MyBasketball

This article is part of the series “30 days to being a better basketball player“.

One of the most magnificent sights in basketball is watching someone get some elevation and fly through the air.

"Michael Jordan, Blue Dunk, Lisle, IL, 1987" by cliff1066™, via flickr

Just beautiful.

Whether it’s lifting off for a jump ball, a rejection, a monster dunk or even just to soar for a jump shot, the air up there is a magical place. It’s the other half of the court, one you shouldn’t shy away from exploring, no matter how big or small you are. For me personally, some of my favourite basketball memories are from times I was flying a few feet above the court.

Having good genes is usually an advantage, but with practice and determination, anyone can increase their vertical jump by several inches – enough to give you that little bit extra hangtime and a whole lot more air.

The secret to jumping high? Plyometrics.

Today’s exercise is simple – watch the video here about Basic Plyometric Exercises.

Once you’ve done that, plan to do plyometric exercises at least three times a week (they’re high impact, so don’t do them too often or you’ll quickly tire your muscles out).

There are some other tips here on thehighjumper.com that you can have a look at.

Happy jumping, and don’t forget to enjoy the view while you’re up there!

Darren spent many years playing basketball in Pretoria, searching out every possible way to gain extra inches on his vertical in order to disprove the theory that white men can't jump. After being distracted by the corporate world for several years, Darren returned to the game he loves to contribute in some way to its' future. Darren firmly believes we will see basketball in its rightful place as one of the top sports in South Africa, and that one of the keys to doing so is seeing information about the game made easily accessible to everyone. This is why he is now part of the MyBasketball team.

Darren Gorton

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Other articles you might enjoy

• Day 17: Only the strong survive
• Basic plyometric exercises to increase your vertical leap
• Day 6: Warming up your body and mind