How does this place feel about Reddit’s PPL routine?

[afterbluegreen]

I’m new to this place, thought I’d come here to find more resources about bodybuilding, fitness and whatever. How does this place feel about Reddit’s PPL routine? Any opinion? Good or bad? Is there a better option in the way of a PPL routine or just general bodybuilding? Any places in particular on here I should check out to get some resources about bodybuilding routines?

Here it is:

**PULL**

Deadlifts 1x5+/Barbell rows 4x5, 1x5+ (alternate, so if you did deadlifts on Monday, you would do rows on Thursday, and so on)

3x8-12 Pulldowns OR Pullups OR chinups

3x8-12 seated cable rows OR chest supported rows

5x15-20 face pulls

4x8-12 hammer curls

4x8-12 dumbbell curls

**PUSH**


4x5, 1x5+ bench press/4x5, 1x5+ overhead press (alternate in the same fashion as the rows and deadlifts)

3x8-12 overhead press/3x8-12 bench press (do the opposite movement: if you bench pressed first, overhead press here)

3x8-12 incline dumbbell press

3x8-12 triceps pushdowns SS 3x15-20 lateral raises

3x8-12 overhead triceps extensions SS 3x15-20 lateral raises

**LEGS**

2x5, 1x5+ squat

3x8-12 Romanian Deadlift

3x8-12 leg press

3x8-12 leg curls

5x8-12 calf raises

[Rsurf72]

If you can recover after all that volume go for it.

I do Push rest pull rest legs rest repeat

[BeginnerGainz]

Fine if you’re weak.

I can’t imagine having an appreciable amount of strength in a variety of movements and trying to that much.

[TolerantLactose]

Written for noobs who are dead set on doing a PPL.

[EliKoehn]

I actually don't see that as that much volume. Besides, it starts with the heavy compound work at the beginning anyway, so if fatigue is the issue, the most important work is done the freshest. 25 sets (including isos at the end) really is far from extreme.

I've never run that program, OP, but it looks fine to me. A U/L split is probably better in terms of efficiency and long-term fatigue management, but there doesn't seem to be any glaring problem with this. Until you're getting close to advanced, consistent hard work in aiming for progressive overload within the goalposts of basic training principles is going to yield returns.

Reddit is full of strong people who know what they're talking about with a proven track record, and also full of faceless people with an assumed air of authority doling advice who may or may not belong to that group, just like this site.

[air2fakie]

I actually don't see that as that much volume. Besides, it starts with the heavy compound work at the beginning anyway, so if fatigue is the issue, the most important work is done the freshest. 25 sets (including isos at the end) really is far from extreme.

25 sets x 6 days/week is overkill for most beginners. OP, you really should be asking yourself if this PPL is a good fit for you specifically. Otherwise, give it a shot and see if you like how it works out for you. That’s the only way to truly know.

[BeginnerGainz]

Written for noobs who are dead set on doing a PPL.

Also this.

25 sets x 6 days/week is overkill for most beginners. OP, you really should be asking yourself if this PPL is a good fit for you specifically. Otherwise, give it a shot and see if you like how it works out for you. That’s the only way to truly know.

And this.

[MyEgoProblem]

Its a lot less **** than i expected.....

Id bin some of it off and run it 3on1off

Not even a massive amount of work really, given the majority is in the 8_12 easy to recover zone

[TAWS6]

Fierce 5 LULPP would be superior. More rest days and variety. I’ve never been a fan of full blown ppl programs though.

[BigChuck888]

Rule 1 of the internet: never take reddit's advice on anything.

[veggie530]

It's a good program, but for a beginner it's a little volume heavy. I'd say a 3x full body is better because you can have slightly less volume and more frequency to optimize the beginner gains.

For an intermediate the volume is pretty much spot on. Everything is in the 10-20 set per week sweet spot, the compound movements are lower rep and done first, the deadlift is fewer sets for recovery purposes, triceps/biceps are hit from multiple grips/leverages, the deltoid trio are all adequately stimulated, etc.

I'd say traps will be underutilized in this, but adding 3x of shrugs x2 a week in there somewhere would be fairly easy.

25 sets x 6 days/week is overkill for most beginners. OP, you really should be asking yourself if this PPL is a good fit for you specifically. Otherwise, give it a shot and see if you like how it works out for you. That’s the only way to truly know.

If you did it twice a week
20-24 sets
23 sets
17 sets
x2
/ 6 days
=20.7 sets per day

Considering that includes hitting every major muscle directly except for traps/forearms, that's pretty nicely written. Many of those sets are isolation movements for small muscles.

I think ya'll are being volume haters. Add a deload week every 4-6 weeks and this program is pretty solid.