Science for practice
Dynamics of Speed-Strength Indices in Qualified Weightlifters Preparing for Competitions
English summary of Tyazhelaya Atletika. Ezhegodnik 1985 (Moscow: Fizkultura i Sport, 1985), pp. 41–43: the text is paraphrased, not translated; data tables are given in full with English labels.
Earlier studies (R. A. Roman, 1974; A. N. Vorobyov, 1977; A. V. Chernyak, 1978; V. I. Frolov, A. S. Medvedev and A. N. Furaev, 1980, and others) judged speed-strength fitness from the standing vertical jump and the height of the snatch pull. Assessment by weight class against competition results is insufficiently studied, so this work follows the dynamics of jumping ability and barbell power.
At training camps V. M. Abalakov's tape-recording device, as improved by P. M. Mironenko and Yu. V. Shcherbina (1980), recorded the height of jump and snatch pull (cm); their speed, height over time of upward movement (m/s); jump power, speed times bodyweight; pull power, speed times barbell weight (kgm/s); specific pull power, power over bodyweight; and relative pull height, barbell height over stature, times 100%. Jumps were recorded after warm-up, hands behind the back; pulls during training, with a barbell equal to the lifter's best snatch. Success was judged by the snatch and clean and jerk results and by our mastery index (result over the International Master of Sport standard).
Over five years at Ukrainian SSR team camps, including preparation for the VIII Spartakiad of the Peoples of the USSR, 92 Masters and International Masters of Sport were studied: 24 in the 52 to 60 kg classes, 16 in 67.5 to 75 kg, 25 in 82.5 to 90 kg and 27 at 100 kg and over.
Jumping ability
Table 1. Jumping indices of the Ukrainian SSR team lifters
| Lifter | Weight class, kg | Jump height, cm | Take-off speed, m/s | Jump power, kgm/s |
| R-k | 52 | 58 | 1.76 | 98.6 |
| S-n | 52 | 54 | 1.5 | 87.7 |
| D-ko | 56 | 61 | 1.56 | 95.1 |
| A-v | 60 | 62 | 1.77 | 113.2 |
| K-v | 60 | 60.5 | 1.78 | 113.2 |
| N-v | 67.5 | 63.5 | 1.81 | 125.7 |
| S-n | 75 | 63 | 1.68 | 134.7 |
| Ch-ov | 75 | 61 | 1.56 | 124.8 |
| S-kho | 82.5 | 56 | 1.69 | 143.6 |
| S-ts | 100 | 66.5 | 1.79 | 179 |
| O-ko | 100 | 68 | 1.83 | 184.8 |
| K-uk | 110 | 63 | 1.75 | 192.5 |
| Ch-v | 110 | 64 | 1.68 | 188.2 |
| P-ko | Over 110 | 66 | 1.62 | 210.6 |
| D-ko | Over 110 | 57 | 1.6 | 209.6 |
Jump height rises with weight class from 54 cm (52 kg) to 68 cm (100 kg); most jump well, showing good explosive leg strength. The best belonged to B. Ryzhik, V. Danilchenko, A. Azizov, E. Novikov and V. Ostapenko. Take-off speed was lowest at 52 kg and over 110 kg (1.50, 1.60 m/s) and highest at 67.5 and 100 kg (1.81, 1.83 m/s). Jump power rises from 87.7 to 210.6 kgm/s (over 110 kg).
Lifters were divided into four groups: 52 to 60 kg, 67.5 to 75 kg, 82.5 to 90 kg and 100 kg and over. In group 1 jump height correlates with the snatch (r = 0.41) and the clean and jerk (0.35), take-off speed (0.46) and jump power (0.48) moderately with both, and jumping with mastery (0.51). In group 2 jump power correlates with the snatch (0.58) and jump height with mastery (0.55). In group 3 take-off speed correlates with the snatch (0.64) and mastery (0.73). In group 4 height and speed correlate with the snatch (0.41) and with mastery (0.65 and 0.31). Jumping thus relates more to the snatch than to the clean and jerk; in groups 1 and 2 jump power is the closer link, in groups 3 and 4 height and speed, all moderately linked to mastery.
Power in the snatch pull
Table 2. Barbell power in the snatch pull, Ukrainian SSR lifters
| Lifter | Weight class, kg | Pull height, cm | Relative height, % | Snatch pull speed, m/s | Pull power, kgm/s | Specific power, conv. units |
| S-v | 52 | 82 | 59 | 0.82 | 82 | 1.57 |
| A-ov | 60 | 90 | 56 | 0.84 | 109 | 1.82 |
| K-v | 60 | 90 | 58 | 0.99 | 119 | 1.98 |
| N-ov | 67.5 | 89 | 60 | 0.91 | 127 | 1.88 |
| Ch-ov | 75 | 92 | 57.5 | 0.80 | 124 | 1.65 |
| S-in | 75 | 99 | 60 | 0.86 | 137.6 | 1.83 |
| O-ko | 100 | 105 | 59 | 0.87 | 157 | 1.56 |
| K-uk | 110 | 108 | 59 | 0.99 | 183 | 1.66 |
| A-ev | 100 | 108 | 61 | 0.94 | 169 | 1.69 |
Speed printed as cm/s in the source; one garbled height read as 89.
Pull height grows with weight class, lowest for A. Senshin (82 cm), highest for V. Kravchuk and A. Achichaev (108 cm), relative height from 56 to 61%. Pull speed is higher in the fittest lifters (A. Kartalov, E. Novikov, V. Kravchuk, A. Achichaev). Pull power is proportional to bodyweight (82 kgm/s at 52 kg to 183.1 at 110 kg), specific power inversely proportional, from 1.98 (60 kg) to 1.56 (100 kg).
With the snatch, pull height (r = 0.80), relative height (0.48) and specific power (−0.77) correlate closely; with the clean and jerk, height (0.81), pull power (0.40) and specific power (−0.66). Pull speed has no reliable link with either lift. Absolute and relative pull height and specific power correlate best with both lifts and can serve for assessment.
Results
Most indices improved during preparation. Of 14 lifters, 10 tested good or excellent and did best, adding 2.5 to 25 kg to their totals from the VIII Ukrainian SSR Spartakiad in Voroshilovgrad; one of them, though well tested, missed the planned result. Three tested satisfactorily: V. Danilchenko and Yu. Chernyshev made no gain, and A. Senshin gained 5 kg. Such data let coaches assess readiness and adjust planned results.