# RPE 9 feels easy

**URL:** <https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/rpe-9-feels-easy/11178>\
**Category:** Training Q&A \[Moderated\]\
**Created:** [August 5, 2021, 12:14pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/rpe-9-feels-easy/11178 "2021-08-05T12:14:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Andy916](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f08c70/32.png) [@Andy916](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Andy916)\
**Post date:** [August 5, 2021, 12:14pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/rpe-9-feels-easy/11178/1 "2021-08-05T12:14:20Z")

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Hello BBM, I have been running the bridge for the second time and I’m making good progress on squats and deadlifts, the only problem I have is with bench press. I have been trying to get better at RPE but I just can’t get it to work. I’m a faster lifter when it comes to benching so for me internally and in terms of bar speed RPE 9 feels easy, more like a 7-8 (compared to my SQ/DL), and because of this I tend to overshoot RPE and miss reps more often on bench. RPE 10 for me does not feel like a true maximum very grindy effort, even though if I attempt another rep I fail. When I’m prescribed RPE 8 sets they all feel much easier and I feel internally like I have at least 3-4 reps more when in reality I only have 2. Bar speed seems to not be a good indicator for me either so I was thinking of modifying the RPE scale and instead of RPE 9 being 1 rep left, for me it would be 2 reps left, RPE 8 3 reps left etc… This way my internal feeling won’t overshoot whats actually possible in reality. What do you guys think about this?

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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:** [August 5, 2021, 4:27pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/rpe-9-feels-easy/11178/2 "2021-08-05T16:27:39Z")

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Hey Andy,

How long have you been lifting and do you have a video that shows this?

-Jordan

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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:** [August 8, 2021, 1:13pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/rpe-9-feels-easy/11178/3 "2021-08-08T13:13:21Z")

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Yea, I don’t think that’s unusual. Using our calculator, 61kg x 4 @ 8 suggests 64kg x 4 would be a 9.5 at best. I don’t think this experience is outside the norm, but would rather take smaller, more conservative jumps. It is far better to undershoot by a half RPE than to go to failure IMO.