How To Increase Your Vertical Jump

Vertical jumps are most often thought of for basketball players and other athletes who want to be stronger, better players. If you want to jump higher, you have to practice. If you want to actually DOUBLE your vertical leap, check out Luke Lowrey's vertical jump program, which was featured on ESPN.

Follow these steps and you will be able to increase your vertical jump.

Materials:
Way to measure the height of the jump (either a tape measure, markings on a wall or chair/table height)
Good fitting workout shoes

1. Develop a goal. Are you looking to improve your game, your stamina or reach a specific height with your jumps? Make a decision about what your goal will be and when you plan to reach the goal. Then write it down and get started.
2. Start with warm-up and stretches. Flexibility is necessary for you to increase your jump height. For all of your workouts, make sure you warm up to prevent injury. Then follow your workouts with extensive stretching. Concentrate on dynamic stretches for all of your major leg muscle groups including calves, hamstrings, quadriceps and hip flexors.
3. Practice jumps. Make jump practice a part of your regular routines. Start by doing straight standing vertical jumps – 5 for the first day and work up to 30 per workout.
4. Measure your jumps. At the beginning of your jump series each day, measure your first two jumps. Either use a pencil to mark the wall when you jump or jump next to a measure. Record your measurements each time.
5. Loosen your knees with a rebounder. Using a rebounder or trampoline in itself won’t help your jump. However, most people working on vertical jumps find that their knees feel stiff when they jump and jar when they land. Practice softening your knees by jumping on a rebounder.
6. Work weights into your training. Having strong legs will help give you the burst of strength needed to get your jumps higher. Work regular strength and weight training into your workout routine. Be sure that you include a range of strengthening exercises for your legs, including squats, lunges and calf raises.
7. Be patient. Remember that you are working toward a goal. You are training and building a skill. That takes time and concentration. Keep with it and you will reach your goal of increasing the height of your jumps.

Increasing your vertical jump takes work and may be a slow process. Stick with it and you will be successful.