Technical Note on Pickup Acceleration Signal Processing

Pryer, ME, Cronin, J, Neville, J, Korfist, C, and Uthoff, A. Technical note on pickup acceleration signal processing. J Strength Cond Res 40(4): e432-e436, 2026-Sprint acceleration from dynamic positions (pickup acceleration) is fundamental to team sports performance, yet remains under-researched. This article focuses on customizing methods for extracting step-specific variables from motorized linear position encoder technology to analyze pickup acceleration. Fifteen trained athletes (22.6 ± 5.3 years) from diverse sporting backgrounds performed 30-m sprints at controlled entry velocities (1.5 and 3.0 m·s -1 ). A custom MATLAB script identified critical steps and calculated step velocity, acceleration, horizontal force, and step length. The analysis captured approach steps (-2, -1), transition step (0), and pickup steps (1, 2) across the acceleration phase. Using the methods outlined in this article, it was concluded that a step-by-step analysis of pickup acceleration can be effectively captured in field settings, providing mechanical insights that were previously limited to laboratory environments. This method provides strength and conditioning practitioners with a practical and portable solution for assessing sport-specific sprint mechanics. While low-load resistance (1 kg) and tether oscillation present limitations, the approach enables individualized training prescriptions based on step-specific mechanical profiles. Future research should establish the reliability of step-derived measures and explore targeted interventions for improving pickup acceleration performance in team sport athletes.