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Actually, both of them you are pyramiding up the weight, but not the reps. A true pyramid tends to reduce the repetitions as the weight increases. Theoretically, you are pushing hard on each set and as the weight increases, your reps have to go down. I would work on your technique, so that every rep is the same. I am also not a fan of forced reps to increase the workload. If you cannot lift the weight anymore, then you are done for that set. This does not mean to not use a spotter, but a spotter is only there to help you if you get stuck. Don't rely on them to push you through every set.
The technique I generally use is a reverse pyramid. Once I am warmed up, I attack the heaviest weight first. Muscles need a certain minimum amount of stimulus to grow. If you fatigue yourself lifting light weights, then you won't be able to push yourself when it counts. Then try to maintain or increase the reps as the weight gets lighter. For example, my chest, shoulders, and triceps workout this morning went:
Bench:
225x8
225x7
205x7
db overhead press:
3x8x40
db bench press
3x8x85
this was alternated with upright rows:
3x8x105
rope pressdowns:
10x150
7x150
This workout was slightly abbreviated because of time constraints.
Basically, if my reps get down to six or seven, then I decrease the weight. At no time did I actually hit failure, because it is often not necessary and I don't use a training partner. On the other hand, I have been lifting for over ten years and I have worked as a full-time personal trainer for 8 years.
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