Anabolic Talks

I’ve noticed a lot more people taking basically every set to the damn limit. Great for intensity, sure, but I’m starting to wonder if constantly grinding ugly reps is worth the extra wear and tear. How close to failure do you guys normally train on your big movements?

I usually keep 1–2 reps in the tank on compounds. I’d rather have a clean rep than turn the last one into a damn survival mission.

Depends on the exercise for me. Curls, lateral raises, machines? I’ll get pretty damn close. Heavy squats or presses? I’m usually a little more conservative.

I used to take everything to failure because I thought that was what “training hard” meant. All it really did was make me feel smoked for the next workout. Now I save the ugly reps for the stuff where the risk is lower.

The biggest difference for me was learning that hard doesn't have to mean sloppy. If my form starts changing just to squeeze out another rep, the set is basically over.

LariVeloso wrote: ↑Thu Oct 08, 2026 7:02 pm I’ve noticed a lot more people taking basically every set to the damn limit. Great for intensity, sure, but I’m starting to wonder if constantly grinding ugly reps is worth the extra wear and tear. How close to failure do you guys normally train on your big movements?

I’m probably around 1–3 RIR most of the time. Some days I’ll push closer if I’m feeling good, but I don’t need every set looking like a damn max-out attempt.

Yeah, that’s pretty much where I’m landing too. I still want the set to be hard as hell, but there’s a point where another rep just turns into bad technique and unnecessary fatigue. I’m trying to get better at knowing where that line is instead of automatically chasing failure every time.

Honestly, I think people underestimate how much fatigue those “one more rep” reps can rack up over a whole week. One ugly set isn't the end of the world, but doing that on every exercise, every session? Your joints and recovery are eventually gonna send you the bill.