RE: Vertical Jump Testing

[Guest guest]

Several years ago, while I was aptly performing the role of a wannabe with the

Belgium Olympic team, the vertical leap was tested by chalking the fingers

and touching as high on the wall as you could while flat footed. The

'testee' (no pun intended) would then rechalk, leap and touch as high on the

wall as he could. A measurement was taken from center of mark to center of

mark. I actually saw Serge Reading achieve 1.63 meters this way at a body

weight of 151.5 Kgs in 1974.

JoeL

*** Is that figure for Serge Reding correct (ie. 63 inches)? A vertical leap of

just over one metre (such as that achieved by the huge Zhabotinsky) is

remarkable for anyone at that bodymass. I have always been a great admirer of

the feats of my old friend, Serge, but I will have an even greater respect for

his achievements if he did a 1.63m and not a 1.063m vertical jump.

Mel Siff

-----Original Message-----

From: Ratcliff [mailto:runningjames@...]

Hello ,

One of the things that I learned from Al Vermeil a few

years back and still use, is that when testing

vertical jump, to be more accurate, you should measure

the athletes heights while plantarflexed at the ankle.

For someone with a very large foot this can

definitely decrease their vertical jump measurement.

That is assuming they were have always established

their reach while standing flat footed. The mere act

of plantarflexing the ankle does not constitute a

vertical jump. If my athletes question the

measurement, a simple explanation will do, knowing the

difference between their two different reaches doesn't

hurt either.

Ratcliff

Northbrook, IL, soon to be Atlanta

--- Hearn <performance7@...> wrote:

> Hello ,

>

> I am not familiar with the BFS device specifically,

> but it sounds very

> similar to one that I used several years ago which

> measured vertical leap

> by extrapolation from the time the athlete remained

> in the air. We tested

> several hundred athletes, and found the results to

> be very reproducible.

> One thing that we did notice was that the

> measurements were typically 6-8

> inches less than what we measured with the vertec

> and other more standard

> measurement procedures. We finally determined that

> the reason for this

> difference may have been that the device measured

> the time from when the

> toes left the sensor mat until the return, rather

> than strictly measuring

> the time it took the heel to leave the mat and

> return. Therefore, the

> amount of plantar flexion the foot was in at push

> off as well as the amount

> it was in upon return would affect the " air time "

> slightly.

>

> So, if you choose to use a device like this, just be

> prepared to explain to

> your athletes that have been previously measured

> with one of the more

> conventional methods why their vertical has shrunk!

Hearn PT, CSCS, NSCA-CPT

Staley wrote:

<Does anyone know anything about the Bigger Faster Stronger vertical jump

tester? It's a 2x2 foot mat with imbedded sensors and hand-held unit. I'm of

course wondering about accuracy and reliability.>

[Guest guest]

>Several years ago, while I was aptly performing the role of a wannabe

>with the

>Belgium Olympic team, the vertical leap was tested by chalking the fingers

>and touching as high on the wall as you could while flat footed. The

>'testee' (no pun intended) would then rechalk, leap and touch as high on the

>wall as he could. A measurement was taken from center of mark to center of

>mark. I actually saw Serge Reading achieve 1.63 meters this way at a body

>weight of 151.5 Kgs in 1974.

>

>JoeL

>

>*** Is that figure for Serge Reding correct (ie. 63 inches)? A vertical

>leap of just over one metre (such as that achieved by the huge

>Zhabotinsky) is remarkable for anyone at that bodymass. I have always been

>a great admirer of the feats of my old friend, Serge, but I will have an

>even greater respect for his achievements if he did a 1.63m and not a

>1.063m vertical jump.

Is this possible? A 40 " vertical is freakishly high and I have only seen a

few legitimate 40 " verticals. I have never even heard of a 50 " vertical -

much less a 63 " vertical. Of course, Reding was one of a kind.

Hobman

Saskatoon, Canada

Grip it and rip it!

[Guest guest]

Hobman <khobman@...> wrote:

> Is this possible? A 40 " vertical is freakishly high and I have only

> seen a few legitimate 40 " verticals. I have never even heard of a

> 50 " vertical - much less a 63 " vertical. Of course, Reding was one

> of a kind.

I thought I'd read that a 48 " vertical was the highest recorded, but

I can't remember. Shane Hamman says he has a 36 " vertical. I assume

63 " is an error.

I came across this bit about the NFL combine:

Several unknowns forced their way into recognition with impressive

showings. Small college runner Curtis Keaton of Madison ran a

fine 4.44 time on the electronic timer and was clocked at 4.39 by

several scouts. He had the best vertical leap (41.5 " ) and broad jump

(10'11 " ) at the entire event. He completed his workout with 23 reps,

matching several of the linemen over the weekend.

