A method for repositioning a read/write head from a parking location to a position adjacent a surface of a magnetic disk, the read/write head disposed on an actuator arm having a voice coil motor, includes the receiving the read/write head load signal, applying a first current pulse to the voice coil motor in response to the read/write head load signal, the first current pulse having a first amplitude and a first duration, determining a back electro-motive force in the voice coil motor, determining a read/write head velocity in response to the back electromotive force, determining the difference between the read/write head velocity and a desired read/write head velocity, using the difference between the read/write head velocity and the desired read/write head velocity to determine a second duration for a second current pulse, and applying the second current pulse to the voice coil motor.