Last Updated on: 3rd October 2023, 05:29 pm
Every basketball player or upcoming player always asks the same question –
Are there basketball shoes that make you jump higher?
In this article, I will answer that exact question and more.
Everyone wants shoes that make you jump higher and finally hit the windmill dunk…
In this article, we will evaluate jumping Mechanics, the shoes that promise increased vertical results, and even banned NBA shoes.
Is adding a few inches to your vertical with a shoe possible? Even if it is 3 inches, every inch counts.
Do Basketball Shoes Make You Jump Higher?
Basketball shoes themselves do not directly make you jump higher. However, they can provide support, stability, and comfort that may help you maximize your jumping potential. Some shoes are designed with features such as a raised heel, thicker sole, and responsive cushioning, which can assist in generating more power when jumping.
Basketball Shoes are one of the best inventions ever in basketball…
These shoes allow players to play comfortably and reduce injuries.
The added padded to basketball shoes absorbed the impact of players when they jump, landed, and pivoted.
The players will be at a greater risk of injury without this extra padding and support.
But…
The question on everyone’s mind is, what are the best basketball shoes to jump higher?
Jump Mechanics Beyond the Shoes
To reach your maximum vertical leap, you must jump in the correct form.
You need to focus the jump on the balls of your feet and not the heels…
Of course, the muscle strength of your calves and upper legs plays a huge role in your jumping ability.
If you are interested in the science of jumping higher, I recommend that you check out the book Vertical Foundations.
Jumping Technology In Shoes
There is a brand that goes above and beyond and stands above the competition regarding technology designed to help you jump higher.
And no, it is not a Nike basketball shoe or Adidas…
It is APL shoes, which stands for Athletic Propulsion Labs…
The APL basketball shoe was banned from the NBA in the 2010-2011 season.
The reason for the ban is because of the technology that they call the Load ‘N Launch.
This technology, in short, provides an instant rebound effect that is transferred up through the foot to enhance vertical leap…
With their technology, APL claims that you can achieve up to 3.5 inches on your vertical.
If you want to learn more about the technology, check it out here.
APL Concept Athletic Propulsion Labs Basketball Shoes (NBA Banned!)
We will focus on APL Concept (for Athletic Propulsion Labs) shoes for this section because they are the only shoes that promise to improve your vertical jump by just lacing up their shoes.
You might think this statement is credible because the shoes were banned in the 2010-2011 NBA season; crazy, right?
The ban on the shoes from the NBA helped them become more popular and desired by many players looking to increase their vertical instantly.
There is no evidence that these shoes help you jump higher, besides the researchers at APL that stated the shoes will magically increase your vertical…
With that said, these NBA-banned shoes are very well-made and comfortable…
These shoes can compete with the best in the shoe industry, like Nike, regarding comfort and stability…
And in my opinion, they look pretty good.
I am sorry if you are looking for shoes to help you dunk or an easy answer on increasing your vertical…
The APL shoes are not that…
If you truly believe in their technology and think it will magically increase your vertical, make sure you have some money saved up.
The newest installment of the APL basketball shoes, like the APL Concept 3, will cost you $200.
The APL shoe price is not small, so let me save you some money and tell you that these are not the answer to increasing your vertical.
But continue reading there might be something else that you can use, and it might be cheaper.
Two Types of Basketball Shoes That Can Make You Jump Higher
It is important to know the difference between the different types of shoes that claim to make you jump higher.
- Training Shoes: These shoes will train your muscles specifically to jump higher. Like Jumpsoles and strength shoes.
- Performance-Enhanced Shoes: These shoes make you jump higher because of the technology inside the shoes, like APL shoes and their Load ‘N Launch technology.
Training Shoes
Training shoes claim that if you wear them, your vertical will increase, but is this true?
There have been many training shoes that claim to help you jump higher…
But I will review the top two popular choices among players looking to increase their vertical.
1. Strength Shoes
Strength shoes are a special type of vertical jump training shoes with a raised platform on the ball of the foot…
When you lace them up, the ball of your foot does all the lifting since your heel is off the ground.
These shoes run $99.99-$199.99…
If you are spending this kind of money, you want to ensure they work.
The idea behind these shoes is to have your calves support 100% of your body weight…
With regular shoes, your calf is only supporting about 30%.
A study done with affiliation with James Maddison University trained athletes for 10 weeks and compared the results of the men wearing strength shoes and regular shoes. The study found that there were trends towards better performance and less injury with regular shoes…
What does this mean?
It means wearing strength shoes does not increase your performance but can increase the risk of injury…
A disclaimer, there have been a few people who have claimed improvement with strength shoes…
But it is not worth the risk of injury; these shoes cannot be recommended.
2. Jumpsoles – Spring Loaded Shoes
The Jumpsoles are vertical jump training shoes similar to strength shoes, but with Jumpsoles, you slip over any shoes you are wearing and make the balls of your feet do all the work…
The key to wearing the Jumpsoles is to work out with these on…
The best exercises to use with these are jump rope, lunges, and step-ups.
Jumpsoles promise to add 5 to 10 inches to your vertical and decrease your 40-yard dash by 0.2 seconds or your money back…
Sounds great, right?
