It is the most celebrated shot in the game of basketball. It is the dream of most averageplayers and it is an in-your-face "statement" that a good player makes to the other team. It is the slam dunk. We all know WHAT it is, and we all WISH we could do it. But how do you dunk a basketball?
Before We Start
Before an ordinary person can even think about dunking, he needs to take an inventory and be realistic. A player's height and his athletic abilities are the two major factors in determining if he will ever be able to dunk. We're not saying that it's not possible, but there are not many short players that will ever be able to jump high enough to dunk. In fact, an average sized person will have to have above-average jumping ability in order to be able to dunk. Be realistic in your goals. At the same time, don't limit yourself before you even get started. Many people have made spectacular increases in their jumping ability. It takes hard work, but you can reap the rewards.
Things you should evaluate before you start:
1.) Is height a problem? This won't change. You CAN learn to jump higher, but you still might never be able to dunk a ball. But, that is okay! You should develop other aspects of your game.
2.) Are you carrying too much weight? By carrying more weight than you should, you are limiting yourself right from the start.
3.) What are your athletic abilities? Some people just have the "gift" of being able to jump. It can be developed as well, but understand where you are beginning. Measure your vertical jump before you start so you know how you are progressing.
4.) What kind of shape are you in? Jumping uses muscles from the entire body. Having just muscular legs alone is not the answer.
Let's Get Started
Begin by getting in the best overall shape you can be. This includes waist, chest, shoulders, and arms as well as your legs. To ensure you can reach your ultimate jumping potential, you need to be in good overall shape. You use every part of your body while performing a jump, so it stands to reason that your whole body should be in shape. While this part of the process isn't glamorous, it needs to be done. A solid foundation is necessary to achieve the best results. Begin with this and you will be rewarded down the road.
To get the most out of your vertical jumping exercises, you ought to think about a vertical jump training program. Check out these Vertical Jump Program Reviews to check which are rated the best and to get more information on How To Improve Your Vertical.
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