Sprint start test
On your marks. Set. Go on the gun, and not in under 0.1 s.
Tap to start
Space, click or tap
Press Space or tap the stage to start, then again the moment the signal comes.
- 1--
- 2--
- 3--
- 4--
- 5--
- Best
- -- ms
- Average
- -- ms
- Your record
- -- ms
Sprint start · beatthestart.com
ms
Runs in your browser. Nothing is sent: your record stays on this device and a challenge link carries one time. Turn sound on for the gun.
How the sprint start test works
- Tap the stage or press Space: "On your marks", then "Set".
- Wait for the gun, 1.2 to 2.2 seconds after Set.
- Go on "Bang!". Before it, or under 100 ms after it, is a false start.
The rule
Why a tenth of a second: detecting a signal alone takes about 131 ms on average (Woods et al., 2015).
Frequently asked questions
What is a false start in the 100 m?
When a certified start system is used, a reaction time under 0.1 s is signalled as a possible false start (World Athletics Technical Rule 16.6). Here, a tap before the gun or under 100 ms after it is a false start.
Why is 0.100 seconds the limit?
Under about a tenth of a second, a start cannot be a reaction to the gun: just detecting a signal takes about 131 ms on average in a lab study (Woods et al., 2015). A start that fast was a guess.
How long is the wait between Set and the gun?
It is the starter's call once every athlete is steady, and it changes from race to race. This test waits a random 1.2 to 2.2 seconds after Set.
Is a sound start faster than a visual one?
Try it: turn sound on and compare with the standard test. The gun sound and the flash come together here, so the test measures whichever you react to first.