Have you ever wished you could jump a few inches higher so you could finally start throwing down slam dunks during basketball games? Well you're not alone! Athletes from all sports, from basketball to volleyball, all are constantly looking for ways to jump higher. Some athletes try
special shoes, some try 'super jumping pills', and still others drink special protein shakes that are supposed to give your jumping ability a quick boost. These ways are almost always guaranteed to fail and not help athletes at all. If you really want to help increase your vertical jump, there are three very effective types of exercises you can do.
Exercise 1: Plyometrics
This type of exercise is designed perfectly for any sport that involves jumping. Plyometrics helps athletes increase their 'explosiveness', which could be anything from sprinting really fast across the basketball court to quickly jumping to spike a volleyball. Here's an example of an easy plyometric exercise you could do at home. Find a sturdy bench, or find any kind of step. Now use as much energy as you can to jump up on top of the step, then quickly jump back down. If you don't feel like it's effective, then you probably need to move faster or the step is too low. This is a very basic exercise, but it's also very effective too.
Exercise 2: Improving Your Jumping Technique
Many athletes, even if they can dunk or jump over a volleyball net, don't have perfect jumping technique. By working on improving your technique, you could easily add anywhere from 1-4 inches to your vertical jump within a week. To see whether your technique is right or not, you should record yourself before, during, and after you jump. You should look for things like which foot you're jumping off of, the angle of your knees and body when you jump, and how tensed up your muscles are during your motion (tense muscles take away from your vertical jump). The more you work on improving your vertical jump technique, the higher you'll be able to jump.
Exercise 3: Stretching The Right Muscles
Exercise 1: Plyometrics
This type of exercise is designed perfectly for any sport that involves jumping. Plyometrics helps athletes increase their 'explosiveness', which could be anything from sprinting really fast across the basketball court to quickly jumping to spike a volleyball. Here's an example of an easy plyometric exercise you could do at home. Find a sturdy bench, or find any kind of step. Now use as much energy as you can to jump up on top of the step, then quickly jump back down. If you don't feel like it's effective, then you probably need to move faster or the step is too low. This is a very basic exercise, but it's also very effective too.
Exercise 2: Improving Your Jumping Technique
Many athletes, even if they can dunk or jump over a volleyball net, don't have perfect jumping technique. By working on improving your technique, you could easily add anywhere from 1-4 inches to your vertical jump within a week. To see whether your technique is right or not, you should record yourself before, during, and after you jump. You should look for things like which foot you're jumping off of, the angle of your knees and body when you jump, and how tensed up your muscles are during your motion (tense muscles take away from your vertical jump). The more you work on improving your vertical jump technique, the higher you'll be able to jump.
Exercise 3: Stretching The Right Muscles
Basketball enthusiast or not, being able to make high jumps is one of the main skill we admire in basketball players. We can never seem to get enough of how these leapers can simply slice their way up to the air with just the perfect dunk landing into the ring!
By Henry Lamb | Published 2/21/2007 | Read more »
Here are five easy tips anyone can use to jump higher!
By RecruitCity | Published 10/16/2007 | Read more »
Three exercises that will help you to practice your placement over the bar during a high jump.
By Agaric | Published 12/4/2006 | Read more »
Being an individual who never quite made the 6 foot mark, I was intrigued. According to the ad, I would look just like a flying Air Jordan, while my minions under me would look up with open-mouthed awe and respect.
By Kevin Kreusch | Published 5/22/2007 | Read more »
Cardio exercise is great for many things, but the number one benefit of cardio is burning fat.There are several options and routines to choose from that will keep you motivated and on the right track to losing weight.
By Kendrah Roberts | Published 6/28/2007 | Read more »
Squats improve strength more than plyometrics, while plyometrics increase the neuromuscular adaptations, joint strength and ability to transfer strength to speed and movement. Combined, they provide the best training method for the vertical jump.
By Brian McCormick, CSCS | Published 10/17/2005 | Read more »
|
|
Most Comments Today
- Cyber Attack Aftermath: Perplexed AC Exec Asks, "Why Us?" It's easy to guess why cyber attackers went after the White House and the Pen... 26 Comments
- Frogg Toggs Chilly Pad: Product Review Use the Frogg Toggs Chilly Pad to stay cool this summer. Designed to keep yo... 25 Comments
- Easy Napkin Folding Techniques Find easy napkin folding techniques that anyone can do. Butterfly fold, Bis... 24 Comments
- Michael Jackson is Missing The casket is missing, where is it? How did it disappear? 24 Comments
- Oh No! Michael Jackson's Body and Brain Missing Is Michael Jackson's body and brain missing? According to many websites they... 24 Comments
- Sarah Palin 2012? Sarah Palin 2012? 23 Comments
Posted on 05/29/2007 at 10:05:00 AM