TESTING & ASSESSMENT
The Force-Velocity Profile: What It Is and Whether You Need It
The F-V profile tells you whether strength or speed is your bottleneck — and when you are not ready for it yet.
The force-velocity profile fits the muscle's force-velocity relationship to your jumps at different loads. It turns 'am I weak or slow?' from a guess into a number.
What it measures
Four outputs come from the profile: F₀ (theoretical max force at zero velocity), V₀ (theoretical max velocity at zero load), Sfv (the F-V slope, or force-velocity balance) and Pmax (peak power = F₀ × V₀ / 4).
What the diagnosis means
If your Sfv deviates more than 40% from optimal, targeted training can improve the balance by 15–30%. A force deficit points to strength training; a velocity deficit points to speed work.
How often to test
Once per training cycle (8–12 weeks) is right — the variables change slowly, and weekly testing only adds noise. And if your squat is below 1.5x bodyweight, build the strength base before testing at all.
Key takeaways
- F-V profile separates force deficits from velocity deficits.
- Test once per 8–12 week cycle, not weekly.
- No strength base, no F-V test — build to a 1.5x squat first.
References
- Jiménez-Reyes et al. (2017) Scand J Med Sci Sports
- Samozino et al. (2012) Med Sci Sports Exerc
- Morin & Samozino (2016) Sports Med
Keep reading
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TRAINING METHODS
How Many Jump Training Sessions Per Week Do You Actually Need?
Training frequency by experience level, safe plyometric contact volume, and the warning signs that tell you to cut back.
TRAINING PROGRESS
How to Break a Jump Training Plateau
A plateau means the body has adapted to the current stimulus. Diagnose the weak link, change the variables, deload and fix recovery.