Speed Strength

Speed strength is the ability of the neuromuscular system to produce the greatest possible impulse in the shortest possible time. There are two aspects of speed strength, starting strength and explosive strength. Speed strength is a necessity for athletes as it serves to increase your ability of quickly changing directions as well as getting an explosive start from a resting position. Sprinters for example need good starting strength in order to get a good explosive start off of the starting blocks.

Speed strength is built through olympic lifts and power lifts. Olympic lifts are lifts such as snatches and cleans. Power lifts consist of squats, bench press, and dead lifts. The olympic lifts should consist of 80-90 percent of your one rep max, and your bench should be at 50-60 percent of your one rep max. Explosive leg power is important to pretty much every sport ranging from football to basketball to track and so on. Speed strength is needed in every sport, without it you are cheating yourself out of being the best you can be.