⚡️SSL #006 Simple Tools To Improve Your Speed

Sep 09, 2022

Today I’m going to share with you a few tools to help you develop your speed.

Some of them are developed by very smart guys with PhDs that study the science of speed for a living.

In the same way you would go to the gym and track your weights, reps, and sets we also need to track certain metrics when we train for speed.

Some athletes skip this part of their training and, as a result, get stuck at the same personal best for extended periods.

And it’s not their fault either, tracking the distances you sprint, your times, and analyzing your technique is not easy. In many cases, it requires expensive and bulky equipment.

Tracking Doesn’t Have To Be Difficult.

Specifically, I’m going to talk about a list of apps that’ll help you get deep insights into your training, like a pro.

Measure (free)
Mysprint (paid)
Myjump (free trial)
Dartfish (paid & free version)
Camera (free of course)

Let’s dive in.

Disclaimer: I am not sponsored by any of these tools and earn $0 from mentioning any of them. These are the same tools I use with my in-person and online clients. You will see no affiliate links to any of these here.

1. Measure

One of the most important thing metrics we must first track is the distance over which we are sprinting.

In order to even time yourself and train intelligently, you need to know what distances you’re sprinting.

If you have track or football field access, this is easy since distances are already marked.

But if you don’t, please don’t tell me you’re just going out there and sprinting randomly.

I beg you to download the measure app right now if you have an iPhone (yes it’s free), if you use andriod I believe the “ruler app” does the same thing.

Essentially it uses augmented reality to measure things, which not only is super cool but super helpful for whenever else you need to measure stuff.

For starts a general distance you want to sprint over is 10m, for acceleration 30m, and for top speed a 30m fly.

2. Mysprint

Analyzing your splits is a big challenge if you don’t have access to those expensive timing gates.

But the good news is you don’t need to spend thousands an electric timing system to get this data fast.

You can use the Mysprint app to measure your splits among other features. One of those is creating a Force Velocity Profile which provides detailed information on improving your acceleration.

I paid a few dollars for it so it's not free but it’s way less than spending $4,000 on a set of lasers.

The cool part about it is that it was developed by a speed researcher, Pedro Jimenez Reyes. They’ve even tested out its accuracy in a scientific paper to confirm its accuracy.

Don’t worry, if you don’t want to spend money on an app like this, you can still use your phone to measure your splits using a method mentioned in tool #5.

3. MyJump

Another big problem is analyzing your vertical, which is super important not only if you’re looking to improve your top speed but also jump higher and further.

I won’t go in-depth here but vertical forces are what allow us to reach higher top speeds so measuring it can help us discover if it’s a weak point.

Usually, we would need a facility that has already invested serious cash in getting force plates. But the team that built the Mysprint app also built the Myjump app for us.

Again, I don’t make any money from recommending any of these, just sharing what I’ve found useful.

The good news is they have a 7-day free trial. ;)

4. Dartfish

Analyzing your technique can be a challenge especially if you don’t know where to start. If you follow my videos closely or have my course then this isn’t a problem for you. But for everyone else, you can use a tool like dartfish to measure your angles, reaction time, and ground contact times.

There are a bunch of useful tools for performing video analysis, I got the “dartfish express” app for a few bucks a while ago. But they have a competitor “Onform” which has many of the same features and is free with a capital F.

Here are 2 examples of metrics that you analyze:

Is there a straight line from neck to toes on the start?
Is the exit angle of your body 45’ or lower?

5. The Camera App

Finally, the camera app installed on all modern phones is probably the most underrated app right now.

If you have a smartphone you literally have a high-speed 4k camera in your pocket.

This is great for timing yourself when you don’t have the tech or a training partner.

How to visually time your splits:

Set 2 markers for a start and end point, ideally bright cones that are clearly visible.
Position the camera to the side 10m away and ensure both markers are clearly in the frame.
Note the moment your first arm movement begins by writing it down.
Then note when your cross the second marker with your chest.
Subtract the first number from the second number and you have an estimate of your time.

It takes a bit more time but it’s a decent way to time your 40 yard, or 30m split (beyond that the accuracy goes down significantly).

TL;DR

Measure app (measure distances using AR)
Mysprint app (measure your splits and FVP)
Myjump app (measure your vertical forces)
Dartfish (analyze your technique, reaction time, ground contact time)
Camera App (time yourself )

Stay Fast,

Cesar

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