first is fine if you follow it up with reps to the point of fatigue, or with movement hybrids that make the lift less elastic, like paused lifts. IMO it reduces the efficiency of the 70-85% zone for 2-3 rep sets though. Also I think that 70-85% for 12-24 reps is the sweet spot for strength gains. But I don’t want to make it easier, I want to go through the process of having the first set be a little less efficient, going to more efficiency, and finally getting to mild fatigue on the last 2 sets.

Lastly, when I went to 70-85% I got results. When I started to do a 2-3 rep at 85%+ first, the 70-85 felt lighter immediately, but heavier without the heavy set first. And my progression halted.

This is similar to what I’ve always done, ramp up in 5’s without exhausting myself, till I can’t get 5, than ramp back down running up the reps -
135x10 - 225x5 - 255x5 - 275x5 - 315x5 - 345x3 - 315x6 - 275x8 - 255x10 - 225x16
Somthing like this, and if I’m feeling good on the way down I might stay at 315 for 3 sets of 5 or so. This has worked well for me, goals being strength first, and size a close second. I’ve used this progression on my big lifts for most of my life.