5 Reasons You Might Be Falling Short On The Platform

by Coach Brandon

I’ve been lucky enough to fail one or multiple of these points during some of my comp preps! After looking into why I’ve come up short at times, through the greats of the industry here are the 5 reasons I believe you might not be getting the result you are wanting!

1 – Specificity.
Though it seems self explanatory most people are still confused by it, if you are planning to compete and you are still board pressing 3 weeks out from comp, you may have a problem come comp day. Practicing comp calls prior to comp day should also be highlighted.

2 – Fatigue.
Prepping for a competition can be very taxing mentally and physically, we know that. But still so many fall short of managing the stresses of a program. Leading into a comp, accessory work should drop down and focus should go on the big three for maximum effort! #deadpoolquote

3 – Overload Principle.
To get strong you must actually lift heavier weights. Yes, manipulating percentages and lifting with speed can be useful but shouldn’t be the focus of a program.

4 – Adequate conditioning.
Most people fear conditioning. All recovery between sets is linked to our aerobic conditioning. If you need to take 10-15 minutes to recover from your big sets it will drop your potential for maximal strength.

5 – Phase timing.
If you are hitting heavy triples and singles in the early stages of your prep, you are probably going to have a hard run leading into comp. First stages of a prep should heavily focus on increasing muscle to build muscle, followed by a very solid strength phase with your peak phase of about 3-4 weeks focusing on the specifics of each lift and hitting heavy 1-3 reps.

Of course advanced lifters you’ll find already carry a lot of muscle, have a solid strength base and just need more time adjusting to ridiculous heavy weights, shorter volume and strength phases may be required for a longer peak to adjust to those heavier weights.