Thread: Is regular strength training better than powerlifting for strength?

You need to read some more, lots of basic threads.
Anyway, powerlifting is based on one thing. Gaining strength. If a bodybuilding routine worked better for strentgh there wouldn't be powerlifting routines.

Depends what you mean by "regular strength training".

Powerlifting is a sport. Strength training is a way of exercising with the overall goal being to improve how much weight you can lift. Both of these things are related but not the same at all.

If you want to train for powerlifting all you need to do is learn the three competition lifts - Squat, Bench, Deadlift - and get good at them to competition standards and cues (pause for judges signal, adequate depth, proper extension etc etc). Doesn't matter how you train for powerlifting so long as you know those things.

If you want to train for increased strength all you need is a program which focuses on increasing the amount of weight on the bar. This is the same as what you want to achieve in powerlifting, but doesn't have to be dictated by any competition rules or lifts.

With that said, no one training method is superior than the other in terms of the philosophy or method behind it. What matters is that you stick to the golden rules that apply to ALL programs:

- Train hard and consistently.
- Eat enough nutritious food to keep you in a positive state of health.
- Get enough rest to recover from your workouts and improve.
- Be patient.

So long as you tick those boxes it doesn't matter what program you do.