Matt Madsen

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

:

I was at the training center, I believe the Club Halitrophile (not sure of

the spelling, but used to have a red Club shirt with black writing and I

believe possibly a pommel horse on the front, been gone a long time and the

memory is a little fuzzy) and they were measuring vertical leap. Serge was

there all, 5'8 " X 340#, chalked up his finger tips, reached up and touched

the wall, rechalked and leaped like a basketball center and touched up the

wall. I saw him do it twice, of course I can only report what the gentleman

reading the tape was saying, but his first leap was read as 1.5 meters, his

second was 1.63 meters. I was so stunned, I stood for quite a while with my

mouth open, speechless. (this was quite a feat for me to be speechless).

I actually didn't understand at the time what I had seen at the time, so if

they were misreading the tape to impress me, it was lost on me. Also please

understand that when I saw the leaps he was able to twist and leap somewhat

such as the centers did in those days during a tip-off on the basketball

court which may have accounted for a greater leap.

Having been an amateur dud in high school basketball, I was more than a

little stunned at the fact that this man could easily have stuffed a

basketball at height of 5'-8 " and a BW of 340#. I have no idea what Serge

could have measured in the vertical leap on the sophisticated measurement

devices of today, and since he met death at a very young age less than a

year later, I guess we will never know. I can tell you, I saw Serge do many

feats of speed, strength, and agility that were unbelievable to me and which

still convinces me that even by today's standards he would be a force among

the true strength athletes.

As I have stated before, the Serge I knew was very soft spoken, easy to

laugh and never failed to take the time to answer questions from a wannabe

like me although he had to deal with my Oklahomized English and bastardized

French and Flemish.

Serge was truly a great, kind, and gentle person, and as you can tell, I

held him in the greatest esteem.

JoeL

RE: Vertical Jump Testing

>Several years ago, while I was aptly performing the role of a wannabe

>with the

>Belgium Olympic team, the vertical leap was tested by chalking the fingers

>and touching as high on the wall as you could while flat footed. The

>'testee' (no pun intended) would then rechalk, leap and touch as high on

the

>wall as he could. A measurement was taken from center of mark to center of

>mark. I actually saw Serge Reading achieve 1.63 meters this way at a body

>weight of 151.5 Kgs in 1974.

>

>JoeL

>

>*** Is that figure for Serge Reding correct (ie. 63 inches)? A vertical

>leap of just over one metre (such as that achieved by the huge

>Zhabotinsky) is remarkable for anyone at that bodymass. I have always been

>a great admirer of the feats of my old friend, Serge, but I will have an

>even greater respect for his achievements if he did a 1.63m and not a

>1.063m vertical jump.

Is this possible? A 40 " vertical is freakishly high and I have only seen a

few legitimate 40 " verticals. I have never even heard of a 50 " vertical -

much less a 63 " vertical. Of course, Reding was one of a kind.

Hobman

Saskatoon, Canada

Grip it and rip it!

[Guest guest]

Joe - certainly Dr. Siff shares your high esteem of the man. I suspect he

was the genuine article. Amazing man, no question.

>

>As I have stated before, the Serge I knew was very soft spoken, easy to

>laugh and never failed to take the time to answer questions from a wannabe

>like me although he had to deal with my Oklahomized English and bastardized

>French and Flemish.

>

>Serge was truly a great, kind, and gentle person, and as you can tell, I

>held him in the greatest esteem.

Hobman

Saskatoon, Canada

Grip it and rip it!

[Guest guest]

Joe - I wonder if in spite of the chalked hand marking the spot the

measurement was taken from his head. This would translate into a legit 40+

vertical which is totally amazing. OTOH, after hearing about an 11'

standing broad jump...

I'm flabbergasted. I'm much taller than Reding and can do only 8' or so.

And I'm pretty good (or used to be anyhow) at both vertical ad broad jumps

(I've done 37 " for a vertical, which was pretty good, although certainly

not in the class of world records or anything.)

Anyhow, I for one know you saw a 1.63 measurement. Either way, there is no

question Reding was not only a great athlete, but also a great person.

Thanks for the input Joe!

Joe wrote,

>

>I was at the training center, I believe the Club Halitrophile (not sure of

>the spelling, but used to have a red Club shirt with black writing and I

>believe possibly a pommel horse on the front, been gone a long time and the

>memory is a little fuzzy) and they were measuring vertical leap. Serge was

>there all, 5'8 " X 340#, chalked up his finger tips, reached up and touched

>the wall, rechalked and leaped like a basketball center and touched up the

>wall. I saw him do it twice, of course I can only report what the gentleman

>reading the tape was saying, but his first leap was read as 1.5 meters, his

>second was 1.63 meters. I was so stunned, I stood for quite a while with my

>mouth open, speechless. (this was quite a feat for me to be speechless).

