I feel pretty confident in my ability to utilize RPE but I am finding that in the hypertrophy block/templates my e1rms are dropping significantly based on how I am grading them RPE wise.
if I use the RPE chart for reference and load selection for a set of 8 on squats I am completely drained at the completion of the set and it feels extremely heavy even though it’s based off of my true 1rm. Meaning that I have to adjust load accordingly and my e1rm changes pretty drastically.
is it normal for higher rep sets (8-10reps) to have much higher RPEs based on the estimated load the RPE chart suggests? Meaning, I find the RPE chart pretty spot on <6 reps but using it to guide load 8-10 reps feels very off. Is this normal?
I think that as the programming rx moves further away from your training base, e.g. what you’ve done before, the RPE chart and other predictive tools become less useful. That said, no, I would not expect higher rep sets to have higher RPE’s than lower rep sets if the weight is adjusted properly. For reference, I never use the chart to help me select the weight on the bar. While I think it can be useful at bracketing expectations, I don’t really use it at all.
What concerns me is that 500x1 is totally achievable for me and maybe even an RPE9 but when I do a set of 8 for 340 (which should be an RPE6 going by the chart) I feel like death RPE10.
Does this mean I should spend more time improving my rep work? Even if powerlifting 1rm is my primary focus?
That seems about right to me. My best deadlift is just shy of 740, but I probably can’t pull more than 600 for 8. I think if your primary focus is maximal low velocity strength, it’s pretty normal that you’re strength performances are biased towards that.