Three metrics, one rep
Every concentric rep produces a velocity curve. From that curve, three summary numbers matter:
- Mean concentric velocity (MCV) - the average speed of the bar from the start of the concentric to the end.
- Peak velocity (PV) - the single highest instantaneous speed reached during the rep.
- Mean propulsive velocity (MPV) - the average speed only during the propulsive phase, before the bar decelerates.
Mean concentric velocity
MCV is the most-used metric in the VBT literature. It is stable, easy to interpret, and its relationship to percentage of 1RM is close to linear across most compound lifts. If you are building a load-velocity profile or prescribing by zone, MCV is your default.
Peak velocity
Peak velocity captures the fastest instant of the rep, which is what matters when the goal is expressing power against light or moderate loads. Jump squats, speed bench, ballistic throws and Olympic lift derivatives should all be tracked by peak velocity, not MCV.
A jump squat with a 40 kg bar and MCV of 1.10 m/s might have a peak velocity of 2.60 m/s. The MCV is almost meaningless there. The peak is the whole point.
Mean propulsive velocity
On lighter loads the bar decelerates before the end of the concentric - you are literally slowing the bar down so it stays in your hands. MPV strips out that deceleration phase and reports the average speed only while you were still producing net force.
MPV is González-Badillo's preferred metric for the bench press below about 80 percent of 1RM. Above that, MPV and MCV converge because there is no deceleration phase left.
Which one for which lift
- Squat, deadlift, heavy bench (> 80% 1RM) - MCV.
- Light and moderate bench, pin press, incline press - MPV.
- Jump squats, speed-strength work, ballistics - peak velocity.
- Olympic lifts and pulls - peak velocity of the second pull.
How ORCA reports them
The ORCA app records all three on every rep. The default headline number changes with the exercise you selected: MCV for the classical strength lifts, MPV for lighter presses, peak velocity for ballistic templates. You can always tap into a rep to see the full breakdown and the raw waveform.