How is the opener chosen?

A safe opener is a weight you could triple on your worst day, typically 90–93% of your gym max. The tool defaults to around 92% so you can open with confidence and bank a number before chasing personal records on later attempts.

Why is the competition total lower than three gym maxes added up?

Gym maxes are often grindy singles. On meet day you must hit three attempts under judging and fatigue, so realistic third attempts sit near or slightly above your gym max — not far beyond it. The total reflects what you can reliably stand up with.

What do conservative, standard, and aggressive mean?

They shift the attempt percentages. Conservative opens lighter and tops out at your gym max for a safe total. Aggressive opens heavier and pushes third attempts a few percent above your gym max, raising the ceiling but also the risk of misses.

Should I follow these numbers exactly?

Treat them as a planning starting point. Adjust for how your warm-ups feel on the day, how the openers move, and your coach's read. The model gives sensible defaults, not a substitute for in-meet judgement.

Why second attempts near 97%?

The second attempt should be a weight you are confident you can hit to set up a meaningful third. Roughly 97% of your gym max is a strong but reliable second that, if it moves well, justifies a personal-record third attempt.

Powerlifting Competition Total Predictor

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On meet day your total comes from nine attempts, not three gym singles. This tool turns your training maxes into a realistic opener-to-third attempt plan and projects a best-case competition total you can build a strategy around.

How it works

For each lift the tool scales your gym max into three attempts using attempt percentages that mirror common coaching practice. Standard selection uses:

opener  = gym max × 0.92   (a weight you could triple)
second  = gym max × 0.97   (confident, sets up the third)
third   = gym max × 1.02   (a small personal-record reach)
total   = squat third + bench third + deadlift third (best case)

Conservative selection caps the third at your gym max for a banked total; aggressive selection opens heavier and pushes thirds to about 104%. The projected total assumes you make all three third attempts — your realistic floor is the sum of your second attempts.

Example and tips

A lifter with a 200 kg squat, 130 kg bench, and 240 kg deadlift gym max would, on standard selection, open at roughly 184 / 120 / 221 kg and aim for thirds of 204 / 133 / 245 kg — a best-case total near 582 kg, with a safe floor (all seconds) around 553 kg. Always open with a weight you would not miss even tired; a missed opener can end your day before it starts.