Attempt Selection

[moco]

So I've read a few articles on this and this is what I've found:

First Attempt: general guidance is ~90% of 1RM

Second Attempt: Some recommend 95-98% of 1RM while others go for as heavy as they know they can get - a lift they've made in training

Third Attempt: PR - 1RM +5lbs on BP, no more +10lbs on SQ/DL


My best lifts in the gym are 495 SQ, 350 BP, and 600 DL - based on that what should I go with for my 2nd attempts... these lifts that I've made or 98% of these?

[Sammich]

1) I deleted the duplicate thread.

2) My advice would be make your openers numbers that you can hit any time, any where. Second attempts should be a little challenging, but lifts you've made before (like a gym best). Then for 3rd attempt just go balls-out.

[JohnCaesar]

Agreed on opener being something you can do, even on a day when you feel trashy. I think second attempts should be dependent upon openers. If #1 flies up then make a decent jump based upon your confidence level. If it is pretty slow look to be a bit more conservative.

[moco]

Awesome, thanks guys!

[DCBliever]

I agree with JC and SAMMICH if it is your first or second meet, if it isn't then 2nd attempts should be pr's providing your openers weren't garbage and you are having an off day

[53greystreet]

There are many variables when it comes to attempts. I coach about 10 people and call all of their attempts at meets. I handle each lifters attempts differently from their openers to their thirds, and what jumps in between.

Remember that anything can happen on meet day, got to be prepared and roll with it. Everything might be feeling awesome and light, everything might be feeling like shit and heavy. That is why I generally suggest only having guidelines in mind for your second and third attempts as meet day adjustments are almost always a given. The only number you can really set for certain prior to the meet is your opener. Your opener should be something you could hit if you didn't sleep and had the flu, especially if lifting raw.

Different lifters have different strategy's. Some will hit their opener then go for a 5 lb PR on their second and if they get that go absolutely crazy for a third.

Wendler suggests:

1st- 85% of goal
2nd- 92.5% of goal
3rd- 100% of goal

If this is your first meet, I would not base anything but your opener off your gym lifts. This first meet will set your numbers going forward for PR's. Every lift you hit at this meet (if your first) will be a PR. Hit easy openers then adjust from there depending on how each attempt goes. It is impossible to duplicate meet conditions in the gym in terms of adrenaline, atmosphere, nerves and also judges.

What meet are you doing?

[big ross]

There are many variables when it comes to attempts. I coach about 10 people and call all of their attempts at meets. I handle each lifters attempts differently from their openers to their thirds, and what jumps in between.

Remember that anything can happen on meet day, got to be prepared and roll with it. Everything might be feeling awesome and light, everything might be feeling like shit and heavy. That is why I generally suggest only having guidelines in mind for your second and third attempts as meet day adjustments are almost always a given. The only number you can really set for certain prior to the meet is your opener. Your opener should be something you could hit if you didn't sleep and had the flu, especially if lifting raw.

Different lifters have different strategy's. Some will hit their opener then go for a 5 lb PR on their second and if they get that go absolutely crazy for a third.

Wendler suggests:

1st- 85% of goal
2nd- 92.5% of goal
3rd- 100% of goal

If this is your first meet, I would not base anything but your opener off your gym lifts. This first meet will set your numbers going forward for PR's. Every lift you hit at this meet (if your first) will be a PR. Hit easy openers then adjust from there depending on how each attempt goes. It is impossible to duplicate meet conditions in the gym in terms of adrenaline, atmosphere, nerves and also judges.

What meet are you doing?

Damn, great post. I wanna save that for my first meet.

[moco]

There are many variables when it comes to attempts. I coach about 10 people and call all of their attempts at meets. I handle each lifters attempts differently from their openers to their thirds, and what jumps in between.

Remember that anything can happen on meet day, got to be prepared and roll with it. Everything might be feeling awesome and light, everything might be feeling like shit and heavy. That is why I generally suggest only having guidelines in mind for your second and third attempts as meet day adjustments are almost always a given. The only number you can really set for certain prior to the meet is your opener. Your opener should be something you could hit if you didn't sleep and had the flu, especially if lifting raw.

Different lifters have different strategy's. Some will hit their opener then go for a 5 lb PR on their second and if they get that go absolutely crazy for a third.

Wendler suggests:

1st- 85% of goal
2nd- 92.5% of goal
3rd- 100% of goal

If this is your first meet, I would not base anything but your opener off your gym lifts. This first meet will set your numbers going forward for PR's. Every lift you hit at this meet (if your first) will be a PR. Hit easy openers then adjust from there depending on how each attempt goes. It is impossible to duplicate meet conditions in the gym in terms of adrenaline, atmosphere, nerves and also judges.

What meet are you doing?

Thanks for the detailed post!

I'm doing an SPF meet in WA state this coming Saturday - it was called the SPF Iron Quest... that one was cancelled but another took it's place on the same day and at the same place and they're calling it SPF Salvage Wars - whatever, all the same to me as long as I have a meet to lift in.

I've recently hit triples of 455 SQ, 320 BP, and 550 DL - I was planning on using these as my openers and will take your advice on determining my 2nd and 3rd depending on how I feel and how everything goes on the day of the meet.

Thanks again!