your source for vertical leap improvement!

Vertical leap is a major component in any sport that demands athleticism; no matter what sport you're playing, the ability to jump higher will improve your performance; impress your teammates, opponents, and coaches; and make you the star of the court.

Spud Webb, 5'6'' (1.69m), won the 1986 NBA slam-dunk contest

It seems almost unnecessary, for example, to specify what impact your vertical leap has on your performance in basketball. It enables you to rebound, even over bigger guys; to shoot while jumping higher, avoiding your shot being blocked and getting better looks at the rim; it makes you win loose balls flying in the air. In defense, it makes you an effective shot blocker; and the highlight of it all, if you jump high enough, it enables you to dunk.

You don't have to be a 7-footer to dunk. Former NBA pro Spud Webb is only 5'6'' tall; that's 1.69m for our European readers. That didn’t get in his way to not only being able to dunk – but being able to dunk so well that he won the NBA slam-dunk contest in 1986, despite competing against tremendous dunkers who were much bigger than him, such as his Atlanta Hawks teammate Dominique Wilkins.

There is no other sport, perhaps, in which vertical leap is more dominant than in Volleyball; vertical leap is crucial in virtually every play, offensively and defensively. The smash on the offense, and on the other hand the block on the defense, is what makes or breaks a good play.  And in today's modern volleyball, even serves are taken with a leap upwards; having a good vertical leap makes your serve look like a smash, winning a point directly or giving your team a superior position for the rest of the play.

If you're a good vertical leaper, you will win more headers when playing soccer; if you're a goalkeeper, vertical leap is even more important for you, for making those beautiful saves of shots just below your crossbar, or for dominating the airspace above your 18-yard box.

In tennis, when you're at the net, vertical leap is the difference between an easy point won with a lethal overhead smash - and a point likely to be lost with a struggle to just return a lob, or even with a desperate run back to the baseline and a tough return shot from an inferior position.

What about football? How many times have you seen a wide receiver matching up to a cornerback or a safety, leaping to grab a long pass from the quarterback? The vertical leap abilities of the two often seal the fate of the play – a touchdown, a complete pass, an incomplete one, or an interception. Whoever of the two you are - the receiver or the defensive player – you want that difference-maker on your side.

Ever seen those baseball highlights of outfields leaping over the back fence to save a home run for the other team, and make it into an out? Sure you have. Just imagine yourself doing it, Good vertical leap is the difference between the two.

Handball is yet another popular sport, particularly in Europe; the shooter, who is the central player in handball offense, needs an immense vertical jump. a shooter often has to leap over the hands of defensive players who are often as tall as basketball players, and shoot over their hands at the goal.

There are so many other sports in which vertical jump abilities are make-or-break for virtually every play. I didn't even mention some track & field disciplines, because it would be too obvious; Just think of any sport in which the one who jumps higher get the edge over the opponent.

more articles on vertical leap improvement to follow - come back soon!

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