Jumping higher!

[liquid-fix]

Hey I play a lot of basketball, and at the moment my vertical jump height just isn't as high as I want it to be. Just signed up to the gym and have been doing a lot of leg strengthening exercises, leg press, extensions, weighted calf raises, squats and lunges etc. Are these the right exercises I want to be doing? I have read some stuff that as appose to strength in my legs, more important is the speed at which my muscles contract? Will these exercises assist that or do I need to be adding something else into the workout?
Cheers
Ben

[0iD]

If you want explosive leg power try practicing your vertical jumps with a weighted vest, or two backpacks, (one front, one back). Of course watching your posture so you dont put any undue stress on your lower back or hips.

[fuddam]

in various martial arts, the exercise to be able to jump better is to jump more



back at uni, I used to jump to / from as many surfaces as possible, as I walked around. Got to an impressive height - my feet got close to head-height. Used to freak people out playing footie or rugby when they tried to tackle me.

[Alexis]

Have you tried Blocking? Thats a very good way of gaining height from your jump, a lot of gymnasts use this technique.

[choongsta]

Hey, I play a bit of basketball too. Sounds like you're on the right track. My coach told when doing the exercises, the tip is to try and jump back up as quickly as possible, something about the muscles in the leg.

[atomos]

Google "depth jumps" there are some videos on the techniques involved.

[matty-hodgson]

Google "depth jumps" there are some videos on the techniques involved.

are you telling him to jump off a building?

[MadduckUK]

i presumed jumping into water.. like a depth charge?

[Azza]

I just used to just practice dunking really. One handed, two handed, different dunks, running, standing, one foot run up etc, just getting the right technique etc. Visualisation helped me alot aswell with the technique of jumping etc.

I used to grab the rebound and go straight back up, I think that helped alot, plus in games you usually get the and 1.


Set yourself targets like heading the bottom of the net or board. Getting a point on your arm up to touch the rim etc.


Thats all I used to do and it helped me to get a pretty high jump. Im 6.1 if that and I used to be able to dunk it two handed off standing, 360 off a couple of steps and throw it down with ease off couple of steps.

Start all over again on Thursday though




edit---------->


just noticed the date of the OP, LOL