Updated on 26 de June de 2026 by Adrián Escobar Morales
He force-velocity profile has become a key tool within the velocity based training (VBT). In recent years, numerous studies have shown that there is a solid linear relationship between 1RM percentage and execution speed, allowing 1RM to be estimated daily with submaximal loads and training to be programmed more accurately.
However, most research on load-speed profiles had been carried out exclusively with men. The study we analyze in this article addresses precisely that gap: Are there differences in the strength-velocity profile between men and women in the bench press? And does that profile vary depending on each person’s level of strength?
Índice
What is the force-velocity profile and why does it matter in VBT?
He force-velocity profile (also called load-velocity profile) describes the relationship between the load lifted (%RM) and the concentric speed of execution. This relationship is inverse and linear: the higher the load, the lower the speed. Knowing this profile individually allows:
- Estimate the 1RM without reaching failure through regression equations.
- Schedule training loads objectively and daily.
- Detect the state of neuromuscular fatigue before each session.
- Individualize training based on the athlete’s sex and strength level.
If you train with a sports encoder, obtaining your strength-speed profile is simple: you perform a test with progressive loads and the device automatically records the speed of each repetition.
Study design: how differences between sexes were analyzed
The study evaluated men and women with different levels of strength using a bench press test with progressive loads, from 17 kg to 1RM. The participants were divided into groups according to sex and level of strength (stronger vs. less strong), which allowed two variables to be analyzed simultaneously:
- The differences in the strength-speed profile between men and women.
- The differences between people same sex with different level of strength.
Bench Press 1RM Speed: Key Differences
As for the absolute load, the strongest men reached higher values (95 kg on average) compared to the less strong (76 kg), as expected. However, the speed at which that 1RM was achieved was practically the same in both groups: 0.17 m/s vs. 0.164m/s, a minimal difference.
The most relevant difference appeared when comparing sexes: Women reached 1RM at a faster speed than men (0.21 m/s vs. 0.17 m/s). Furthermore, within the female group, the dispersion between the strongest and the least strong was greater (0.188 m/s vs. 0.228 m/s).
This data has direct practical implications: Using a generic velocity profile to estimate 1RM can introduce significant errors if the gender of the athlete is not taken into account..
Speed behavior across the load spectrum
Differences between men and women
When analyzing the behavior of speed between 30% and 100% of 1RM, a clear pattern was observed:
- Men obtained higher speeds with light loads (below 50% RM), which is related to a greater proportion of fast muscle fibers (type II).
- Women outperformed men in speed with heavier loads (close to 1RM), probably due to a lower proportion of fast fibers, which generates a more “flattened” load-velocity profile.
In visual terms: men have a steeper slope in their strength-speed profile, while women present a flatter curve. This means that the same %RM does not produce the same execution speed in men and women.
Differences between people of the same sex with different levels of strength
Among the men, the less strong showed a steeper slope, with higher displacement speeds for each %RM, except in the 1RM, where both groups converged.
Among the women, the differences by force level were much smaller across the load spectrum. Only from 80% RM onwards were relevant differences seen between the strongest and least strong ones, the latter being the ones that showed greater speed at these high intensities.
Conclusions: how to apply this to your VBT training
The study provides four fundamental practical conclusions for any coach or athlete who works with load-velocity profiles:
- The linear load-%RM relationship is robust regardless of sex and strength level, which confirms the validity of the VBT as a universal methodology.
- There are significant differences between men and women in the speeds associated with each %RM: men are faster at low loads; women, in high loads.
- 1RM speed alone does not explain the differences in the rest of the profile, so it cannot be used as the only adjustment reference.
- It is advisable to build individualized profiles for each athlete, especially if working with mixed groups, since generic or male-only profiles can lead to incorrect 1RM estimates for women.
If you want to measure the force-velocity profile of your athletes accurately and easily, the ADR Encoder It allows you to obtain this data in real time during the warm-up, without having to reach muscle failure. The app ADR System It builds the profile automatically and stores it in the cloud so you can compare the evolution of each athlete.
Literature
Los siguientes estudios científicos respaldan los datos y conclusiones de este artículo sobre el perfil fuerza-velocidad en el press de banca:
- García-Ramos, A., Haff, G.G., Pestaña-Melero, F.L., Pérez-Castilla, A., Rojas, F.J., Balsalobre-Fernández, C. & Jaric, S. (2018). Feasibility of the 2-point method for determining the 1-repetition maximum in the bench press exercise. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 13(4), 474–481. See study on ResearchGate →
