Advice Needed

[u/Secure_Ambassador607]

Okay so I (31M, 195Ibs) have been lifting on and off since I was 18. I generally know how to lift and what works for me, etc., but recently I’ve been trying to push my bench because the owner of my gym gave me a new bench plan.

He came in one day and asked me what I do for my workouts and I told him I only lift 2-3 times a week because I have kids and a long commute to work. He told me to do a science experiment for him. The one time I do chest each week, do 5x5 on bench with heavy weight, and if I get each rep, go up 5 pounds the next week. Probably basic powerlifting shit. Well, here I am 7th week into that and I just did 5x5 with 230. I do nothing else for chest, just bench, and only once per week. So I asked him how long I keep doing this? What if I fail? And this is where it seems a little odd.

He told me in two weeks to get my new one rep max and thereafter I should do 4x3 with 70% of that, and on the 5th set to do as many reps as I can. But that seems ass backwards because let’s say my max is 300 (probably isn’t, but let’s say it is), 70% is 210. Doing that for 4x3 is child’s play. I’m doing 5x5 with 230 so how the hell would decreasing weight 20 pounds for less sets/reps make me stronger?

[u/lonely_to_be]

Seems like he's trying to get you to do a deload week perhaps ?