Ask most bodybuilders how many reps they do per set, and they’ll probably say 8-12. Sure, there will be a few outliers who prefer heavy sets of five , but that’s the exception rather than the rule.

It’s hard to say why the 8-12 rep range is so popular, but it may have something to do with Thomas DeLorme, who, in the 1940s, studied and publicized strength training and concluded that three sets of ten reps was optimal for making gains ( 1 ). 8-12 reps “bookend” sets of tens, and, as the saying goes, is close enough for government work.

Related: Best Rep Range For Building Muscle, Strength, and Endurance

Regardless of the reason, 8-12 is considered the perfect rep range for hypertrophy, hence its set-in-stone status as the best way to build muscle.

But, here’s the thing: strength tr

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