It can be challenging to dunk if you don’t know what exercises to do. You might spend hours in the gym trying to figure out how to jump higher, but you won’t see any results. That’s because you need to do the correct exercises to improve your jumping ability and hopefully dunk a basketball.
The best exercises to dunk in the shortest time are the ones that will improve your explosiveness and strength. These can be achieved by increasing the muscle size and strength, improving the coordination between the muscles, and increasing the speed at which the muscles can generate force.
What you’ll find in this list are mainly exercises that focus on improving the following muscles, which are the primary source of power for your jump:
- Glutes – used for hip extension
- Quadriceps – used for knee extension
- Hamstrings- used for hip extension, knee flexion, and absorbing landings
- Calves – used for ankle extension (plantarflexion)
- Abdominals and core -used for trunk stability
The Best Exercises that Will Get You Dunking in No Time
The Squat
The squat is one of the most effective exercises for increasing lower-body strength. It primarily targets the quadriceps, glutes, and hamstrings. When done the right way, it can also help improve ankle and hip mobility.
1. The Classic Squat
How to do it:
- Align your feet so that they are shoulder-width apart and pointing straight ahead.
- Keep your chest up and your core engaged.
- Lower your hips and bend your knees until your thighs are parallel to the ground.
- From the bottom position, drive through your heels to explosively stand back up to the starting position.
2. The Jump Squat
The jump squat is a variation of the regular squat exercise that adds an explosive jumping component. This makes it an excellent exercise for improving power and explosiveness.
How to do it:
- Start in the same position as the regular squat.
- From the bottom position, drive through your heels to explosively jump up into the air.
- As you land, absorb the impact by lowering your body back into the squat position.
Regarding jumping squats, experts say the most efficient way to do them is without extra weights. Stick to the bodyweight version, and you will see the best results.
3. One Leg Squats
One-leg squats are great for developing single-leg strength, power, and explosiveness. It is also excellent for improving balance and coordination.
How to do it:
- Stand on one leg.
- Keep your chest up and your core engaged.
- Lower your hips and bend your knee until your thigh is parallel to the ground.
- From the bottom position, drive through your heel to explosively stand back up to the starting position.
If you want to challenge yourself even further, you can try some more intricate squat variations like:
- Deep Knee Bend With Jump– this exercise is done by lowering your body into a deep knee bend and jumping up as high as possible. It will work the ankles, calves, and knees. It’s an intense exercise that can be used to build explosive power in these parts of your body.
- Rear-Foot Elevated Split Squat (Bulgarian Split Squat) – this exercise is performed by placing your rear foot on a bench or box and then performing a split squat with your front leg. It will help improve your single-leg strength, power, and explosiveness even further.
- Single Leg Step-ups with dumbbells– this exercise is executed by holding a dumbbell in each hand and stepping onto a box or bench with one leg. As you step up, drive through your heel to explosively stand up on top of the box.
Calf Exercises
Calf exercises are essential for improving vertical jump performance because they help to enhance ankle extension (plantar flexion). This movement lets you push off the ground with your toes when jumping.
4. Calf Raises
How to do it:
- Adopt a standing position with your feet shoulder-width apart and your toes pointing forward.
- Keeping your core engaged, raise onto your toes and hold the contraction for a second.
- Slowly lower yourself back down to the initial position and repeat.
You can also do this exercise with one leg at a time to challenge yourself further. And in case you want an even more significant challenge, try adding some weight by holding a dumbbell in each hand or wearing a weight-loaded vest.
5. Calf Presses
Calf presses are an excellent exercise for targeting the gastrocnemius muscle, one of the calf’s two main muscles.
How to do it:
- Sit on a calf raise machine and position your feet under the padded lever.
- Keep your core engaged, and press down on the lever until your calves are contracted.
- After holding the contraction for a second, come back to the starting position slowly.
6. Machine Calf Raises
Machine calf raises are the go-to option for targeting the soleus muscle, the other main muscle in the calf.
