Free Programs and Spreadsheets
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Recommended Reading: Practical Programming for Strength Training by Make Rippetoe (Amazon)
Strength training programs are designed to increase the maximal force of the athlete's musculature. While the routines emphasize growing the strength of the athlete, they generally will also induce hypertrophy and trigger muscle growth. If hypertrophy is the primary goal, a powerbuilding or bodybuilding program is a better fit.
Strength routines differ from powerlifting programs in that they are not specifically designed to maximize the single rep max of the competition power lifts. However, many strength programs can be reasonably used as off season work for powerlifters as long as the program followed by a powerlifting peaking program before a meet.
Search the Lift Vault Program Library to find the exact program you're looking for based on many criteria (e.g. experience level, days per week, and much more).
The latest strength training programs are available below.
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An ectomorph workout is a training program designed to build mass for skinny individuals. The ectomorph body type is often described as having a flat chest, small shoulders, and thin waist. These individuals are often described as thin or skinny and have trouble putting on weight, possibly due to a faster than average metabolism (i.e. they are a “hard gainer”).
Building muscle and gaining weight is primarily a function of three things: [Read more…]
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Recommended by Lift Vault: Recommended
Experience level: Beginner
Weeks: 3
Periodization: Linear Periodization, Undulating Periodization
Powerlifting meet prep program: No
Program goal:Strength
Uses RPE:No
Uses 1RM Percentage(%):Yes
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5/3/1 is one of the most popular strength training programs ever, influencing other programs like GZCL and nSuns along the way. Its popularity has stemmed from its simplicity, flexibility, and ability to be run over and over for long periods of time. It favors slow, steady, repeatable progression over the long term instead of programs that pile on the weight for a few weeks or months before progress grinds to a halt. [Read more…]
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Recommended by Lift Vault: Recommended
Experience level: Advanced, Intermediate
Weeks: 4
Periodization: Undulating Periodization
Powerlifting meet prep program: No
Program goal:Hypertrophy, Strength
Uses RPE:No
Uses 1RM Percentage(%):Yes
As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure
Boring But Big (BBB) is a variation of Jim Wendler’s 5/3/1 template that focuses on high volume accessory work to induce hypertrophy after the main “5/3/1” work is finished. The BBB accessory work follows a scheme of 5 sets of 10 reps (5×10). It is both brutally simple and effective, making it one of the most popular 5/3/1 variations. [Read more…]
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Experience level: Advanced, Intermediate
Weeks: 12
Powerlifting meet prep program: No
Program goal:Powerlifting, Strength
Uses RPE:Yes
Uses 1RM Percentage(%):Yes
As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure
Omnidroid is a 5 day strength program Reddit user /u/benchpauper that runs for 12 weeks. It is structured a bit different than other programs and is definitely worth checking out if you’re a strength training enthusiast. It has a fair amount of heavy singles followed by back off volume and accessories. It looks like a lot of fun to run. [Read more…]
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Experience level: Advanced, Intermediate
Weeks: 12
Periodization: Undulating Periodization
Powerlifting meet prep program: No
Program goal:Powerlifting, Strength
Uses RPE:No
Uses 1RM Percentage(%):Yes
As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure
Make way, here comes another hybrid program from /u/benchpauper, the mad scientist that brought you MegaZord, Starscream, and other programs. [Read more…]
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Experience level: Advanced
Weeks: 5
Powerlifting meet prep program: Yes
Program goal:Peaking
Uses RPE:Yes
Uses 1RM Percentage(%):Yes
As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure
This is Mark Bell’s 5 week Sling Shot bench press program, also known as the “Stronger in 30 Days” program. It’s a relatively straightforward bench-only program that gradually decreases volume while increasing intensity before attempting a new PR on week 5. Pretty classic linear periodization leading into a peak. [Read more…]
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As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure
One of the most popular styles of split workout is the upper/lower split routine. An upper/lower split is a workout routine that focuses on a single portion of the body per training session, either the upper body (e.g. chest, back, biceps, etc.) or lower body (e.g. hamstrings, quads, glutes, etc.). [Read more…]
Popular strength training programs include, for novices, GreySkull LP, StrongLifts, and GZCLP and, for intermediate/advanced athletes, nSuns, Wendler 5/3/1, and the Texas Method.
Good strength training programs for beginners will be based on linear periodization and rapid progression, which take advantage of the novice lifter’s ability to have their homeostasis easily disrupted and recover quickly from that disruption. Programs that fit the bill for this include Starting Strength, Strong Lifts, and GreySkull LP. Ivysaur 4-4-8 is another solid pick.
If you’re just starting out, 3 training days a week is a good starting point. Doing more than that is not really necessary and could actually harm the lifter’s ability to adequately recover between sessions, especially if loads are increasing from workout to workout, as they should be on any good novice strength program.
Intermediate level lifters may benefit from training 4 or 5 days per week in order to achieve the necessary stimulus to disrupt homeostasis and induce adaptation.
It really depends on how the program is designed and what its goals are. Often times a powerlifting program is associated with a peaking program, which specifically aims to increase the one rep max on the squat, bench press, and deadlift. A strength program is less likely to focus on peaking. It also may focus less on strict competition lifts and may incorporate more variations of those lifts, like front squats, incline bench press, Romanian deadlifts, etc. Of course, all of those lifts can be used to help increase powerlifting performance too.
At the end of the day, every powerlifting program is a strength program, but not every strength program may be ideal for powerlifting.