Now what about Stromile Swift’s dunk on Tyrus Thomas? Right, you can arguably call it the Dunk of the year so far. Now, if you’re familiar with “The Stro Show,” you also remember his sick two-handed dunk on Yao Ming (if not, check it out on YouTube).
In fact, the 28-year-old power forward for the New Jersey Nets has a height of 38.5 inches.
But Stro is 6’10”, so it’s not that difficult for him to dunk, you could say. That’s how it is. But just think of Nate Robinson, Spud Webb, Allen Iverson, Speedy Claxton, Spyda (And1) or even The And1 Professor (yes, he can dunk, check it out on youtube) – none of these guys are taller than 6ft!
So you don’t have to be 6’10” to be able to shoot. It’s all about your dedication and training.
So what are the most important things to know to improve your vertical?
1) Jump rope. If you want to improve your vertical really fast, this is definitely the right thing to use. Start with 200 jumps every other day. Two-time NBA Slam Dunk champion Jason Richardson, 2006 winner Nate Robinson, and Vince Carter have consistently used this item in their training routines.
2) Quality instead of quantity. It’s not about the number of repetitions but the quality of your execution. One clean jump with full force is better than ten half in a row. Pay attention to your jumping movement, because technique is crucial. Make sure you use all your power and don’t forget to use your arms. Besides Vince Carter, Gerald Green is a perfect example for clean execution.
3) Stretching – before and after your workout. A lot of people just cut that element out. But the flexibility of your muscles is essential for your jumping ability. That’s why it’s a staple of Vince Carter’s day-to-day training. Studies have shown that warming up increases the speed of nerve impulses to the muscles. The result: faster reaction times. This is one of the reasons why professional athletes spend more time warming up compared to many normal athletes: they know that this will prevent injury and help them achieve better results.
