Maximal power production has been shown to be a differentiating factor between playing levels in many sports and is thus a focus of many strength and conditioning programmes. We sought to evaluate the duration for which a strategy of training with the optimal load (that maximises power output) will be effective in producing improvements in power output in the bench pull. The optimal load that produced the maximum power output in the bench pull was determined for twenty-one male university athletes who were randomly assigned to a group that trained with their optimal load or a load 10% of their one repetition maximum below the optimal load. Both groups completed two sessions per week for 4 weeks, after which their power output capabilities were reassessed. They then trained for a further 3 weeks with a load that was modified to reflect changes in their optimal load. The cohort as a whole had improved their peak power output by 4.6% (p = 0.002, d = 0.290) after 4 weeks of training, but experienced no further increase after another 3 weeks of training. There were no significant differences in the response to training between the two groups. This study suggests that improvements in power output can be realised within a few weeks when training with the optimal load, but training in such a way for a longer duration may be ineffective. Strength and conditioning coaches should consider periodizing power training to maximise gains in power output capabilities
