I know that with weights for swimming you're supposed to do high reps-low weight, but how many reps is enough? Are you supposed to do like 3 sets of 10 or 5 sets of 40? I'm new to the whole weights thing, so any input would be good. Right now I'm doing lat pulls, bench press, bicep and tricep curls.
Thanks a bunch!:groovy:
I am not lifting weights right now but I think the traditional view of high reps/low weight for swimmers is no longer the obvious choice. A growing number of coaches suggest that if the goal is to increase strength - you should lift heavy. Not powerlifter heavy, but enough weight that you work hard to do 8-10 reps.
I think the decades-old philosophy of doing 20 reps shows that it doesn't increase strength much because it doesn't overload the muscles much.
Hoffam:
You know your stuff. For sprinters, I've been told that it's better to do higher weights in sets of 10 to fatigue. But the high reps/low weights still holds true for rotator cuff exercises because you're working those itsy bitsy muscles. And the abs are definitely key.
I am not lifting weights right now but I think the traditional view of high reps/low weight for swimmers is no longer the obvious choice. A growing number of coaches suggest that if the goal is to increase strength - you should lift heavy. Not powerlifter heavy, but enough weight that you work hard to do 8-10 reps.
I think the decades-old philosophy of doing 20 reps shows that it doesn't increase strength much because it doesn't overload the muscles much.
Hoffam:
You know your stuff. For sprinters, I've been told that it's better to do higher weights in sets of 10 to fatigue. But the high reps/low weights still holds true for rotator cuff exercises because you're working those itsy bitsy muscles. And the abs are definitely key.
