A dominant vertical jump is one of the most valuable abilities in basketball. A good vertical jump give players the ability to manage their body while in the air, recover quickly against penetrating offensive players, and get to the best spot to score. A powerful vertical jump also gives the player a better chance to rebound a missed shot. A player who is not as tall on the floor can compete against bigger guys if he has a first-rate vertical jump.

In basketball, vertical jump is an essential skill that many players want to have, but only a few possess. Unless you are the biggest player on the floor, a player needs a good vertical jump to be effective. Without a vertical jump, players will find it tough to cover the length of the floor and successfully defend attacking players. You can also forget throwing slam dunks.

Basketball is one of the few sports where players are required to have an acceptable vertical jump. If you watch young NBA stars like Dwyane Wade, Lebron James, and Dwight Howard, vertical jump is one of their most dominating skills. Vertical jump serves as a decisive element to their skills which allow them to dominate opposing players. Their ability to get off the floor allows them to make spectacular dunks, acrobatic layups, and hang time highlight reels. Vertical jump allows you to use skills that you already have in a different plane.

The basics of increasing basketball vertical jump starts with a series of workouts to power your calf muscles.

All vertical jump workouts begin with warm-ups which include stretching, light jogging, and jump ropes. You can also walk up and down the stairs a few times to start off your vertical jump workouts.

For starters, you can do deep knee bends, knee bend jumps, and toe raises. This simple exercise is the first stage for your long term vertical jump training. These workouts can be tougher with extra weights strapped to your ankles. Strengthening your middle section is also essential in increasing your vertical jump. A leaner and more toned body can also help in improving your vertical jump.

Increasing your vertical jump takes months of commitment to the program. However, as long as you stick to the workout and continue working the hours, your jump will not only improve but also increase the level of your game.