>

>I actually didn't understand at the time what I had seen at the time, so if

>they were misreading the tape to impress me, it was lost on me. Also please

>understand that when I saw the leaps he was able to twist and leap somewhat

>such as the centers did in those days during a tip-off on the basketball

>court which may have accounted for a greater leap.

>

>Having been an amateur dud in high school basketball, I was more than a

>little stunned at the fact that this man could easily have stuffed a

>basketball at height of 5'-8 " and a BW of 340#. I have no idea what Serge

>could have measured in the vertical leap on the sophisticated measurement

>devices of today, and since he met death at a very young age less than a

>year later, I guess we will never know. I can tell you, I saw Serge do many

>feats of speed, strength, and agility that were unbelievable to me and which

>still convinces me that even by today's standards he would be a force among

>the true strength athletes.

>

>As I have stated before, the Serge I knew was very soft spoken, easy to

>laugh and never failed to take the time to answer questions from a wannabe

>like me although he had to deal with my Oklahomized English and bastardized

>French and Flemish.

>

>Serge was truly a great, kind, and gentle person, and as you can tell, I

>held him in the greatest esteem.

Hobman

Saskatoon, Canada

Grip it and rip it!

[Guest guest]

I've often wondered why most of these vertical jump test are done against

the wall? The few times i've done them, i know my jumping mechanics have

changed significantly because of this. I get much better results on a

basketball court jumping up to the backboard!

Cheap and easier would be my suggestions - although it wouldn't be much

harder to put a chalk board against a backboard and do the same thing?

I've seen a device which looked like a large pole with little plastic arms

extending (eacj one space a few cm apart) from it and you jump and hit as

many as you can!

Driscoll

BEFITting Image Training and Nutrition Service

B Sc - Ex. Sci. & Nut.

M Sc - Exercise Rehab. and Nut./Diet. (in progress)

RFL

Sydney, Australia.

[Guest guest]

Hobman wrote:

Joe - I wonder if in spite of the chalked hand marking the spot the

measurement was taken from his head. This would translate into a legit 40+

vertical which is totally amazing. OTOH, after hearing about an 11'

standing broad jump...

I'm flabbergasted. I'm much taller than Reding and can do only 8' or so.

And I'm pretty good (or used to be anyhow) at both vertical ad broad jumps

(I've done 37 " for a vertical, which was pretty good, although certainly

not in the class of world records or anything.)

Anyhow, I for one know you saw a 1.63 measurement. Either way, there is no

question Reding was not only a great athlete, but also a great person.

Thanks for the input Joe!

Casler of BIO-FORCE writes:

I have read that Al Feurbach (sp) a world class shot putter a few years

back, who I believe is around 5' 10 " or shorter, could " dunk " a 16# shot

put. A little " rough " math would tell us that we are looking at a 38 " -40 "

vertical leap (with a 16# shot).

That too, is impressive to me.

Regards,

A. Casler

BIO-FORCE, Inc.

Los Angeles, CA

[Guest guest]

Casler of BIO-FORCE writes:

<<I have read that Al Feurbach (sp) a world class shot putter a few years

back, who I believe is around 5' 10 " or shorter, could " dunk " a 16# shot

put. A little " rough " math would tell us that we are looking at a 38 " -40 "

vertical leap (with a 16# shot).>>

WOW! If you find any more information on this incredible feat please let me

know. These kind of stories help me " sell " various power training methods

to the coaches and athletes I work with.

Burkhardt

Strength and Conditioning Coach

UC Irvine

[Guest guest]

RE: Vertical Jump Testing

Casler of BIO-FORCE wrote:

<<I have read that Al Feurbach (sp) a world class shot putter a few years

back, who I believe is around 5' 10 " or shorter, could " dunk " a 16# shot

put. A little " rough " math would tell us that we are looking at a 38 " -40 "

vertical leap (with a 16# shot).>>

Burkhardt wrote:

WOW! If you find any more information on this incredible feat please let me

know. These kind of stories help me " sell " various power training methods

to the coaches and athletes I work with.

Casler of BIO-FORCE wrote:

That info came from a " throwers " forum/list called the ring.

http://www.web-ster.com/kcarr/dischat.html

I'm sure if you posted a query as to that and other VJ experiences you would

get some info. In fact this mornings posts listed a 39 " VJ from a UCLA

shot/discus thrower from years gone by.

Coach Mac from this list knew Feurbach.

Another throwers site lists the throwers weights, lifts and VJ.

http://www.enteract.com/~bwal/shotdisc.htm

Look for " Lifts and jumps from Throwers "

Shot putters and discus throwers usually have great explosion and VJ.

Regards,

A. Casler

BIO-FORCE, Inc.

Los Angeles, CA