Lachlan James: Strength Science Simplified — Measuring What Actually Matters

In this episode of the VALDCast, we sit down with Associate Professor at La Trobe University Dr. Lachlan James — sports scientist, consultant, and founder of ForceLab — to decode one of the most misunderstood areas in performance: strength domains.

With modern technology offering hundreds of data points from a single jump or lift, practitioners might find themselves monitoring too many metrics. Lachlan explains how to cut through the noise by identifying five domains of strength — from reactive ability to heavy dynamic force — and how each maps to real performance outcomes.

We explore:

✅ Why many metrics inside a single test are telling you the same story

✅ How to decide which data matters most for your sport or athlete

✅ The art of “zooming in” and “zooming out” when tracking progress

✅ A framework for linking gym-based testing to key performance indicators

✅ The future of strength science — and why smarter simplicity wins

Whether you're a coach, physio, sports scientist or an athlete obsessed with improvement, this conversation gives you a practical blueprint for turning strength testing into meaningful action.

Tune in to learn how to build a performance model that works with athletes and practitioners alike, optimizing time, attention and resources.