Changes in Bench Press Velocity and Power After 8 Weeks of High-Load Cluster or Traditional Set Structure

This investigation was a replication of Davies et al. (2020), in which the effects of resistance training with divergent set structures were investigated in the barbell bench press (BP). Resistance-trained males (n = 16) and females (n = 9) participated in this study. Subjects completed eight weeks of training with traditional (TRAD) or cluster (CLUS) set structure. Testing was conducted pre- and post-training for maximal strength, mean and peak velocity and power, and load-velocity profiling. Mixed ANOVAs were conducted to assess differences in BP one repetition maximum (1RM) and mean and peak velocity and power with loads between 45% and 95% 1RM. A z-test was used to assess the compatibility of original and replication effect sizes for peak power at 45% 1RM. Unlike in the original study, the main effects for peak power were not statistically significant (p > 0.05); however, the original and replication effect sizes were compatible at 45% 1RM (z = 1.07, p = 0.14). In further contrast to the original findings, main time effects for peak velocity were not statistically significant at 55% or 65% 1RM (p > 0.05). Main time effects for mean velocity were partially replicated, as a statistically significant effect was observed at 65% (p = 0.014), but not at 55% 1RM (p > 0.05). The current results indicate that TRAD and CLUS set structures do not have robust effects on velocity and power in the BP, contradicting previous results. However, the TRAD and CLUS set structures investigated promote similar increases in maximal strength.