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This podcast is about creating easy to understand and quick to implement fitness information that is derived from studies, experts in the field, and practical application from 12+ years of coaching clients in-person.
Rep Ranges, Execution & Why You're Probably Doing It Wrong
Davis Fitness Method
1 hour 2 minutes
2 months ago
Rep Ranges, Execution & Why You're Probably Doing It Wrong
Hosts: Steven Davis & Tris CasonDuration: ~1h48mRelease Date: November 1, 2025
🔥 Episode Summary:
Steven and Tris break down the real role of rep ranges, intensity, and execution in training outcomes. If you've ever asked, “How many reps should I be doing?”—this episode flips that on its head. Because it’s not about the reps… it’s about what they mean and how you’re doing them.
🧠What You’ll Learn:
Why textbook rep ranges miss the point
How intensity (RPE/RIR) is often misunderstood—and misapplied
What “failure” actually feels like (and why most people never get there)
How exercise execution > exercise selection
When squatting more isn’t helping—and what to do instead
⏱️ Timestamps
Timestamp
Topic
0:00 – 4:30
Why we need to reframe how people think about rep ranges
4:31 – 12:44
Textbook vs. real-world rep targets (and where people go wrong)
12:45 – 20:29
The difference between training for load vs. learning movement
29:20 – 36:00
Picking the right rep scheme based on the training phase
45:00 – 54:00
Understanding RPE, RIR, and how to coach true intensity
56:00 – 1:10:00
Execution mistakes (lat pulldown, hamstring curls, etc.)
1:17:00 – 1:30:00
The problem with chasing “task completion” in training
1:30:00 – 1:39:00
Squat/lunge regressions & programming smarter for GenPop
1:39:00 – end
Final thoughts & applying this to your own programming
🛠️ Tactical Takeaways:
Rep ranges are context tools, not guarantees of outcome
Training to failure ≠“when it burns”—it’s what you can’t complete with form
Execution > weight — quality reps beat heavy garbage
Use RPE or RIR to manage fatigue and build consistency across a week
Form-focused training should be prioritized before chasing intensity
Regression is progression if it gets you better tension and output
📦 Tools & Strategies Mentioned:
RPE/RIR frameworks to scale intensity without burnout
Prelipin’s Chart to understand optimal volume by training goal*
Cue-based coaching: “drive through the floor,” “show me you own the position”
Joint alignment fixes for hamstring curls, lunges, and split squats
Goblet squat progressions as a learning tool before barbell lifts
🎯 Who This Episode Is For:
Lifters plateauing despite following “programs”
Coaches struggling to teach intensity without injury
GenPop clients wanting muscle + joint safety
Anyone who’s been doing 3x10 forever… and wondering why nothing’s changing
📝 Quotes to Remember:
“Your reps don’t matter if your effort is trash.” – Tris
“Most people stop when it burns, not when they fail.” – Steven
“You don’t earn the barbell just because you want it.” – Steven
“Task completion is the enemy of actual progress.” – Tris
Davis Fitness Method
This podcast is about creating easy to understand and quick to implement fitness information that is derived from studies, experts in the field, and practical application from 12+ years of coaching clients in-person.