For those of us that watch basketball, the height to which the players can jump to dunk is perhaps the thing we most admire in our favorite players. The ability of players to do this well can often determine the outcome of the game in favor of the team with the most gifted individuals, which is the reason that so many basketball players do everything they can to find ways to jump higher to improve their ability to dunk.

Building on your skill to enable you to jump higher takes a lot of effort and much practice, but if you are serious about taking your abilities to the next level its important you spend the time to ensure you get the most from your body. Mainly this means you are going to have to work on the muscles in your legs and practice the jumping motion regularly, because efficiency all comes down to agility and strength.

What two things can I do to to increase vertical jump ability?

1. Strength exercises to increase the power in your legs. There are many exercises that you can do to build strength in your low body but the most useful are also the ones that hurt the most when performed properly. Squats and deadlifts and the kings of muscle building, and should form the core of your body building routine. You will want to get some expert guidance on using perfect technique when doing these movements to ensure you avoid joint pain and pulled muscles.

2. Get a better pair of shoes for wearing during your games. The best shoes for basketball are going to be more comfortable and should provide more spring than the products that were available just a few years ago. If you can afford them then its worth splashing out that little bit extra to get the finest available. You will also want to replace them in a regular basis as they become less useful as they wear down. Make sure whichever model you get that they provide you with adequate support, which will not only make them safer, but will also give you the confidence to make those tough plays.