Effortless Vertical Jumps: You Can Get Them With Practice

“Practice makes perfect” is entirely true when developing your vertical jump. But perfect practice is even better. Some people hit a wall when trying to develop their vertical jump, because they don’t know how to properly exercise their vertical jumping muscles, and their skill plateaus earlier than it should. Reach your potential (literally) by following these tips.

Remember to strengthen your core. Work on your abs by doing crunches (not sit-up) to get that strong core strength and you’ll find your jumping ability will increase quickly.

When doing squats and lunges, hold weights in your hands to give you that extra burn. When you squat, make sure your center of gravity is well balanced. Swing your arms down toward the ground when before you jump as this will increase the force as you extend. Run stairs when you can, skipping steps to help build those lower muscles. Seven or more floors are preferable when running stairs.

Don’t overlook mental practice as well. Sports psychologists all agree that a positive and focused mind can help take your body to new levels. Visualize your jump by closing your eyes while practicing your vertical leap.

Keep up the practice and you’ll find your vertical leap can increase to its maximum potential.