Why use the Drop Jump Test with Athletes

One of the test we use frequently with our athletes at Precision Athletica, is the drop jump. This is a test useful for tracking progress in athletes looking to improve their short distance speed and change of direction.

When conducting the drop jump, we look at the reactive strength index. Which is basically the capability of the athlete to go from an eccentric motion into a concentric muscular contraction.

This test is important to us as it represents the ability of the athletes to use the stretch-shortening cycle. The reactive strength index has also shown a strong relationship between change of direction and acceleration speed.

So, if your goal is to change direction faster, or accelerate quicker over the first five to 10 meters, then this test will be a useful tool to measure progress.

[sportstrainingsystems]

This is not a drop jump. Too slow and too much knee bend.