[flint]

I think Mark Ripptoe is the best guy on what and how to do it. His explanation of what to do and the details of how to do it in his book Starting Strength are astonishingly detailed. An engineering process document on how to build strength. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Rippetoe

[beezlebroxxxxxx]

Rippetoe is great for beginners and for the most part he as a pretty deserved cult following online because he has been the entry point for so many people into going to the gym and lifting in particular.

The drawback of this is that there's this idea that he is the standard. But he's actually very opinionated, has some outdated info, and is very focused on powerlifting.

That's not to take away from his utility for beginners, but once you are out of the beginner stage his programming recommendations are not as effective or sport specific enough for a lot of people.

If someone is going to the gym to improve at a sport, which is recommended for practically all sports, then something like Dan John's "Easy Strength" where lifting is the means to improving at the sport and not simply the end goal is probably a better direction.

[ng12]

True, but I would say - if you're serious about it - once you've graduated from Starting Strength programming you are already very strong, which is the goal.

[mmmrk]

The books "The Barbell Prescription" and "Practical Programming for Strength Training" contain a lot of info on how to branch out from the novice program. The latter contains a small section on lifting for sports, while on his podcast Rippetoe emphasizes that you do general strength development for any sport and spend the rest of the time practising that sport.

I was at a Starting Strength seminar recently and the coach explicitly said that the beginner's program is not the end-all, so I'm not sure where that criticism is coming from?

[brandonmenc]

> The drawback of this is that there's this idea that he is the standard. But he's actually very opinionated, has some outdated info, and is very focused on powerlifting.

Came here to say the same thing. And afaict even his powerlifting advice is bizarre and dated.

After helping out some beginners get into lifting I'd say his program is at best a poor use of time and at worst, dangerous and encourages injury.

[ng12]

Could you clarify? If you're starting from nothing and your goal is strength I'm not sure what could possibly be more efficient than SS.

[oarfish]

Probably any program that does not depend on doing RPE 10 efforts. There's this cringe video segment of his where he confidently states that the grindy last few reps are the ones that matter, which has no scientific basis.

But as a novice, you can progress linearly for some time and it's viable, as long as you know when to tap out. And then you might as well start with something more long term altogether.

[maxglute]

My observation is most lifters can't assess RPE/RIR if they don't start with an intensity driven program that forces failure as part of progression. Much better to learn how the feeling of grinding early on with baby weights with low injury chance.

[mmmrk]

Can you expand on why you think it's a waste of time?

[scrapcode]

I would argue that a copy of Starting Strength and a gym membership, or a few hundred bucks in barbell weights at home, is one of the most 'bang-for-your-buck' improvements you can immediately enact.