Force-Velocity Profile: how to build it and what it's for

If you've made it this far in the jump and power testing guide, this is probably the "most advanced" test of the whole battery. The force-velocity (F-V) profile isn't a single test, but a mathematical model built from several jumps with different loads, telling you whether an athlete's bottleneck is force, velocity, or neither.

It's the ultimate individualization tool: two athletes can jump exactly the same height and yet need completely different training approaches depending on their profile.

What does this test measure?

The F-V profile models the relationship between the force and velocity an athlete can produce during a vertical jump (typically a Squat Jump) across several loads. From this, you get three key values:

• F0: theoretical maximum force (at zero velocity)
• V0: theoretical maximum velocity (at zero load/force)
• Pmax: theoretical maximum power, and the force-velocity deficit (FVimb), which indicates whether the profile is skewed toward force or toward velocity relative to that athlete's theoretical optimal profile

Equipment needed

• Force plate or linear velocity transducer (essential — this can't be reliably estimated from jump height alone)
• A barbell/weighted vest to add progressive loads
• A spreadsheet or dedicated software for the linear regression fit (many commercial encoders include this automatically)

Step-by-step protocol

1. Perform a series of Squat Jumps with progressive loads, from bodyweight up to a relatively heavy load (usually 4-6 different loads, e.g., 0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% of bodyweight as added load)
2. At each load, record the mean force and mean velocity (or takeoff velocity) of the jump, using the force plate or transducer
3. Perform 2-3 attempts per load and keep the best of each
4. Plot the (force, velocity) points for each load on a graph
5. Fit a linear regression to these points: the intersection with the force axis is F0, and the intersection with the velocity axis is V0
6. Calculate Pmax and compare the slope of the line (F-V profile) with the theoretical optimal profile for that athlete (based on their Pmax and unloaded jump height)

Common mistakes

• Using too few loads (fewer than 4 points gives an unreliable regression)
• Not keeping the same execution technique across all loads
• Interpreting F0 and V0 as absolute "good or bad" values instead of as an internal relationship specific to that athlete
• Not repeating the profile periodically: the profile changes with training, and that change is exactly what you want to monitor

How to interpret the result

Deficit (FVimb)	Interpretation	Training focus
Force deficit ("very velocity-oriented" profile)	The athlete is relatively faster than strong for their Pmax	Prioritize maximal strength work (heavy loads, low velocities)
Balanced profile	F0 and V0 in optimal proportion	Maintain mixed strength and velocity work
Velocity deficit ("very force-oriented" profile)	The athlete is relatively stronger than fast for their Pmax	Prioritize velocity/plyometric work (light loads, high velocities)

The core idea is that two athletes with the same Pmax may need opposite training approaches if their F-V profiles differ: one needs more force, the other more velocity, to move closer to their optimal profile and improve performance.

Related tests

The F-V profile is the culmination of the loaded jump testing progression:

• Loaded jump test — the operational foundation: each point on the profile is essentially a loaded jump
• Squat jump test — the technical movement on which all the loads in the profile are built

Track and monitor

Building and, above all, repeating an F-V profile over the course of a season is one of the most valuable things you can do to individualize power training. With Movalytics you can log the force and velocity data for each load, save each athlete's full profile, and compare how that profile shifts (toward more force, more velocity, or more overall Pmax) from one mesocycle to the next.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need lab equipment to do this? Not necessarily a lab, but you do need a linear transducer or a force plate with software that calculates force and velocity. Without these devices, the F-V profile isn't viable with any precision. How often should the profile be repeated? Every 6-8 weeks, coinciding with mesocycle changes, is a reasonable interval to see whether the profile has shifted as expected. Does it work for all sports? It's especially relevant in sports where lower-body power is decisive (jumping, sprinting, team sports), although the concept can also be applied to upper-body patterns with the right methodology.