How to do it:
- Sit down on a calf raise machine (or a weight bench if it has this option) and position your feet under the padded lever.
- Keep your core engaged, and press down on the lever until your calves are contracted.
- After holding the contraction for a second, come back to the starting position slowly.
7. Jump Rope
Jumping rope is a cardio exercise that contributes to your overall fitness level and body conditioning.
It is a highly efficient activity for improving foot speed, coordination, and agility. It’s also an excellent cardio workout and a great way to practice jumping.
How to do it:
- Start by standing with your feet shoulder-length apart and your toes pointing forward.
- Swing the rope over your head and jump when it reaches your feet.
- Set your feet lightly on the ground and immediately jump again.
- Continue jumping for 1-2 minutes or until you’re tired.
You can also experiment with more challenging and intense variations of this exercise, such as high knees (running in place and bringing your knees up to your chest with each jump) or half and full twist jumps (twisting your body with each jump).
8. Sprinting
Like plyometrics, sprinting may help to increase vertical jump by training the stretch-shortening cycle because it involves short, powerful ground contact times.
The stretch-shortening cycle is a series of muscle actions that occur when the muscle stretches before contracting. This cycle is responsible for producing explosive movements.
By training this cycle, sprinting may help to increase the force produced by the muscles, leading to improved power and performance. In addition, sprinting also helps to build muscular endurance and stamina, both of which are important for vertical jumps. For these reasons, sprinting is an effective tool for improving vertical jumps.
Other than how it trains the stretch-shortening cycle, I like sprinting for the vertical jump because, by increasing speed, you can deliver more horizontal force into an approach jump. This will allow you to transfer that energy efficiently into sheer vertical power and thus generate a higher vertical leap.
Also, let’s not forget that you will run faster if you incorporate sprinting into your workouts. This will translate incredibly well into your basketball game.
There are a few fundamental rules to keep in mind regarding sprint training for vertical jumping. First and foremost, sprints must be maximal to be effective. This means fewer reps of higher quality are better than more low-effort reps. In addition, full recovery should be allowed between reps to prevent injury and maximize performance.
Running Mechanics
Sprinting is a high-intensity exercise that can bring many benefits, as I’ve mentioned earlier. However, sprinting is also a high-impact activity that can put a lot of stress on your joints and muscles. That’s why it’s essential to have proper running mechanics when you do a sprint session. This means good posture, keeping your head up, and driving your knees forward. Additionally, it would be best if you aimed to land on the balls of your feet and keep your feet parallel to each other. Proper sprinting mechanics will help you get the most out of your sprint training while reducing your risk of injury.
Finally, remember that you can and should constantly adapt your training to your current level to progress and reach your goals safely.
9. Box Jumps
Box jumps are undoubtedly an outstanding exercise to increase your vertical jump. They work by building explosive power in your legs, which is essential for jumping high. The key to box jumps is ensuring the box is sturdy and can support your weight. You also want to ensure the box is high enough to safely jump and land on it with both feet in a half squat position. To get the most out of the exercise, try doing a lateral box jump routine, where you jump side to side over the box. This will help build even more power in your legs and help you jump even higher.
How to do it:
- Place a box or stepper in front of you. Start in a standing position with your feet shoulder-width apart and your toes pointing forward.
- Bend your knees and hips to lower your body into a quarter squat position.
- Quickly jump onto the box, landing with both feet simultaneously.
- Step or jump back down to the ground.
Any elevated surface that is stable and safe to jump on will work for this exercise. Just make sure the surface is high enough to reach it with a full jump and land on it without stepping up.
Plyometrics and Explosive Leg Training
Even though some of the exercises mentioned above (such as box jumps or jump squats) are technically plyometric exercises, I wanted to give them their section. Plyometrics is a type of exercise that uses the stretch-shortening cycle to produce explosive movements. These exercises are great for increasing vertical jumps because they train your muscles to create maximum force in a very short time. In addition, plyometric training can help to improve your speed and agility, which are both critical for jumping high.
