When to aim for PR on clean and jerks?

[Antun Karlovac]

Hi all,

For the strength lifts, I've learned to aim for a PR on the second set.

e.g. if it's 5 * 3 deadlifts, I'll usually do the first set a little below my PR, then go for the PR on the second set.

Several people (and experience) has told me that it's a bad idea to leave the target PR attempt until later in the sets, because I'll burn out.

From the comments on the main page (wfs), nobody seems to apply this strategy for the clean and jerks.

Is the recommended approach to do "sets up" for olympic lifts?

Thanks,

Antun

[Bert Brams]

Originally Posted by Antun Karlovac

Hi all,

For the strength lifts, I've learned to aim for a PR on the second set.

e.g. if it's 5 * 3 deadlifts, I'll usually do the first set a little below my PR, then go for the PR on the second set.

Several people (and experience) has told me that it's a bad idea to leave the target PR attempt until later in the sets, because I'll burn out.

From the comments on the main page (wfs), nobody seems to apply this strategy for the clean and jerks.

Is the recommended approach to do "sets up" for olympic lifts?

Thanks,

Antun

Antun, your approach is sound.

You will not get burned out from doing a PR-attempt on the second set if you are doing fairly row reps, like 1-3. Even the third or fourth set may be manageable.

Go with your feeling. If you feel strong on the second, then by all means go for it, you will not be burned out!

[Sean Dunston]

That is normally my approach on a CFT -- and any other ME lift.
I like to get a decent warm up, then hit a solid "come out" number. I then try to blast a PR on the second lift, and depending on how that went, adjust for the final rep.

[Antun Karlovac]

Thank you both for your replies. I think I'll take Bert's advice and leave it until the 3rd or 4th set of clean and jerks to go for the PR.

I'd prefer to go up in small increments, so I can watch my technique. When I do the strength lifts, I have to add a substantial jump in weight after the first set (to hit the PR on the second). That big jump in weight is what I'm trying to avoid for the clean and jerks.

-Antun

Even the third or fourth set may be manageable.

Originally Posted by Sean Dunston

That is normally my approach on a CFT -- and any other ME lift.
I like to get a decent warm up, then hit a solid "come out" number. I then try to blast a PR on the second lift, and depending on how that went, adjust for the final rep.

Same for me.