Question on Number of Reps in First Set

Bigger Stronger Leaner
1

Today i bicep curled a certain weight 17 times in the first set, my consecutive sets i only managed 10,9,8, 5 or something.I take relatively little rest between the sets

My goal is strength and hypertrofy. ( but i dont want to take a heavier weight yet because my wrists are finally not hurting for a while)

Would it be smarter to cut the first set short at about 12 reps for example so i can do more reps in the consecutive sets and maybe hit more volume over all in the total workout because i dont blow my whole wad in the first?

Or does maxing out in the first set and doing 17 reps have a benefit and does it provide a better stimulus over doing only 12 reps max.

2

Iā€™d save maxing out for the final set. You donā€™t want to blow your wad too early :grin:

Check out the articles on T Nation youā€™ll find loads of workouts for arms and pointers on form.

1 Like
4

This is probably a larger issue than what weight or reps you are curling. When I started lifting, my wrists would hurt from benching. By fixing a form problem and by improving grip strength, it fixed itself up.

As a beginner you want to address any pain or injuries quickly as they can become more serious as your poundage increases.

5

thanks.

6

if you took your first set to failure then you would expect a significant drop in reps in subsequent sets.

Personally I like to ramp my weights up, but thereā€™s more than one way to fuck a cat I suppose