3 Tips to Instantly Increase your Vertical Jump!

Before I tell you the 3 Tips to Instantly Increase your Vertical Jump, I will warn you... Though doing these 3 things correctly can and will increase your vertical jump, Nothing will replace a proper training regime, solid technique and hard work. That being said I hope you implement these tips quickly and get some quick results. Now onto the goods...

1) Vertical Jumps off a box

Ok.. so it doesn't actually have to be a box, But all you need is a large step, Just about the height of your current vertical Jump, So if you can jump 20 Inches find something around that height, Stand on top of it. And then let yourself drop onto your feet off its side. Just as you land on the floor, Jump up into the air. This is a great exercise to improve your vertical jump but also actually makes you jump higher! Believe it or not, this works and will allow you to jump higher. It is based on a principle called the stretch reflex.

The stretch reflex is a property all muscles have. You can see the stretch reflex in action right now if you follow this simple exercise...

• Take your hand and put it flat palmed onto the table.
• Now lift your middle finger and try and tap the table with it as hard as you can. Can't do much can you?
• Now try this.. Take your middle finger with your other hand and stretch it back before letting it hit the table once more.

See how much more power you can get? That's the stretch Reflex in action!

2) Visualization

First, Test your vertical jump to see how high on the backboard you can get. After you have done this close your eyes and begin to vividly imagine yourself jumping with perfect form and powerfully leaping higher than you have ever jumped before. Afterwards, Imagine yourself feeling lighter, more energetic and loose than ever before. You will actually begin to feel differently, Lastly repeat to yourself "I feel myself getting lighter and more powerful". Now jump!

Can it really be so simple? The answer is yes, Visualization techniques are used by sporting professionals the world over. You can use them too.. Everyone I've shown this to has instantly increased their vertical jump by 2 inches or more and you can try this right now.

3) Use Proper Technique

Seems simple right? There are two subtle things you can emphasize that you already no doubt do naturally that will help you jump higher.

• Did you ever notice how when a professional basketballer is about to jump he squats down for a brief moment before the jump? That's right, once again he's taking advantage of the stretch reflex, and the faster he squats down the faster he will bounce right up.

• Also, Just before a jump swing your hands downwards, this maximizes the downwards momentum in your body, and just as you take off stretch them out as far as you can.

Using these two simple techniques together you compress your whole body as much as you can, before the jump and then powerfully explode out. Now take all 3 tips and put them together and see how much higher you can jump!

So you got some quick results, Now what?

I hope that after reading this article you can see that it is not hard to increase your vertical jump by 2-5 Inches. But to get consistent gains over the long term I highly recommend you consult a qualified strength and conditioning coach, they can design for you a personalized program that caters to your strengths and weaknesses. Only this will ensure you get the powerful vertical jump you want and stay injury-free.

By Dima Kritchevski

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