Phil Graham-Smith — Testing With Purpose and The Evolution of ForceDecks

Our guest today is Dr. Phil Graham-Smith, Reader in Biomechanics and Innovation at Manchester Metropolitan University and co-founder of ForceDecks.

Ryan and Phil discuss the origins of ForceDecks, how far it's come since Phil and Dan Cohen first joined up to create the product, the concepts of validity and reliability in force plate testing, and the importance of applying scientific principles in real-world settings. Phil also shares insights from decades in elite sport and biomechanics, highlighting what truly matters in test selection and how practitioners can avoid overcomplicating force plate data.

The conversation explores the evolution of ForceDecks from early prototypes to more than ten thousand systems worldwide, the pitfalls of overhyped metrics, and the philosophy behind measuring what actually matters for athlete performance.