Starting powerlifting training

[Iain]

Been reading about Westside, didn't like the 4 days a week due to having a life outside the gym. I read this article that is about fitting Westside around 3 days a week.

Works on this principle:

Week 1
Day 1 - Dynamic bench press
Day 2 - Max effort squat/DL
Day 3 - Max effort bench press

Week 2
Day 1 - Dynamic squat/DL
Day 2 - Dynamic bench press
Day 3 - Max effort squat/DL

Week 3
Day 1 - Max effort bench press
Day 2 - Dynamic squat/DL
Day 3 - Dynamic bench press

Week 4
Day 1 - Max effort squat/DL
Day 2 - Max effort bench press
Day 3 - Dynamic squat/DL

And so on.

However I am thinking about corrupting it. On Max effort days I was thinking about rotating the bench between flat bench, dips and incline bench and using the remaining two as assistance exercises (8-12 reps) For the max work I was thinking about starting off at 4-6 reps for a set and adding weight until a weight is achieved that I can lift three times but with a minute between each effort. That would be possible on bench and deadlift.

Squat is another matter, no spotter makes me wary of performing box squats or regular squats at weights that high. What would you suggest?

Dynamic effort day I am clear about. I would rotate between squats, box squats and cleans for 9 sets of 2.

This is early days as to whether I want to train like this. It seems appealing.

[Iain]

The other thing I was thinking about doing would be:

Week 1
Day 1 - DE Bench
Day 2 - Assistance work (bent-over rows, push press etc)
Day 3 - ME Squat/DL

Week 2
Day 1 - ME Bench
Day 2 - Assistance work
Day 3 - DE Squat/DL

Not sure about this, it has been plaguing me since I first read about Westside but no-one seems to do it.

[abarlament]

You could do something like this

Day 1: ME squat, DE bench
Day 2: sled
Day 3: DE squat, ME bench
Day 4: sled
Day 5: ME squat, DE bench

And so one. Just keep alternating the days. The 4 days a week is optimal, but not set in stone.