12 week strength RPE vs. % confusion

Hey Docs and Everyone,

I have a question about the percentage scheme in the 12 week strength program from the fall templates that I’m hoping someone can help with.
The development block portion of the competition lifts calls for

Volume/RPE of Competition Lifts Percentage Guidelines
1 @ 8, -20% from single for 25 reps (5 sets of 5)* Single @ 90-93%, Volume @ 70-74%

So my deadlift at a single with an RPE10 is 380 Lbs.
So a 1@8 for my deadlift comes to 350 Lbs. Which is about 92% of 380 Lbs. So far so good.
And -20% for my volume puts me at 280 Lbs. Which is about 73%. Still good, based on percentages.

However, 280 Lbs on the RPE calculator is about 7 reps @ 7 RPE or 8@8 or 9@9. 280 doesn’t register on the RPE calculator any lower than 7 reps.

This seems low to me considering that the May 12 week strength template called for

1 @ 8, 5 @ 8 reps x 4 sets*

SIDE NOTE: I’m assuming the May template had a typo and this was meant to say 5 reps @ 8 RPE instead of 5 (RPE?) @ 8 reps considering the RPE calculator doesn’t go to 5 RPE
If i used the May RPE scheme, the volume should be done at 308 Lbs which is about 81% of 380 Lbs.

So my question is… am I missing something here? Should i be doing the volume at 280 Lbs or 308 Lbs.

Hoping you can shed some light on this. Thanks in advance.

Your volume work in this scenario would be at 280 lbs. It’s meant to be submaximal, given the number of sets you need to do.

This is read as “5 reps at RPE 8, for 4 sets.” Hope that helps!

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OK thanks for verification

Austin, how would somebody arrive at these figures for The Bridge where only RPEs are given and not %s? E.g. The Bridge might say a single @ 8 then 5x5 @ 8. From your answer, it sounds like 73% (280 lbs) would be about right for the volume work. The first set will have about 5 reps left in the tank.

We can’t use the RPE chart because the figure would be far too high (81% or 308 lbs) as demonstrated by the original poster.

No, 73% is “about right” for the volume work if the specific prescription is to be hitting about 73% for your volume work. These sets will likely be significantly submaximal.

There is no “universally right” % to be working at for your volume work at all times, so if the prescription is 5 x 5 @ 8, then your target is to do exactly that. IOW, all sets having about 2 reps in the tank at the end.