| There are plenty of athletes who desire to improve | | | | Certainly there is a lot more to being a successful |
| their vertical jumping ability. In fact, many work | | | | athlete than a big vertical. Just as certainly, a big |
| hundreds of hours to make that happen and in the | | | | vertical can be a distinct advantage that is difficult to |
| process make some measurable gains. | | | | contend with when in direct competition. So what are |
| The lingering question among a lot of athletes has | | | | the options for athletes across the board. |
| been and continues to center on those very | | | | Stick with what you have got and live with the results: |
| measurements. When all is said and done, what is the | | | | good, bad or indifferent. |
| measurement range that is considered good for a | | | | If you have an average or below average vertical, |
| vertical jump reach? | | | | lament your disadvantage and use it as your fall back |
| To address that question it is both important and | | | | excuse when unsuccessful in the competitive arena. |
| helpful to identify all of the jump reach measurement | | | | Decide to put yourself in the above average or |
| ranges so that anyone can get an idea as to where | | | | beyond category and use the competitive advantages |
| they fall on the vertical spectrum. What follows is a | | | | thereof to become a more consistent winner. |
| brief summary of vertical jump categories that would | | | | Stop and consider this outcome for just one moment. |
| include most athletes. | | | | If you could add a minimum of ten inches to your |
| - 22 inches or less falls into the poor to fair category. | | | | vertical jump reach, would you do it even if it required |
| - 22 to 28 inches is a fair to good range and likely | | | | to focus and work on it for a couple of months? How |
| reflects where the average athlete is found. | | | | about if that kind of outcome was guaranteed? |
| - 28 to 34 inches is considered a very good range. It | | | | Think of it like this. If you currently jump reach 22" it |
| means that an athlete in this category currently jumps | | | | would become 32". Or 26" would become 36". In either |
| higher than the average NBA player. | | | | case, you would be jumping higher than the average |
| - 34 inches or more is just plain outstanding. Once in | | | | NBA player. Would that be worth a little hard work? |
| this range, an athlete is an exceptional jumper, maybe | | | | Even better, say your current vertical is 17" which is in |
| even a leaper. | | | | the poor category. Ten inches later you would be at |
| Keep in mind that these kinds of measurements are | | | | 27" or just on the borderline of very good. How about |
| only legitimate if the jump reach in question is that of a | | | | that for a dramatic improvement? How much of a |
| physically mature individual. An immature body will not | | | | difference would that make in your competitive |
| reflect the results that can be gained once someone | | | | abilities? |
| reaches a more fully developed stage of life. For | | | | The bottom line is simple, virtually any athlete can |
| instance, pre-teens and younger teenagers are not | | | | dramatically elevate their vertical jump numbers. Why |
| physically ready to be accurately categorized. | | | | athletes now will work so hard for small gains when |
| Given that most athletes are going to fall into the 28 | | | | proper training will guarantee huge improvement is a bit |
| inches and under range, what does that bode for their | | | | of a mystery. Not to mention a waste of a lot of time |
| future in competitive sports? Will they be at a | | | | and energy. |
| competitive disadvantage? Should they simply drop out | | | | Because training is readily available to achieve big |
| if they are at the lower end of the spectrum? Is being | | | | results, the link below is provided so that the reader |
| in the above average category a guarantee for | | | | can review one such outstanding program. Regardless |
| success? Most importantly, is there anything that can | | | | of your current category moving up a couple of levels |
| be done to improve individual measurement numbers? | | | | on the vertical scale is easily within reach. In the end, |
| Answers: unknown but to be determined; possibly; not | | | | the question is this: what would hold you back? |
| at all; also not at all; yes definitely. | | | | |
