Relative strength vs absolute strength: Which is better?

Man lifting a barbell with plates on using both hands during outdoor strength training session in yard.

When we talk about strength, what do we actually mean, and how do we measure it? How you build stronger muscles can be determined by two main categories: relative strength and absolute strength.

Both are crucial to understand within the fitness setting, whether you’re programming for clients or yourself, improving overall health, or training for sports-specific performance.