Intro

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At times, it can feel like there are countless metrics to choose from when assessing, profiling, and monitoring athletes' performance, whether on the field or in the weight room. GPS units provide a wide range of metrics, and some force plate systems can generate over 100 metrics from a single countermovement jump. Similarly, with velocity-based training (VBT) at Output, you can analyze more than 10 metrics from a single back squat repetition. While each metric has value, the real power lies in understanding what each metric represents and selecting the most relevant options for your athletes.

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“To truly use something, you must first understand it”

• Unknown 

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To start this series, let’s look at two of the most common VBT metrics available:

Mean Velocity & Peak Velocity

Defining Mean & Peak Velocity

Mean Velocity

The average velocity recorded across the full concentric phase.

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Mean velocity represents the average barbell velocity across samples taken during the concentric phase, with the number of samples depending on the duration of that phase. Because it provides a more comprehensive view of the concentric phase, mean velocity is a reliable metric for tracking performance and monitoring readiness. Due to its reliability, we recommend using mean velocity for most lifts performed in the weight room, especially if you are new to implementing VBT. This includes all movements where the primary goal is not projecting an object or achieving a moment of "weightlessness" during the lift.

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Peak Velocity 

The instantaneous maximum velocity recorded during the full concentric phase. 

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This moment in time represents the peak velocity of the concentric phase and can serve as a good indicator of power. However, since it reflects only a single point in time, it is more prone to erroneous data and offers limited reliability. For this reason, it is not the most effective metric for monitoring performance over time. Instead, its value lies in driving intent during ballistic movements, such as loaded jumps, medicine ball throws, and Olympic lift variations.

Velocity Metrics Applied 

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Let’s go deeper to understand what this means for your athletes by looking at two common movements, the trap bar deadlift and the trap bar jump. 

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Trap Bar Deadlift

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In most cases, the primary goal of including the trap bar deadlift in your program is to improve your athletes' strength. This typically involves selecting heavier loads and progressively increasing them over time to enhance the amount of muscular force they can produce. As a foundational lift, it is also ideal for tracking progress over time to evaluate the effectiveness of your program and determine whether adjustments are needed. Given these factors, mean velocity is the best metric to use when training the trap bar deadlift due to its superior validity and reliability. It enables you to accurately create load-velocity profiles, prescribe training, and monitor results over time without the risk of poor-quality data compromising your dataset.

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Trap Bar Jump 

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Unlike the trap bar deadlift, the trap bar jump is designed to enhance the rate at which an athlete produces muscular force, also known as the rate of force development. Improving this quality requires athletes to lift light to moderate loads with maximum intent. Consistent evidence shows that feedback—both visual and verbal—can significantly improve performance and maximize intent in ballistic movements like trap bar jumps and Olympic lift variations. In this context, peak velocity serves as an excellent tool for driving athlete intent. Since the primary goal of the trap bar jump is not long-term tracking or monitoring, providing athletes with immediate feedback on peak velocity after each repetition can effectively promote performance improvements.

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Overview

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Interested in learning more about VBT with Output Sports?

Request a demo - CLICK HERE

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