The Speediance Setting Everyone Gets Wrong

The Reddit Question That Started This

Someone asked on Reddit: "I want to do more reps than my target set, but the weight turns off after I hit my rep goal. How do I fix this?"

The first answer they got: "Just use Freelift mode.

That's the wrong answer. Here's why.

The Setting That Should Be Default

Go to your Speediance. Settings. Training Preferences. Find "Unlimited Sets." Turn it ON.

That's it. That's the entire video. But let me explain WHY this matters so much.

What Happens When It's OFF

By default, Speediance turns off the weight the moment you hit your target reps. If your program says 12 reps and you hit rep 12, the cables disengage immediately.

The problem: most people can do more than their target reps when they hit failure. If you're doing a 12-rep set and you can actually do 16, the machine just... stops. You're sitting there with the weight off, waiting for the next set to start.

This breaks progressive overload in two ways:

1. **You're not tracking the extra reps** — the machine doesn't know you did 16 instead of 12

2. **The weight doesn't increase** — if your program is set to progress based on hitting your rep target, you'll stay at the same weight forever

I see users complain that "the machine isn't progressing me" and 9 times out of 10, this setting is off.

What Happens When It's ON

Turn Unlimited Sets ON and here's what changes:

You hit your 12th rep. The weight STAYS ON. You keep going. Rep 13, 14, 15, 16...

When you finally hit failure and stop, the machine records that you did EXTRA reps above your target. That data feeds into your 1RM calculation. Next time you do that workout, the weight adjusts up.

This is how progressive overload is supposed to work. This is how Tonal does it by default. Speediance should have it on by default too — but they don't, for reasons I don't understand.

The Warm-Up Set Trick

Here's how I set up my workouts with this setting:

**Warm-up sets:** Use Stamina mode. Set to 20 RM for 13 reps.

Wait — 20 RM for 13 reps? Yes. The 20 means "I'm working at 20% of my 1RM." That puts you 7 reps in reserve. That's a warm-up. You're not grinding to failure — you're getting blood flowing and preparing for the working sets.

**Working sets:** Switch to Gain Muscle mode. Set to 15 RM for 13 reps.

Now you're at 15% of your 1RM. That's harder. With Unlimited Sets ON, if you're feeling strong and hit 14 reps, the machine recognizes you've exceeded the target and will add weight next time.

Eccentric Mode: The Other Setting You Need

While you're in Settings, turn on Eccentric mode too. Set it to max.

Here's the difference:

**Eccentric mode:** As you return the weight (the lowering phase), the machine ADDS resistance. You're fighting extra weight on the way down. This is where most injuries happen in free weight training — the lowering phase.

**Chains mode:** As you push/lift the weight, resistance INCREASES throughout the rep. This is more strength-focused but skips the eccentric benefit.

I use eccentric mode at max on every exercise. Why? Because I train jiu-jitsu. I need to control people on the way down, not just push them away on the way up. Eccentric training builds that control.

Here's the key difference between Speediance and Tonal:

On Tonal, eccentric mode kicks in when you're LOCKED OUT at the top of the rep. On Speediance, it kicks in when you START returning the weight. That gives you a split second to prepare for the load.

I prefer Speediance's approach. When you're fatigued at rep 12, having the weight suddenly jump at lockout is jarring. Having it engage as you start the descent feels safer.

The Bug (Yes, There's a Bug)

When you crank eccentric mode to max, the machine doesn't calculate it into your 1RM properly.

I did the strength assessment. It gave me a baseline. Then I turned eccentric mode to max — and suddenly all my weights dropped because the machine thought I was weaker than I was.

The fix: manually adjust your weights back up after enabling eccentric mode. The machine won't do it for you automatically. This is a known issue and I hope they fix it.

The Freelift Mode Trap

Someone in that Reddit thread said: "Just use Freelift mode if you want total control."

No. If you want Freelift mode, you bought the wrong machine.

The whole point of Speediance is NOT using Freelift mode. The machine is supposed to track your reps, sets, weights, and 1RM automatically. That's why you paid $3,000+ instead of buying a cable pulley system.

If you want Freelift-level control, buy a Vulttra instead. It's cheaper and does exactly what a cable pulley does — but without the smart tracking.

Speediance's value proposition is the software. Don't throw that away by living in Freelift mode.

The Bottom Line

Two settings to change TODAY:

1. **Unlimited Sets: ON** — this is how progressive overload actually works

2. **Eccentric Mode: ON (at max)** — this is why you bought a digital cable machine instead of free weights

These should be defaults. They're not. Fix them and your training data will actually make sense.

I've lifted over 1.2 million pounds on these machines. I can tell you exactly what settings matter — and this one matters more than anything else.