The @HawkinDynamics force plates allow us to measure a variety of vertical force metrics, which we use to further individualize our programming. We have started including a plyometric push-up test into our force plate testing with our college athletes (demonstrated on a vert mat)

When looking at the force plate data for the plyo push-up, we track several metrics and compare the athlete’s data to the group average. The first one is Braking/Eccentric RFD, which is a measure of how fast force is produced during the eccentric muscle contraction (lengthening)

During a baseball player’s throwing motion, the pec major works as both a dynamic stabilizer of the glenohumeral joint, and as an arm accelerator. Stabilization occurs during torso rotation, when the pec major eccentrically contracts to end external rotation (layback) of the arm

On our dynamic effort upper body days, athletes who need to work on eccentric RFD are cued to perform each rep as fast as possible, demonstrated by @mattperez_09

The bands work to accelerate the bar during the eccentric portion of the rep, and then also force the athlete to accelerate the bar through the entire concentric portion of the rep