@allthingsarebecomenew Yeah a program that doesn’t give you a clear guide on weight is probably not good.
For me, I am currently running vanilla GZCL. Weights are based off of percentages of a training max, here defined as approximately a 2-3 RM. I haven’t done proper max testing in awhile but have a rough idea of where my maxes are from my last program, which used an adaptive training max (defined differently than GZCL defines it l, and probably a decent estimate of my 1RM). On week 4 of this GZCL cycle I will have AMRAP sets with my training max, and based off of my performance there I will adjust the training max for my next four week cycle. If I feel like I may take a few days off and do some true max testing, but that’s not strictly necessary - if I perform well on my AMRAP sets on week 4 I’ll increase my training max and all of the weights will go up for the next cycle, so I know I am progressing.
If you are a beginner lifter, a linear progression program where you add a fixed amount of weight every week is probably the way to go. You do this until it stops working, then move on to a late novice/early intermediate program. The linear progression version of GZCL (GZCLP) is a great program that works like this. For this you’ll start with a weight you know you can do for the prescribed reps, and then add 5-10 lbs every week until you can’t compete the reps.
Testing 1RMs is not inherently dangerous if you have a rack with safeties. Just make sure you know how to set them and use them properly. That said, you can get a reasonably accurate estimate based on your 2-5RM. It is fine to use technical failure or 9 RPE instead of true muscular failure here.