What is a goal of Absolute Speed?

• A. Increase hip flexion to increase ground force
• B. Increase knee extension without increasing ground force
• C. Maintain static posture to maximize speed
• D. Increase upper body movement to compensate

Answer: (A)

Maximizing speed comes from creating a strong, quick push into the ground each step. Increasing hip flexion helps you drive the leg forward into the stance phase quickly, creating a faster transition into the push-off. That rapid leg drive sets up a more explosive hip–knee–ankle extension at contact, which increases the ground reaction force and the horizontal impulse you generate per step. In other words, the faster, more forceful contact you achieve by pulling the leg up and through contributes directly to faster speed. Pushing for knee extension without boosting ground force won’t raise speed, staying static limits the necessary explosive action, and more upper-body movement won’t compensate for the ground-force you need.