What is the "vertical" of world class high jumpers?

BRF wrote:

PoisonIvy wrote:

Actually, when the USOC still supported track & field, a study was done to examine the physical abilities of a variety of athletes across all event groups. Believe it or not, the most explosive/powerful athletes (as tested by vertical displacement of COM) were the throwers.

I believe that, easily.

I remember being at the Ivy League indoor track meet a few years back. As the athletes were called for their awards, most of the winners (including the high jump champ) climbed up on the lower blocks, to get to the top of the stand.

The only athlete who simply jumped to the top: the shot put champ. The weight throw champ also jumped up there, but used his hands a bit, as well.

Decent "ups" here, too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIQ2zpI8Wg0

I also absolutely also believe that throwers are among the most explosive in t&f. What makes an elite thrower? Obviously technique is important, but the technique is just to capitalize on what is essentially a 1 second series of explosive movements. Throwers might quickly fade compared to the sprinters after that 1 second of initial movement, but they train for and are selected for their ability to explode.

It sounds funny, but if you ever convince an elite thrower to do a block start, they'll beat an elite sprinters for the first few steps (then they'll get immediately left in the dust after that). Their vertical leaps matches that raw power.

angry willy wrote:

Vertical jump and high jumping are different things, basically apples and oranges.

High jump is all about getting CG, cleanly over the bar.

Seems like a few folks are missing the difference.

Yes, this. "High jumping" is a misnomer as it is not ONLY about jumping. It is getting the jumper's CG as high as possible. It is not only about hops, although it is of course, helpful. Because of the runup, it is about transferring horizontal movement into vertical energy and then using that energy through technique to raise the CG. Basketball players only use jumping ability to get higher. Raising the CG isn't relevant for them.

I agree with you. But "best sprinter will never be the best jumper"?

Ummm, ever hear of Carl Lewis?

if I recall, they claim David Thompson vertical was around 45 inches...at time was the best in the NBA

legends say it all about David Thompson.........

I could jump almost equally well off one or two feet with an advantage of an inch or two when jumping off 1 foot. As far as having long arms, I always believed that not only does having long arms give the appearance of someone jumping really high when playing basketball, but that it actually can help you jump higher than someone with shorter arms as some of jumping is swinging your arms. For instance two guys the same height with the same standing vertical and one has longer arms he could potentially have a higher max vertical based of the extra momentum he could generate by his arms swinging. It may be slight but it could be of some benefit.

PoisonIvy wrote:

Actually, when the USOC still supported track & field, a study was done to examine the physical abilities of a variety of athletes across all event groups. Believe it or not, the most explosive/powerful athletes (as tested by vertical displacement of COM) were the throwers.

I'll look around to see if I can find the .pdf of the original study.

I can buy that. We have a 230lb Hammer thrower with a 33.4" vertical leap. It is absolutely insane to watch.