# Ascending sets with dumbbells

**URL:** <https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/ascending-sets-with-dumbbells/18023>\
**Category:** Training Q&A \[Moderated\]\
**Created:** [June 1, 2025, 2:26pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/ascending-sets-with-dumbbells/18023 "2025-06-01T14:26:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ionRod](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.barbellmedicine.com/ionrod/32/5557_2.png) [@ionRod](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/ionRod)\
**Post date:** [June 1, 2025, 2:26pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/ascending-sets-with-dumbbells/18023/1 "2025-06-01T14:26:10Z")

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Hi BBM team! I’m planning to add dumbbell exercise into my [Time Crunch template](https://www.barbellmedicine.com/shop/training-templates/strength/time-crunch-template/). Of course for the ascending sets, the jumps in weight are too big to accurately hit RPE 6, 7, and 8 using weight selection alone. Would it make sense to use a rep range as a proxy for RPE progression instead?

For example:  
• Set 1: 20 kg x 6 reps @6  
• Set 2: 20 kg x 7 reps @7  
• Set 3: 20 kg x 8 reps @8

Once I adapt to this range, I could progress like this:  
• Set 1: 20 kg x 7 reps @6  
• Set 2: 20 kg x 8 reps @7  
• Set 3: 22 kg x 6 reps @8

Is this a valid approach? Or am I overthinking it, and for dumbbell exercises should I just use a different strategy instead of ascending sets?

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**Author:** ![Jordan\_Feigenbaum](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.barbellmedicine.com/jordan_feigenbaum/32/1315_2.png) [@Jordan\_Feigenbaum](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Jordan_Feigenbaum)\
**Post date:** [June 1, 2025, 2:27pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/ascending-sets-with-dumbbells/18023/2 "2025-06-01T14:27:52Z")

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I wouldn’t worry too much about hitting the RPE number exactly, and I’d prefer adding weight gradually to adding reps. That said, either way works.

If I were targetting ~ 22kg x 8 for my set @ PRE 8, I’d probably do 17.5 x 8, 20 x 8, then 22 x 8.