New strength training equipment created by former Iowa State football player turned strength & conditioning coach Ben Durbin is drawing attention from coaches, athletes, and therapists across the country.Durbin, a longtime strength and conditioning coach, has launched True Force, a patented force measurement barbell that uses high-precision sensors and artificial intelligence to measure force output in real time. The equipment is designed to take the guesswork out of prescribing workouts, something Durbin says has challenged coaches for decades.
“Even with all the experience in the world, there’s still an element of guesswork in coaching,” Durbin said. “I wanted something that could tell me, with certainty, exactly how hard an athlete should train on any given day.”
From Testing to Real-Time Feedback
Traditionally, coaches have used one-rep max tests to determine an athlete’s strength capacity. But those tests can be risky, inconsistent, and often outdated within weeks.Durbin says True Force changes that by measuring force on every lift. The barbell sensors feed data into proprietary algorithms that calculate how much force an athlete can safely exert in the moment. Training loads adjust instantly, rep by rep.The result, according to Durbin, is a more accurate, individualized training plan that updates daily instead of relying on seasonal benchmarks or instinct.
Beyond Division I Locker Rooms
While the force measurement equipment was developed during Durbin’s years working with college and professional athletes, it has already expanded into broader markets.True Force is currently in use at 32 facilities in 12 states and two countries. Personal trainers, rehabilitation specialists, and recreational weight lifters are adopting it for their own programs.“There’s nothing else on the market that captures what this does,” Durbin said. “We’ve built something accurate, repeatable, and easy to implement.”For coaches, the equipment provides an evidence-based tool that allows them to scale individualized training across entire teams. For therapists, it offers a way to monitor recovery more precisely and prevent reinjury.
Durbin said years of experience on the sidelines convinced him that even the best coaches had to rely on educated guesses. That reliance on instinct could mean overtraining some athletes while under-challenging others.With True Force, every rep is measured, analyzed, and translated into usable information. Coaches can see exactly when an athlete is fatigued, when loads should be adjusted, and when recovery should take priority.“The hardest part was translating raw measurements into something coaches could trust and act on,” Durbin said. He believes solving that challenge is what makes the system valuable.
Looking Ahead
Durbin says the current version of True Force is just the beginning. His product offers a lifetime warranty, and lifetime app updates. His team is working on new features and updates that will continue to elevate interpretation of data, tracking recovery metrics, measuring fatigue, and monitoring long-term progress.“My vision is for every coach to have the ability to make truly individualized training decisions,” he said. “When you base those choices on actual data, you take the guesswork out of the equation.”coaches, athletes, and therapists, True Force represents something bigger: a step into a new era of athletic training where precision and performance are driven by data.
“Even with all the experience in the world, there’s still an element of guesswork in coaching,” Durbin said. “I wanted something that could tell me, with certainty, exactly how hard an athlete should train on any given day.”