But…
A few studies have compared the results of Jumpsoles to players not wearing jump soles, and there was no significant increase in their vertical or 40 years dash time.
If you are looking for a magic shoe or solution that will increase your vertical, you must keep looking because these are not it…
Keep reading; I think there is something that will help you…
What Shoes Should You Buy to Maximize Your Vertical Leap?
Shoes today are made with better quality and technology than ten years ago…
With shoemakers like Nike Air and Adidas, it is hard to go wrong…
But you can always pick a lousy shoe, hurting your performance.
The right shoes will not let you take flight from the free throw line like Jordan…
But the right shoes are essential to give maximum stability and reduce the wear and tear that jumping, running, and cutting can cause.
To help you choose the right shoes, I narrowed down four characteristics of a shoe that you need to look out for…
With these six characteristics, you can pick basketball shoes to help you jump higher.
1. Traction
You need this and must feel safe when on the court…
While traction provides safety because you are not sliding every time you move…
Traction is essential to provide maximum force to the ground to get the greatest vertical jump.
This is because there is no slipping, and you can efficiently convert all that running momentum to the ground.
This is why you jump higher on clean, waxed floors because there is no dirt or grim getting under your shoes, and because of this, you have complete traction.
2. Comfort and Fit
The support and fit of the shoe are vital for a good vertical…
If you have a shoe too tight, it will be painful every time you plant because your foot and toes will be squeezed.
In contrast, if a shoe is too big, will it decrease the effectiveness of your vertical jump…
Every time you plant your foot, it will slide in the shoe and hit the front of the shoe…
Causing you to be less stable can result in a decreased vertical.
If a shoe is slightly bigger, you can wear basketball socks to take up the extra room.
3. Cushion
Unfortunately, injury happens often in basketball because of the types of movements that are required…
Having a shoe that has cushion can reduce this wear and tear…
Jumping causes a lot of wear and tear when landing because of all the force applied to your joints, especially your knees and ankles.
Tip: You can put insoles in your shoes to help with the cushion. The ones I used are from Sof Sole, and you can check them out here.
4. Weight
This new thing has been an important factor for players in the last few years…
Leading manufacturers like Nike and Adidas are reducing the weight of their shoes to as little as 9 ounces, which is super light…
This gives the player a feeling of being lighter and “Jumping higher.’
But honestly, the weight has no actual benefit to jumping higher…
It’s mental, and it creates a placebo effect…
If you have lighter shoes, you feel like you can jump higher, but a few ounces will not make a difference in your vertical leap…
You can only argue that the extra few ounces will decrease your momentum, but no studies have verified that the few ounces make a significant impact.
5. Ankle Support
Ankle support is crucial when choosing basketball shoes, as it plays a vital role in protecting the ankle joint during rapid directional changes, jumping, and landing.
Proper ankle support in your basketball shoes can significantly reduce the risk of injury and enhance your overall jumping experience.
A shoe with proper ankle support ensures the foot remains in the correct position throughout the jump, providing a stable base for takeoff and landing.
Good ankle support allows players to focus on their movements and gameplay.
6. Materials And Construction
Basketball shoes are constructed using various materials, each with unique properties that can influence weight, breathability, and overall performance.
The right combination of materials and construction techniques can significantly impact a player’s jumping performance, comfort, and durability.
Ultimately, the right combination of materials and construction methods can help enhance a player’s overall performance on the court.
Look for lightweight, durable, and breathable synthetic materials like polyurethane, mesh, and TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane).
Also check out – Can Jordans make you jump higher?
FAQ
Do basketball shoes make you jump higher?
Basketball shoes themselves do not inherently make you jump higher. However, they can improve jumping performance by providing the necessary support, stability, cushioning, and traction for optimal jumping mechanics. The right shoes can help players feel more confident and comfortable on the court, allowing them to focus on their technique and execute jumps more effectively.
What shoes make you jump the highest?
There isn’t a specific shoe that will automatically make you jump the highest. However, some shoes offer features that can improve jumping performance by providing the necessary support, stability, cushioning, and traction for optimal jumping mechanics.
How many inches do basketball shoes add to your vertical jump?
While a well-designed pair of basketball shoes can help you feel more confident and comfortable, leading to improved jumping ability, no specific number of inches can be attributed to wearing basketball shoes. Consistent training, strength building, and proper jumping technique are key to increasing your vertical jump.
Summary
There is no magic pill, no quick fix to increase your vertical…
You can’t spend $100 on a pair of shoes and expect to be jumping out of the gym.
If you get strength shoes or jump soles, you will get no results and put yourself at risk for injury.
You are wasting money if you get enhanced performance shoes because they do not work.
Instead of throwing money away in the garbage, you should use a proven basketball jump program that gets results…
if you really want to increase your vertical, I suggest that you go with Vert Shock or Jump Manual…
I recommend Vert Shock over Jump manual because Vert Shock is only 8 weeks, it’s cheaper and it does not require weights.
I hope this article helped you answer the question…I recommend reading these books for vertical jumping too.
Are there basketball shoes that make you learn to jump higher?
