Power · 2 min read
Force plates measure how an athlete produces and expresses force. They give objective data that standard strength testing — barbells, machines, jump height estimates — cannot provide.
By Chris Gkoufas, DVOTION ·
Force plates measure ground reaction forces in real time. When you stand, jump, land or perform any movement on a force plate, the plate captures the forces you produce against it and the timing of those forces.
This gives data on force production, rate of force development (how quickly you reach peak force), power output, and asymmetry between left and right sides. Hawkin Dynamics, the force plate system used at DVOTION, is used by professional sports organisations and high-performance institutions worldwide.
Most strength testing tells you how much load an athlete can move under controlled conditions. Force plates tell you how the athlete produces and expresses force dynamically — which is closer to what actually happens in sport and training.
An athlete can squat a large load but produce force slowly, which limits their speed and explosiveness. Force plate data makes this visible. It shows not just how strong you are, but how you express that strength.
One of the most practically useful outputs from force plate testing is asymmetry data. If one leg is producing significantly more force than the other during bilateral movements, that pattern shows up clearly.
Asymmetry is not always a problem to fix immediately — some level is normal. But significant asymmetry, particularly in athletes returning from injury or with a history of unilateral problems, gives a clear target for training and a baseline to track over time.
Force data tells you what output is being produced. But it does not tell you how that output is being generated — whether the athlete is working through an efficient strategy or around a compensatory pattern.
This is why the Force & Power Profile pairs well with Movement Strategy Analysis. Together they give a more complete picture: what the output is, and whether the movement strategy behind it is sustainable.
No. Force plate data is useful for any athlete who wants objective performance baselines and wants to track whether training is producing measurable change.
DVOTION uses Hawkin Dynamics force plates — the same equipment used by professional sports teams and high-performance training centres.