The load-velocity profiles and exercise-specific velocity zones for seven commonly used weightlifting exercises

Jonathon Weakley; Tandia Wood; Amador García-Ramos; Tayah R Brennan; Chieh-Ying Chiang; Liam Schultz; J Bryan Mann; Matthew Morrison; Daniela Gonçalves Pedrosa; Mark W Creaby

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0352209

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The load-velocity profiles and exercise-specific velocity zones for seven commonly used weightlifting exercises

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The load-velocity profiles and exercise-specific velocity zones for seven commonly used weightlifting exercises

Jonathon Weakley, Tandia Wood, Amador García-Ramos, Tayah R Brennan, Chieh-Ying Chiang, Liam Schultz, J Bryan Mann, Matthew Morrison, Daniela Gonçalves Pedrosa and Mark W Creaby

PLoS One, Vol.21(7), pp.1-13

2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0352209

PMCID: PMC13336466

PMID: 42406853

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Abstract

Ballistics

Knees

Hip

Strength Training

Elbow

Ankles

Shoulders

Velocity

Velocity zones (e.g., 1.0-0.75 m·s-1) are commonly aligned with terminology such as "starting strength", 'speed-strength', 'strength-speed', 'accelerative strength', or 'absolute strength'. However, the load-velocity profiles of most exercises do not align with these discrete bands. The aims of this study were to 1) develop load-velocity profiles of seven weightlifting derivatives; and 2) create exercise-specific velocity zones that can be used to guide training prescription. Fourteen (6 males and 8 females) weightlifting athletes undertook six testing sessions that required maximal strength testing on occasions one and two, and the development of load-velocity profiles for the power snatch, hang power clean, snatch pull, hang clean pull, hang power snatch, clean pull, and hang snatch pull on testing occasions three to six. During each testing occasion, peak velocity was assessed. Linear mixed models with effect size ±95% confidence limits (CL) were used to detect changes across profiles and estimate exercise specific velocity zones. While all load-velocity profiles had a clear reduction in velocity as load was increased, each exercise was found to have substantially different velocity zones when compared to previous recommendations. Of note, all 'absolute strength' zones (i.e., > 80% one repetition maximum) from the weightlifting derivatives were found to be greater than 1.3 m·s-1 which is commonly used as the threshold for 'starting strength'. These findings demonstrate that, if these terms are to be used, exercise-specific load-velocity profiles should be developed. Furthermore, these findings provide practitioners with exercise-specific zones that can be used to enhance training prescription and target specific strength qualities.

Details

Title: The load-velocity profiles and exercise-specific velocity zones for seven commonly used weightlifting exercises
Authors: Jonathon Weakley (Corresponding Author) - Leeds Beckett University
Tandia Wood - Australian Catholic University
Amador García-Ramos - Universidad de Granada
Tayah R Brennan - Australian Catholic University
Chieh-Ying Chiang - Taiwan Institute of Sports Science
Liam Schultz - Australian Catholic University
J Bryan Mann - Texas A&M University
Matthew Morrison - University of the Sunshine Coast
Daniela Gonçalves Pedrosa
Mark W Creaby - Australian Catholic University
Publication details: PLoS One, Vol.21(7), pp.1-13
Publisher: Public Library of Science
Date published: 2026
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0352209
ISSN: 1932-6203
PMID: 42406853; PMC13336466
Copyright note: © 2026 Weakley et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Data Availability: The data underlying the findings of this study are not publicly available due to ethical restrictions imposed by the approving Human Research Ethics Committee. These restrictions are in place to protect participant confidentiality and privacy. Although the dataset has been de-identified, the nature of the sample and variables collected means that there remains a risk of participant re-identification if the data were made publicly accessible. Access to the data may be granted to qualified researchers upon reasonable request, subject to approval by the relevant Human Research Ethics Committee and the establishment of an appropriate data use agreement. Requests for access should be directed to the Australian Catholic University Human Research Committee at res.ethics@acu.edu.au.
Grant note: $12,000 AUD was provided by Catalyft labs for the completion of this work.
Organisation Unit: Centre for Human Factors and Systems Science
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991246169802621
Output Type: Journal article

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