How to Jump Higher: 3 Ways To Improve Vertical Leap

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Can Shoes Help Increase Vertical Jump?

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We hear stories from time-to-time about the crazed crowds at the stores trying to get their hands on a certain pair of athletic shoes. Does a certain pair of shoes really give the wearer some kind of special advantage over anyone else when it comes to sports? The answer is yes and no. Certain things about a shoe can help individuals increase their power and explosion when they are trying to increase their vertical jump, but there is no magic shoe that will make someone play better.

The first thing that is important about a shoe is the fit. You shouldn't purchase a shoe that is too big for your foot. Your foot should not be able to slide from side-to-side within the shoe. You should only have a small amount of space in the toe of the shoe for your toes to wiggle. When you are in the process of jumping, you exert a lot of force against the ground to power upward. If your shoes do not fit properly, some of the force that you exert on the ground is lost in the movement of the foot within the shoe.

The laces of a shoe are very important as well. It is fashionable these days to wear athletic shoes with the laces untied and loose. Once again, you will be losing some of the energy that you are exerting against the ground to the movement of your foot within the shoe. Tightening the laces will prevent that movement from occurring and will help you to achieve your best upward explosion when jumping.

Another characteristic to look for in a shoe is a carbon fiber shank in the sole. The purpose of the carbon fiber shank is to make the shoe stiffer in the sole. This stiffness gives an athlete a firmer platform to push against during their activities. A more cushioned sole will absorb some of the force that is placed against it and cause the athlete to lose some of the power that is exerted on the ground. If you are unable to find a shoe with this shank, try to select a shoe that seems stiffer.

Finally, the weight of the shoe can affect an increase in vertical jump. A lighter feeling shoe gives the athlete less to carry in their upward movement, but it also can have a psychological effect. The wearer can feel like they can jump higher because their feet feel lighter and many times this mentality can cause them to actually jump higher.

What I learned is that the proper shoe should be basically an extension of your foot. It should offer protection and support and not weigh you down. Take some time to consider some of these points the next time you need to purchase a pair of athletic shoes.

My name is Terri and I am a volleyball player. One of the things that I learned during a program I was taking to increase my vertical jump was the importance of the proper shoe. The things that I learned can be applied to shoes for any sport.

Learn more about how you should select the proper shoes here: http://www.squidoo.com/how-can-your-shoes-increase-vertical-jump

The program I used to increase my vertical: http://www.increaseyourverticalexplosion.info/

What Determines Your Vertical Jump?

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While stating the obvious, the vertical jump is simply the ability to elevate off the ground in a completely vertical plane. There are two ways to classify a vertical jump: standing and running. A standing jump is where one elevates from a completely stationary position, where a running jump involves taking several steps in order to gain momentum before elevating.

The perception among many is that vertical leap is something that is based solely on genetics, and that not much can be done to improve it. Certainly, genetics do play a significant role, and some individuals are born with incredible vertical leaping abilities. But we have seen individuals, by the way of intensive training, eventually able to dunk a basketball when they had no chance before.

So what exactly determines how high you can jump? There are several factors involved, but there are some that matter more than others. Some of them include muscle fiber composition, tendon length, bone structure, power, muscular strength, and reactive strength.

The first three factors listed are completely genetic, and can't be enhanced no matter what you do. Let's face it, there are some individuals who are just blessed with a disposition for jumping high, just like some are born with the ability to run. Now, jumping and speed can be enhanced, but one can only do so much.

The same can be said for building strength. We can all get stronger, but at some point we reach our genetic limit. The only way we can above and beyond our limits is by putting something artificial into our bodies, which ultimately is detrimental in the long-term.

Muscular strength simply refers to your overall strength levels. The legs play the primary role in jumping, so having good strength here is a start for increasing your vertical. However, your body should have a good balance of strength throughout. This means working out your upper body equally to your lower body. How much you can squat is a good indicator of leg strength.

While strength matters, it can only help so much. This is where power comes in, which is defined as the rate in which your muscles can generate force. So the faster you can produce force, the higher you can jump.

Reactive strength is how fast you are able to absorb force going one direction and apply more of it going another direction. So in other words, the quicker you can jump, the higher you can jump. As you are planting your feet to jump, a lot of force is being directed to the ground. It's your ability to absorb this force and apply it going upwards that allows you to jump high.