PL2 -> Strength 2 Next Gen

Training Q&A [Moderated]
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I’ve ben running an off-season program of my own making since the start of August, and am almost ready to jump back in. I’ll actually probably jump to Powerbuilding 3 for a minute, but I noticed in the app that PL2 is no longer for sale, and it looks like it has been replaced with the next gen Strength templates. I was looking through the new templates, and I think Strength 2 4x/wk with Upper/Lower sounds interesting, and I was really just hoping to get a run-down of the differences between PL2 and the next gen Strength program. I have had a fair bit of luck running PL2, and so I do like that program quite a lot, but I am also intrigued by the UL. It sounds like a lot of consolidation has been made here by integrating the GPP accessory work into the main program, which I think I’ll like. But with UL I’m wondering how things end up getting structured, as I have had quite a bit of luck with the 3x frequency on Squats or squat patterns, and 2x frequency on DL/hinge patterns.

I am still quite a bit out from my next meet, Powerlifting America Age Division Nationals in May. But looking to figure out my blocks between now and then. So I am wondering what the block looks like - is this still a 2-3 block approach for a total 13 weeks like PL2? What are the frequency on the competition lifts? What is the mix of comp lifts and accessory? Really just looking to get an idea what this template looks like before I make a decision on it.

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Our new Strength II template includes eight total programs, i.e. two blocks of 3- and 4-day powerlifting and strengthlifting programs.

The frequency of the comp lifts is 3x/wk in the 3-day programs and 2x/wk in the 4-day programs (it’s upper lower). As far as the mix of competition to non-competition lifts, it’s pretty similar to our other templates in that the user can pick their own exercises, but our defaults are relatively high when it comes to variety. For example, week 2 of block 2 will have 1 exposure to each comp lift, then 2 additional exposures to a squat pattern, 1 to a hinge pattern, and 3 to a bench pattern (plus time dedicated to pull, arms, trunk, and conditioning work).

You can get a feel for it by checking out the free sample on the app or here.

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Makes sense Jordan! That clears some things up, too, specifically:

two blocks of 3- and 4-day powerlifting and strengthlifting programs.

I was trying to figure out why there was 8 different programs in there. I guess I’ll just activate the free week in the app. I just didn’t want to switch to the program just yet, so hadn’t done that, but that would probably answer more of my questions. I’ll try it out. Thanks!

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Also seeing now that the website provides a better summary than the app with the visual chart/table - I’ll keep that in mind in the future!

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As a true millennial, I tend to prefer the website to the app!