What he is saying is that you are better off getting faster reps. For example. In the article he says.
Next, we learned that for this particular case the trainee would have been better off doing all of his sets somewhere between 225 and 325 pounds. Sets done in that rep range would have elicited a greater adaptive demand and response.
With this he is stating that the trainee would be better off (from a size standpoint) not going to a 1RM but training in the 225 - 325 range. Where the loading would be higher when multiple sets are done. It is higher load, not max weight that builds size.
For another example.
Say you are doing 10 reps.
If you work up to a 10 rep max, you will get 1 set of 10 where the quality of work is lower and fatigue is higher.
Now lets say you work up to 5% - 10% short of your 10 reps max. You can do many sets at this weight. If you have the goal or intent to move the weight fast you will increase the number of motor units recruited per set. Then you increase the number of motor units again by being able to do multiple sets.
So, if your 10 reps max is 225. In the first case you would work up and do 1 max set for 10 at 225lbs. A load of 2250lbs. (not counting power, since you will be moving the weight slow)
In the second instance you would be training with 90% of your 10RM, or 205lbs. (I rounded up 2.5lbs) First you will get multiple sets. Say we do 4 sets. The total load is 8100lbs for the exercise. You can see that we are already ahead of the game.
If the reps at 90% of the 10RM are done with the intention of speed (and as we all know, the faster we move the more motor units we recruit) So you would be adding the quality of higher power output on top of the 5850lb increase in load. The quality of your work is higher in 2 different ways.
With this in mind your results from a strength as well as a muscular growth standpoint will be better.
This method is different that the dynamic effort method. The dynamic effort method (traditionally done 8-12 sets of 2-3 reps) is more nervous system based. So the increase in size will not be the same.
Think of this method more of the repeated effort method, done in a manner where you increase the number of motor units being trained.
That being said, as stated in other posts, training in this manner is not for beginners, it is for trainees who have a good amount of training under their belt, very good technique, and the ability to understand the difference between training with speed, and training recklessly and out of control.
