How Much Strength is Too Much? - Vertical Jump Training Tips

How Much Strength is Too Much?

Now here is a confusing question that in turn has confusing answers: how much strength is too much? Let's stick with the topic of contraction time.

Strength is helpful for contraction time. While you may be capable of much faster contraction times, you may not have enough strength to overcome the resistance of your own weight.

When your level of strength is so high that your contraction times are no longer affected by the resistance provided by your body, you have sufficient strength. In other words, when you can contract at a certain speed with no resistance and can now contract at that same speed with the resistance of your own weight, additional strength will not be adding any inches to your vertical.

Is this possible? Theoretically, yes. If your strength is so much that your quickest contraction time without resistance is equal to the resistance of your own weight, any more strength could not be "demonstrated" in the short time period of a vertical jump. It's just like a catapult launching a golf ball. If the fastest the catapult can go is 30 mph, more strength would only be useful if you were throwing a heavier object. This level of strength is not going to be met until you are more than twice your body weight in a parallel squat.

After you have achieved enough strength to overcome body weight resistance, you should focus on contraction time. Why? Once your strength can overcome your body weight, it is important to be able to control it so you can guarantee a good vertical jump. You can achieve this by creating stronger neural amplitude to the muscle fibers, to allow them to contract at higher speeds, along with training the body to jump with good technique to properly recruit muscle fiber. Increasing effects of the stretch reflex, tendon stiffness, and improving overall jumping efficiency can also help your muscles contract at greater speeds.

You may also find that once you have accomplished a new higher potential contraction speed, the former strength you have will no longer be enough. Why is that? The greater resistance on your body, and the greater force it is on your muscles, the more strength you will need to attain if you want to continue overcoming your body weight's resistance without slowing contraction downs.

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Related articles:  Jacob  Hiller's Jumping Manual, Free Vertical Jump  Training

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Article By Jacob Hiller: Jacob  Hiller is the creator of a bestselling vertical jump program "The Jump  Manual", and he is considered one of the world's foremost authorities on  vertical jump training. Click on the following link to visit his  website: Jacob  Hiller's Jump Manual