Performing plyometric exercises can take a toll on your body, so it’s essential to begin with, a low-difficulty movement and gradually increase the intensity of your workouts. Additionally, ensure a good dynamic warm-up routine before doing any plyometric exercises.
10. Knee to Feet Jump + Tuck Jump
This is a fantastic combo plyometric exercise that will help increase your vertical leap. The knee to feet jump helps to build explosive power in your quads and glutes, while the tuck jump targets your core muscles. This combination exercise will help increase your lower body’s overall strength, which is essential for jumping higher.
Here’s how you do it:
11. Depth Jump
The depth jump is a plyometric exercise involving jumping down from an elevated surface and immediately jumping back up as high as possible. This exercise is excellent for increasing power in your legs and improving your explosive ability. Additionally, the depth jump can help to improve your coordination and balance.
Here’s how you do it:
- Start by standing on top of a box or platform at about waist height.
- Step off the edge of the box and land on the ground with both feet.
- As soon as you touch the floor, spring back up onto the box.
Make sure you use a high enough box or platform to safely jump down and land on the ground without injuring yourself. You may also want to use a softer surface, such as a gym mat, to help cushion your landing.
Upper Body
It was essential for me to include some upper-body exercises in this list because it plays a significant role, too, whenever you jump. Abdominals and core muscles are the primary stabilizers during any jumping activity, so it’s important to have a strong foundation.
Though they don’t contribute as much compared to other muscles, the ones in your shoulders, arms, back, and chest impact how high you jump.
12. Medicine Ball Overhead Throw
The medicine ball overhead throw is one of the best upper-body exercises for increasing your vertical jump. This exercise targets your shoulders, chest, and arms and helps to build explosive power in your upper body.
How to do it:
- Start by standing with your feet shoulder-width apart and your toes pointing forward.
- Hold a medicine ball over your head.
- Keeping your core and hips engaged, explosively throw the ball with as much power as possible.
- As the ball is thrown, follow through with your arms and legs.
13. Bent-Over Row
The bent-over row remains one of the best choices for targeting your back muscles. This exercise will help your posture and prevent jumping injuries.
How to do it:
- Start by standing with your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees slightly bent.
- Bend the waist and lower your body until your torso is parallel to the ground.
- Make sure to keep your back straight and your core engaged.
- Holding a barbell, row the weight up to your chest.
- Slowly lower the weights back to the starting position.
I’d recommend performing these exercises with light weights initially. You can then gradually increase the load as long as you can do at least 5-7 reps. Don’t try to overload your barbell with all the weights just for one rep max.
FAQ’s
How Do I Train to Jump to Dunk?
The best way to train to jump higher for dunking is by having a structured workout schedule with the right exercises. For this reason, a vertical jump program might be the ideal option for someone who can’t figure out loads, sets, repetitions, and resting periods yet.
What Muscles Allow You to Dunk?
A few key muscle groups contribute to your vertical jump and, consequently, to your ability to dunk. These muscles are your quads, glutes, hamstrings, and core. Strong shoulders, arms, and back muscles can also help you jump higher.
How Can I Dunk in 3 Weeks?
If you want to dunk in 3 weeks, dedicate yourself to your training and stay consistent with your workouts. However, unless you are very close to your goal height or insanely genetically gifted, it is unlikely that you will be able to dunk in such a short period. It all depends on how much you need to improve your vertical jump. If you have a long way to go, it might take months or even years of training. No matter how close or far you are, never give up.
Conclusion
If you’ve come so far, it means you’ve probably understood that a vertical jump results from the work of multiple muscles. These muscles need to be explicitly trained if you want to achieve excellent results in a short time.
Dunking is one of the most impressive things you can do on a basketball court. It not only wow your friends and opponents but also gives you an immense feeling of satisfaction. What most people fail to understand, however, is the fact that it takes a lot of work and dedication.
Whether you’re training to dunk for the first time or trying to improve your jumping ability, following the exercises in this article will set you on the right track. Remember to stay consistent with your workouts and never give up on your dunking dreams.
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