Why 3×5 > 5×5 (for the novice)
Perhaps one of the hardest things to know for someone just starting out with strength training is which program to follow. With a surfeit of programs out there, and with all of them seemingly effective at building strength, it can be hard to know which program to select.
This post will attempt to lay out in simple terms why a novice lifter should use a set and repetition scheme of 3 sets of 5 repetitions, like that advocated by the Starting Strength program.
While the highly popular 5×5 set and repetition scheme will also yield progress, 3×5 will actually produce better strength gains in less time for the novice.