Moderate evidence

Longer rests between sets support greater strength gains, particularly in trained lifters.

In practice

Rushing the rest on a heavy compound costs you reps on the next set, and those reps are the training. Two to three minutes on main lifts is not wasted time. Short rests are fine on isolation work, where the limiting factor isn't systemic fatigue.

Source

• Grgic J, Schoenfeld BJ, Skrepnik M, Davies TB, Mikulic P (2018). Effects of rest interval duration in resistance training on measures of muscular strength: a systematic review. Sports Medicine, 48:137–151. doi.org/10.1007/s40279-017-0788-x