Jumping with quads, not calfs.

[Talent223]

I am kinda short, about 5' 8, but i can jump pretty high. Just recently, I noticed that when I jump, I get the power from my calfs and feet. I think that if I learned to jump with my quads, I could jump higher and more effiently. Does anyone know how I can train myself to do this?

[Marty Dawg]

doing leg squats at the gym and keeping your toes pointed in or straight works the quads a lot. so that will help u get stronger and bigger quads so u can jump higher.

[Talent223]

doing leg squats at the gym and keeping your toes pointed in or straight works the quads a lot. so that will help u get stronger and bigger quads so u can jump higher.

I have really strong quads now. I just need to learn how to use them to jump and not my calfs.

[Captain Cool]

Aren't you supposed to use alot of calf when you jump?

[bigDman]

you jump with all the musels in your legs and core and everything for that matter

[Jmalins23]

just do like body weight squats and go down and then just explode off the ground by extending your legs

[wrwarrior19]

Well you should have extention with all three joints (hips, knees, ankles) to jump your highest. It shouldn't just be with one particular part.

[sammyduelist]

you probrably are using your quads, but not noticing it
calves and feet are the most important in giving you the push to get up

[the next 'one']

don't forget shoulders...you want to use your whole body, and by throwing your shoulders into it also, it adds upwards momentum

i don't know if this really helps, but i found i jump higher if i look upwards, as in towards straight up, it just kinda motivates a higher jump.

[OldGoalie]

Correct, calves and toes play the biggest role in vertical leap. Witness all those jump training shoes that force you to be on the balls of your feet, thereby working your lower legs more:

http://www.jumpusa.com/p14.htm

[Cburylax]

Correct, calves and toes play the biggest role in vertical leap. Witness all those jump training shoes that force you to be on the balls of your feet, thereby working your lower legs more:

http://www.jumpusa.com/p14.htm

I have to respecfully disagree. The largest muscle involved in jumping is the glute complex during hip extension. The calves are the smallest muscle group involved in triple extension and can't produce enough force independently to get you more than 10 inches of the ground.

[OldGoalie]

I have to respecfully disagree. The largest muscle involved in jumping is the glute complex during hip extension. The calves are the smallest muscle group involved in triple extension and can't produce enough force independently to get you more than 10 inches of the ground.

Fair enough. I should have said, "play a major role," not the "biggest role." I found this on another site:

"The muscles used in jumping include the quadriceps, hamstrings, hip extensors and hip stabilizers, the gastrocs (calf muscles), the low back extensors and core stabilizers, and the deltoid muscle of the shoulder.
The quadriceps, hamstrings, and hip extensors (gluteus) provide the major power of the jump. The gastrocs and back extensors provide stabilization and secondary power. The deltoid, hip stabilizers, and core stabilizers provide stability and coordination for jumping."

http://www.atcathletes.com/radio/volleyball_april_23_2003.htm

So, how do those jump shoes work then? Do they force the quads, glutes and hammies to do all the work? My experience from one person who used them is that his calves burned like heck when he wore them, and that the other muscles weren't as sore.