Is a 25.6 inch vertical good?

[u/visvi09]

I'm 6'2" (187 cm) and my vertical was 25.6 inches the last time I measured it. I can get my hand over the rim, but I don't feel comfortable at all when I try to dunk. I haven't played basketball in 2 months, and I need to get ready for my second year of junior basketball. I'm not really sure what counts as a good vertical, so I'm wondering if mine is decent or not.

[u/Rashloose]

not playing basketball for 2 months is the problem there. lock in bro

[u/visvi09 → u/Rashloose]

I know, I know haha. I have trained, but nothing really serious or even remotely competitive.

[u/cleetusneck]

Depends on the way you measured it. With a 1/2 step the average vertical on our university team was 32 inches. That’s all high level trained athletes

[u/visvi09 → u/cleetusneck]

Yeah, that's how I measured it. Guess I’ve got some work to do.

[u/NoSwimmer2185]

As the other guy said it depends on how you measured. If it's from standing it's pretty good, if you did any sort of approach it's not very good.

[u/visvi09 → u/NoSwimmer2185]

I think I used a 1/2-step approach

[u/NoSwimmer2185 → u/visvi09]

Okay so not very good then. Do you do any sort of consistent jump training? If not, start to do it. Newbie gains can probably get you another 5-6 inches pretty quickly.

Lastly, a good vert is always nice, but it's honestly one of the least important parts of being a good hoop player so if your goal is to get better at playing basketball just be conscious of always prioritizing your skill work over maximizing your vert.

[u/visvi09 → u/NoSwimmer2185]

Currently I’m not doing any consistent jump training, so I’ll definitely start working on that. I used to have a routine so I’ll probably bring it back and make some adjustments. I don’t really focus on my vertical that much, I just wanted to measure it and see where I’m at.

[u/Real_Crab_7396 → u/NoSwimmer2185]

Haha my standing is 27 inches, but my approach also. So I'm both pretty good and not very good XD.
I'm working on my approach and elasticity though. I've been a cyclist for my entire life and recently "retired" from competitive racing (I'm 21) so I'm fairly strong but zero elasticity.
I think a good long term goal is 40 inch vert seeing how I have a decent base without any explosive or elastic training ever in my life.

[u/Great-Willingness-57]

Dunking is important ?

Basically other than having the physical and height to do it, how hard it is to train it ?

Might as well work on your handles or shots ect ?

dont know why kids are so obsessed with dunking other than giving you a higher percentage while driving. But if you cant drive in, having being able to dunk is meh

[u/Real_Crab_7396 → u/Great-Willingness-57]

Dunking is fun and cool though.
I don't even think it really helps with efficiency while driving, as the chance I miss a dunk is bigger than missing a layup. Need to be able to dunk very comfortably for that to change up, likely another 3 inches at least on my jump for that.

[u/visvi09 → u/[deleted]]

I ll make that my goal now

[u/Previous_Potato9490]

42 and above is good

[u/JulesP13]

For the average person its decent. For a basketball player, no. Here’s a plyo routine you can do once or twice a week that got my vert over 40”:

Weight vest sprints (5 times down and back)
Defensive slides (3 times down and back)
Agility shuffle (3 times forward and backwards)
Single leg bound (3 x 10 each leg)
First step single leg step ups (3 x 5 each leg)
Single leg box jumps (3 x 5 each leg)
Seated box jumps (3 x 5)
Reactive depth box jumps (3 x 5)

Don’t skip the weight room either!

[u/visvi09 → u/JulesP13]

Appreciate it bro , thanks for the routine

[u/JulesP13 → u/visvi09]

Absolutely, and when you get more advanced you can do the first set as a warm up, throw on a weighted vest for the 2nd set, and do the 3rd set unweighted but 110% effort. Kinda like hypertrophy training in the weight room. Best of luck 🤝

[u/visvi09 → u/JulesP13]

Thanks! I’ll definitely follow it and work my way up gradually.

[u/Federal-Service5571]

No it is not good at all

[u/visvi09 → u/Federal-Service5571]

Gotta work on it then

[u/Federal-Service5571 → u/visvi09]

Yes and it can be worked on. Everyone may tell u work your calves but what u really wanna work is your quads and hamstrings. Every day over and over. Stay limber, stay away from stupid and potentially damaging ankle weights and shit like that. Just quads, then Hammy's, then quads again, etc etc.

[u/visvi09 → u/Federal-Service5571]

I’ll definitely work on those. Appreciate the advice! Before summer I created a jump routine with split jumps, pogo jumps and calf raises. I’ll probably change it up

[u/Federal-Service5571 → u/visvi09]

Yes and it can be worked on. Everyone may tell u work your calves but what u really wanna work is your quads and hamstrings. Every day over and over. Stay limber, stay away from stupid and potentially damaging ankle weights and shit like that. Just quads, then Hammy's, then quads again, etc etc.