According to one embodiment, a disk drive apparatus includes a sensor to detect mechanical shocks to the disk drive apparatus and to provide a shock output signal representative of such mechanical shocks, a first filter coupled to the sensor to filter the shock output signal to pass signals having a first frequency component, a second filter to independently filter the shock output signal to provide signals having a second frequency component, a detector to inhibit write operations of the disk drive apparatus responsive to the shock output signal from the first filter, and a controller coupled to the second filter to compensate for low frequency mechanical disturbances during write operations to a track on the disk drive apparatus responsive to low frequency component.