What You Need to Jump Higher in Basketball and Dunk

[Melba Hemingway]

When trying to jump higher and dunk the basketball there are many
factors to consider. If you are not naturally gifted with the ability
to be able to jump three feet in the air you will need to work out.
The most overlooked thing athletes do when training to jump higher is
working out the total body. Just doing squats all day will not improve
your vertical leap to the level you are looking for.
Although having strong legs is a advantage when training to dunk the
ball. You need to condition the rest of your body also. Look at
Olympic power lifters, you think they can get that enormous torso off
the ground to dunk a basketball? They undoubtedly have some of the
strongest legs in the world but their upper body is not trained for
jumping.
Overall full body conditioning is the key to reaching your maximum
vertical leap. The most important thing is to use a good training
program that works the large muscle groups of the body. By working the
large muscle groups you involuntarily work the smaller muscles also.
The end result is a solid foundation to work with when learning the
mechanics needed to allow you to jump higher and dunk a basketball.
Look at all Major sports that require the ability to jump high. The
obvious sport is basketball but there is also volleyball and wide
receivers in football. In general they are lean without excessive body
fat. These athletes train their whole body, not just their legs.
Another advantage of conditioning the whole body is speed. When all
your muscles are stronger they compliment each other and you will be
faster. Just because you can jump higher than everyone in a basketball
game does not mean you will be the best player. You must have speed
and agility to go along with your ability to jump.
The best exercises to perform to help you jump higher are high
intensity cardio like sprints, You also want to do resistance
exercises that use large muscle groups. You should always workout with
a spotter when working with heavy weights.
Do not just go to the gym and start doing squats till you puke. If you
can afford it work with a trainer, this can be very expensive, do so.
At the least get a good quality training system to follow. And here is
the real secret to jumping higher in basketball games and dunking the
ball. Whatever training you do you must stick with it. The ability to
jump higher than you do now takes time.