3 Fundamental Exercises To Improve Your Vertical Jump

by Chris on February 15, 2010


Are you looking for some basic exercises to improve your vertical jump? Since there are many, we'll help you narrow the list a little. There are a few in particular that can boost your ability to jump higher. Ensure that you follow the movements properly. You can perform the right exercises, but if you don't do them in the proper manner, you won't get the results you want. Begin with the exercises we outline below and you will possess a good foundation for improving your vertical jump.

You may think the only muscles you need to work on during your vertical jumping workouts are your leg muscles, but that's not the case. Your lower back and erector muscles need to be strong too. Many of the back muscles are heavily involved and require strengthening as well. Vertical jumping exercises should include working on this area. Which brings us to our opening exercise.

Dead Lifts

Dead lifts are great. Remembering to try to keep you back as erect as possible, bend your knees and grasp down and grab the barbell. Come to an standing position while holding the bar. Gradually return the barbell back to the starting position on the ground. Execute three sets of 6-8 repetitions. To avoid injury, do not jerk the bar, but perform the exercise quickly and steadily. Take a rest. Then do the next set, but this time take your time and feel the full range of your muscles.

Leg Presses

A subsequent exercise that can help improve your vertical jump is leg presses. Load a leg press machine with weights. Spread your feet apart. Allow the weight to come down as far as you can and then, pretending like you are jumping, thrust the weight back up rapidly. It's not about the slow and steady here. Your muscles act explosively when you are jumping, so you have to train them that way in your exercises as well. Do 5 sets of 6 reps. Let muscles to relax between sets.

Medicine Ball

Finally, use a heavy medicine ball in place of a basketball. Pretending that you are doing a dunk, hold the medicine ball and jump up as high as you can. Exaggerate the movements and reach for the rim. Practicing this exercise helps all the muscles necessary for this movement to become strong. Doing this exercise as hard as you can will have a big effect on your vertical leap.

While these are simply three exercises, they can be a good start to improving your vertical leap. Start with these and when you can do them well, you can progress to additional exercises. Don't forget to use the correct form while performing these exercises. It can help you evade injury.

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