Choosing meet attempts is strategy, not guesswork. Open too heavy and you risk bombing out; open too light and you leave kilos on the platform. This selector applies the conventional opener, second, and third attempt percentages used by competitive powerlifters and rounds every number to a loadable weight.
How it works
From your estimated competition one-rep max for each lift, the tool applies the standard attempt ramp and rounds to your chosen bar increment:
opener = 90% of 1RM (safe, get on the board)
second = 96% of 1RM (heavy, sets up the PR)
third = 101% of 1RM (PR-range attempt)Each result is rounded to the nearest selectable increment (1.25, 2.5, or 5 kg), and the projected total sums the three third attempts.
Why these specific percentages
The 90-96-101 ramp is not arbitrary — it reflects decades of competition experience.
The opener at 90% should be a weight you could hit on your worst training day. Its purpose is not to impress; it is to get a legal lift on the scoreboard. Three red lights on the opener means a bomb-out with zero total, eliminating you from placing and potentially costing you a long trip for nothing. Conservative openers also let you settle nerves, get feedback from judges on depth and commands, and assess how you feel that day.
The second at 96% is your workhorse attempt. It is heavy but should feel achievable given how the opener moved. Most experienced lifters use the second attempt to lock in a safe, meaningful total. If the opener moved slowly, hold the second or add only 2.5 kg. If it flew, bump up toward your training max.
The third at 101% is a personal record attempt. At just above your estimated max, it is calibrated to be reachable on a great day without being so aggressive that a slight underperformance causes a miss. Coaches often fine-tune the third in real time based on the second’s speed and lockout quality.
Meet-day decision rules
On the platform, the table is a starting plan, not a fixed programme. Apply these in order:
- Opener moved fast and clean — add 3–5 kg to the second; consider bumping the third 2.5 kg above the planned figure.
- Opener was a grind or technical — hold the second attempt at the planned weight; keep the third conservative.
- Second attempt missed — reopen that weight for the third rather than chasing a PR. A make at the same weight is far better for your total and your confidence than a second miss.
- Already holding a total record — sometimes a lighter, guaranteed third makes more sense strategically than a PR attempt with risk.
Rounding to the bar increment
Competition bars load in fixed increments. Most IPF and USAPL meets use 1.25 kg change plates, so the minimum jump is 2.5 kg per side (5 kg total on the bar). Some local or drug-tested meets use 2.5 kg change plates, meaning the smallest jump is 5 kg. Always confirm the available weights at your meet so your attempts round to loadable bars. Calling 142.5 kg when the loaders only have 5 kg plates wastes time and may result in rounding you up or down.
Total projection
The projected total assumes you make all three third attempts. Use it to gauge where you might place or whether you qualify for a higher class, but treat it as optimistic — a more conservative estimate uses your second attempts.