This is broscience. A couple position papers from reputable sources (NSCA, NCSM) directly contradict this, the first based on a meta-analysis: http://www.nsca-

This is broscience. A couple position papers from reputable sources (NSCA, NCSM) directly contradict this, the first based on a meta-analysis: http://www.nsca-lift.org/HotTopic/download/Single%20vs%20Multiple%20Sets.pdf http://www.nsca-lift.org/HotTopic/download/Single%20vs%20Mul... http://journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/Fulltext/2009/03000/Progression_Models_in_Resistance_Training_for.26.aspx http://journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/Fulltext/2009/03000/Progre... Aside from the fact that the tradeoff with doing 1 set is actually much less performance improvement long-term, the main problem with this idea is that it just doesn't take all that much time to bust out 3 sets vs 1 set of something, at least for the more critical, whole body exercises (squat, deadlift, bench, chin, row, clean...) Factoring in generalized warmup, cool-down, travel to the gym, getting changed in and out of exercise clothes, showering, etc - you're talking about a 10-15 extra minutes of training in order achieve substantially greater gains.