To improve your form, after stretching, remove any mental blocks you may have. There’s a connection between what your mind does and what your body does, and you want to eliminate that by envisioning your goals as clearly in your mind as possible, so that you don’t in any way inhibit what your mechanics are going to do.

I recommend that you watch NBA player Spud Webb, paying attention to how he gets into his jump. You’ll notice how Spud Webb’s last step before exploding is exaggerated and about two or three times longer than his normal step. Why does he do that? Because that extra length lowers his entire body, and when his entire body lowers, he’s ready for all the muscles to contract and send him up.

If you’re training for any track and field event, whether it’s long jump or high jump, you’ll be taught to exaggerate your final step so that you reduce all of your body weight and prepare to explode. If you’re standing in the air, the least you can do is flex your quads a little, flex your calves, and just do a little bit with your lower back. But you won’t be able to get as close to the blast as when you’re already prepared and in place.

Now look at the point just before the full explosion, where his arm is, where the ball is. It’s almost between his legs, because if his hands were already close to his chest, she can’t explode using his upper body. Then your entire body, including your legs, arms, and upper body, is ready to explode upwards.

You want to exaggerate this as much as you can, even pointing your toes toward your knees so your legs are ready to fully explode and your joints and muscles take advantage of all the elasticity they have. Look at Spud Webb to see where everything is exploding up: his hands are up; his legs are extended; and he is sending everything he has to heaven. A lot can be said about watching the pros and how they jump.