So you want to add a few (maybe even a lot) more inches to increase your vertical jump? Well it is definitely easier to do than you might think. It may take you a few weeks, but I promise that if you do these exercises you will see real gains in your vertical. I did after only three weeks, as I went from barely touching the backboard to nearly grabbing the rim! None of these exercises require you to buy any expensive products, so you can definitely get started right away. (Before you do any strenuous exercise, always remember to stretch beforehand.)

The Easiest, Sure-Fire Way to Increase Your Vertical Jump

The Chair Technique (What you need: one chair, a pair of basketball shoes, open space) Find a chair or something sturdy and low to the ground, and place it about a foot in front of you. Now there are three different exercises you can do in this position. (It is important that for all three exercises that when you jump onto the chair, you put all your weight on your toes like you’re leaning forward, while feeling a little stretch in your calves.)

Exercise #1. The first exercise is done by jumping onto the box, and doing your best to land your feet on the edge of the box, then jumping back off the box. You don’t need to do this quickly, and it’s better if you take it slow at first, as you do not want to overextend your calf muscles. You should focus on really exploding off the ground onto the chair. (By exploding I mean putting as much weight on your calves as possible on the ground, then using as much force as you can to jump onto the chair. The concept of exploding off the ground is very important, since you will need to really put forth a lot of energy in order to dunk.)

Exercise #2. The second exercise requires a little more effort. First stand with your side facing the chair, then jump onto the chair from that position, and jump off the chair onto the other side, with your side still facing the chair. If the chair is low enough, you can jump over it completely instead of landing on it, but only do this if you are confident you will not hurt yourself. Once again, make sure to focus on exploding onto and over the chair both ways.

Exercise #3. The third and final exercise you can use to increase your vertical jump works on your quickness and explosiveness. This exercise is done by treating the chair like a step. You will need to face the chair, and then jump onto the chair landing on one foot and setting another foot down, like you’re taking steps. Do the same thing when getting off the chair, stepping onto the ground one foot at a time. This exercise can and should be done quickly.

I recommend doing between 20-30 reps of each exercise every other day. The chair technique is a simple and efficient way to increase your vertical jump, and even without doing any other vertical exercise, you should definitely see improvements in your vertical leap.