Best Workout Split: PPL vs. Upper/Lower

By Jon Klipstein, U.S. Army Combat Veteran & Founder of Die Tryin Co., and Chelsea Rodgers, IFBB Pro & Die Tryin Co. Athlete

THE BEST WORKOUT SPLIT IS THE ONE YOU'LL STICK TO

When it comes to building strength, muscle, and a body that performs under pressure, your training split matters. But here's the truth most people don't want to hear: there's no "perfect" split — only the one that matches your goals, your schedule, and your ability to stay consistent.

The two splits that dominate the gym right now are the push pull legs split (PPL) and the upper lower split. Both build muscle. Both push you past plateaus. But they thrive under different circumstances. Let's break down each one and figure out the best workout split for you.

THE PUSH PULL LEGS SPLIT (PPL)

A classic bodybuilding-style rotation that splits your training by movement pattern.

How it works:

• Day 1 — Push: chest, shoulders, triceps
• Day 2 — Pull: back, biceps
• Day 3 — Legs: quads, hamstrings, glutes, calves
• Repeat 1–2× per week (so 3 or 6 days)

Here's a push day in action:

Pros:

• High volume per muscle group — you hammer each muscle with focus and intensity. Great for hypertrophy.
• Simple mindset — walking in knowing "it's push day" keeps things structured.
• Balanced development — training by movement pattern reduces imbalances.
• Scales to 6 days/week — if you love training, PPL lets you practically live in the gym.

Cons:

• Time-demanding — to get the full benefit, most people need 5–6 sessions a week.
• Legs get skipped — leg day is brutal and long, so it's the first thing people undertrain.
• Easy to overdo — without solid recovery, the volume leads to fatigue and burnout.
• Miss a day and the rhythm breaks — PPL works best run in sequence.

Best for: lifters chasing muscle growth and aesthetics who can train 5–6× per week.

THE UPPER LOWER SPLIT

A simple, brutally effective split that trains your whole body twice a week.

How it works:

• Day 1 — Upper: chest, back, shoulders, arms
• Day 2 — Lower: quads, hamstrings, glutes, calves
• Rotate across 4–5 sessions per week

Pros:

• Efficient — just 4 solid days a week delivers serious results.
• Higher frequency per muscle — you hit everything twice weekly with manageable volume. Research on training volume shows that spreading sets across the week drives growth.
• Easy to recover from — no single session is as taxing as a full PPL day.
• Flexible — miss a day and you just pick up where you left off.
• Great for strength — the big compound lifts get repeated often enough to build mastery.

Cons:

• Longer sessions — you're hitting more muscles per workout.
• Less isolation — if you love sculpting individual body parts, it can feel too general.
• Fatigue carryover — heavy upper days can tax grip and arms for the next session.
• Less pump-focused volume than a dedicated PPL day.

Best for: lifters with tight schedules, anyone prioritizing strength and performance, and people who thrive on a structured but realistic weekly routine.

PPL VS. UPPER/LOWER — WHICH SPLIT IS BEST?

Here's the Die Tryin Co. take:

• Want max muscle growth and can train 6 days a week? Run PPL. It's the king of volume, specialization, and bodybuilding-style development.
• Want strength, sustainability, and a plan built for real life? Run upper/lower. It's easier to recover from, easier to stick to, and still delivers serious gains.

At the end of the day, the best workout split is the one you can execute with intensity and consistency — the one you'll actually show up for.

WHAT ABOUT FULL-BODY OR OTHER SPLITS?

If you can only train 3 days a week, a full-body split (hitting everything each session) often beats both — you get high frequency without needing 5–6 days. Bro splits (one muscle per day) can work for advanced lifters with the time, but for most people PPL, upper/lower, or full-body cover it. Match the split to the days you'll realistically train, not the days you wish you could.

HOW TO PICK YOUR SPLIT

Make it simple — choose by how many days you'll actually train:

• 3 days/week: Full-body
• 4 days/week: Upper/lower
• 5 days/week: Upper/lower + an extra weak-point day, or a PPL/UL hybrid
• 6 days/week: Push/pull/legs

Then run it for at least 8–12 weeks, track your lifts, and progressively add weight or reps. The split sets the structure; progression builds the muscle.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the best workout split?

The one that fits your weekly schedule and that you'll stick to. For most lifters: full-body at 3 days, upper/lower at 4–5 days, and push/pull/legs at 6 days. Consistency beats the "perfect" split every time.

Is PPL or upper/lower better for building muscle?

Both build muscle. PPL gives more volume per muscle (great if you train 6 days), while upper/lower hits each muscle twice a week with less fatigue (great for 4–5 days). Pick based on how often you can train.

What's the best split for 4 days a week?

Upper/lower. Two upper days and two lower days give you twice-weekly frequency on every muscle with plenty of recovery — ideal for four sessions.

Is the push pull legs split good for beginners?

It can be, but most beginners do better on full-body or upper/lower at 3–4 days — the higher frequency speeds up learning the lifts, and it's easier to stay consistent than a 6-day PPL.

Can you build muscle on an upper lower split?

Absolutely. Hitting each muscle twice a week with hard, progressive sets is one of the most effective and sustainable ways to grow — many lifters build more on upper/lower than on a sloppy 6-day PPL they can't recover from.

READY TO GEAR UP?

Whatever split you run, the work only counts if you show up and train hard. Fuel your sessions with SEND IT, recover with Post Iso protein, and run daily Creatine. Dial in the individual days with our best leg exercises and best tricep exercises guides — or take the quiz to build your stack.

A great split won't save weak effort. A perfect plan won't outwork inconsistency. Pick a split, commit to it, and attack every set with intent. That's how you build a body that performs — not just one that looks good.

ALWAYS FORWARD.