What is the best method to max out?
I'm more of a body builder than a powerlifter, and I've always done pyramids more gradually— taking my time and doing plenty of warm up sets/reps. However, I've also read about some people using pyramids but going more quickly on their way up, and going from the first warm up set to their max rep in less than a few minutes— they say they're building momentum and an adrenaline surge by taking minimal rest while working towards their max.
When maxing out, the key is to warm up thoroughly and to gradually get your body acclimated to handling heavier weight without tiring yourself out. You want to be fresh when you take your max attempt, so a ton of reps and sets (and short rest periods) are not a good idea when maxing out. If your goal is to get a good training session, then higher reps/sets and short rest periods are great ways to increase your training intensity. But the goal of maxing out is to test your strength, not to get a good workout.
Hope this helps!,
Clint Smith