The coach who brought RPE to powerlifting now carries this in his gym bag
Mike Tuchscherer has used bar-speed data in his own training for 16 years. He has tried all the devices. This is the one he put his own money into. Here is what it does, in plain English.
"Was that an 8 or a 9?"
You finish your top set. You rack the bar. Now you have to rate it.
Was that an 8? A 9? Honestly, you're not sure. Every lifter has been there.
And that guess matters, because it picks your next weight.
Guess too high and you go too light. You waste a good day.
Guess too low and you go too heavy. You dig a hole you feel for the rest of the block.
The problem isn't you. It's that "feel" changes with sleep, stress, nerves and ego.
"The moment the weight feels heavy, my brain just assumes I'm not going to make the rep. Even though, if I get past my knees, I almost always finish the lift."
Mirri, STANCE creator
The man behind RPE in powerlifting
If you've ever rated a set out of 10, you've used an idea Mike Tuchscherer brought to powerlifting.
Mike founded Reactive Training Systems in 2008 and built his coaching around RPE. He also won gold at the 2009 World Games.
So you'd think he'd tell you to just trust your feel. He doesn't. Here's how he puts it:
"It's not just the velocity data. It's the decision making that goes with it."
Mike Tuchscherer
Mike's point is simple. If you're reading this, you already train hard. What moves you forward is making better calls. And for that, he says, "you have to put systems in place that support good decision making. Stance is one of these systems."
"I've been using velocity data in my own training for the last 16 years, and I've used all the different devices. Once I tested Stance, not only did I start carrying Stance in my gym bag, I looked for a way to get involved with the company."
Full disclosure: Mike did get involved. He tested STANCE first, and he is now an investor in and advisor to the company.
What STANCE does, in 10 seconds
It's a small sensor. You strap it to the bar. You lift like normal. Your phone shows how fast the bar moved, every rep.
That's it. And here's the one rule that makes it useful:
Example numbers.
How you feel changes from day to day. Bar speed doesn't care how you slept. It just shows how you actually moved.
Strap it on
A Velcro strap holds it on the bar. It takes seconds.
Lift like normal
Squat, bench or deadlift. Move every rep as fast as you can.
Check your phone
See your speed between sets. Then make your call.
What that looks like on a real training day
Keenan Lee won silver at the IPF Classic World Championships. Here is one real session, in his own words.
"I have two sets of two at an RPE 6 and I really don't want to overshoot them. An RPE 6 double could be anywhere from 260 to over 300 kilos."
"Based off the speed of my last warmup, I'm going with 260."
"My first set moved right around the speed an RPE 6 set should, so I'm going to retake the same weight for my next set."
"My second set moved even better. I'm thinking around a 5.5, and it looks like the tracker agrees with me."
What you'll see on your phone
Today vs. last time
Your warm-up speed next to your last session and your average. You know how today compares before your top set.
"Faster. Let's go!"
When the same weight moves faster than before, the app tells you.
Your own RPE chart
Tag your sets with an RPE. Over time, the app learns what each RPE looks like for you.
Am I getting stronger?
Same weight, faster bar. Now you can see your progress, not just hope for it.
Four problems it helps with
- 1Going too heavy on a good-feeling dayThen paying for it the rest of the week.
- 2Going too light because of doubtNerves tell you to hold back when the strength is there.
- 3Bad days in your headTired and stressed? Your warm-up speed shows if the strength is still there. (If something hurts, stop. Pain beats any number.)
- 4"Am I even getting stronger?"The same weight moving faster is a clear sign you are.
What it won't do
We'd rather you know this before you buy:
- It won't pick your weights. You make the call. STANCE gives you the number to make it with.
- It isn't a program. It works with whatever program or coach you already have.
- It needs real effort. Move every rep as fast as you can, or the numbers won't mean much.
- It's for the big three. Squat, bench and deadlift. No tempo work yet.
Why bar speed works
In a study of powerlifters, bar speed closely tracked how hard they rated each squat, bench and deadlift.Helms et al., Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 2017
Seeing your speed makes you push harder. Across many studies, lifters moved the bar about 8% faster when they could see their speed.Weakley et al., Sports Medicine, 2023
Pro teams have used bar-speed tracking for years. STANCE costs less than half the price of most string-based trackers.Price check, October 2026
Used by lifters at the top
"It's a very useful training aid for anyone looking for a more objective view on their training."
"I would 10/10 recommend buying STANCE if you are interested in a velocity tracker."
"The speeds make sense and are really consistent."
"It was so easy to use. I was lifting within minutes."
"If I had this earlier, it would've helped me stop overthinking RPE."
"I'm using STANCE for squat and bench for most of my clients."
What owners say
Loved by 6,000+ lifters
"I am finally able to see how fast and slow my speed on squats, bench and deadlifts is. The RPE I thought I was doing was off."
"Stance has allowed me to gauge my RPE more accurately and adjust my working sets accordingly."
"I catch myself checking bar speed and trying to beat it each session, which has been fun."
"It's easy to set up and use and does exactly what it advertised."
Quick answers
Do I need to know anything about bar speed?
No. The app walks you through it step by step.
Is there a subscription?
No subscription needed. One payment covers the tracker and the app.
Does it work with my phone?
Yes. It works on iPhone and Android.
Which lifts does it track?
Squat, bench and deadlift.
How accurate is it?
STANCE tested it against a string-based tracker on over 5,000 reps. On average the readings were less than 0.05 m/s apart.
What's in the box?
The tracker, mount, strap, case and charging cable.
How fast is shipping?
Shipping is free worldwide. Orders leave within 2 days. International delivery takes 3 to 14 business days.
What if it's not for me?
You get a 30-day money-back guarantee and a 12-month sensor guarantee.
