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Games of Knowledge | Sports and Exercise

Games of Knowledge and Games of Sport

Become A Better Player: Work On Your Vertical Leap

| December 30, 2011

For most athletes, being able to jump higher is highly beneficial.  Basketball, soccer, badminton and volleyball are just some of the sports that require this skill from their players for them to gain a competitive edge. Thus, having a high vertical jump is always a good addition to any athlete’s set of skills.  Can you really increase your vertical jump through training though?  Isn’t this skill inherited than learned?  It’s both. Some have it initially through genetics while some just learn and work at it through training and practice. Those who have the natural talent may also choose to enhance their gift.  If you want to get started with your vertical jump training right away, you can’t go wrong with this how to jump higher manual: TheJump Manual for volleyball  vertical.

How does increase in vertical jump happen? Exercises for vertical jump training involve strengthening the core and increasing leg muscle power.  You would need a strong core in order to maintain balance during your vertical leaps.  Higher heights are reached with a strong core. When you jump, it is the strength of your legs that propels you up and that strength is one of the factors that will determine your jump height.  Lastly, there’s plyometrics.  In plyometric exercises, your muscles’ responsiveness are honed so their quickness increase.  The combination of speed and strength allows for what sports experts refer to as “vertical explosion” which in turn is what will set apart the mediocre from the greats.

The following is an exercise routine that’s easy to follow.  It will help you gain muscle in your core and your legs as well as promote responsiveness in the latter:  Begin by jumping a heavy rope for 3 minutes as a warm-up.  Jumping rope is a simple and convenient yet effective way to effectively increase your jump height.  Quickness is trained and instilled in your movements when you train the neural and muscle activity required to jump which is what happens with jumping rope.  To prepare for the strengthening part of the routine, you should go into stretching the muscle groups in your abdomen and your legs first.  Get into a little more cardiovascular exercise with jump higher highlights by jumping rope for another 5 to 10 minutes.  Do this before going through muscle building.

Strengthening Phase.  For core strengthening, crunches work.  Do a minimum of 50 to 100 curnches.  Make sure the reps put enough stress on the abdominal muscles to actually work it.  When it comes to the leg muscles, you can do toe raises and knee bends.  This works the thighs and the calves.  Repeat 15 to 20 times, the toe raises and about 10 times, the knee bends. Listen to your body and do not overstrain your muscles, especially during the knee bends.  For your plyometric exercise, do jump squats.  This is one exercise that combines strength and quickness training.  Begin by bending until you’re squatting in the air.  Then jump as high as possible up into the air.  Repeat this for 5 to 10 times and as quickly as possible.  Then cool down by stretching.  For a complete list of exercises to jump higher and reviews of vertical jump training programs, check out the TheJump Manual Review.

Here’s How To Gain A Competitive Edge In Golf

| October 24, 2011

With so many GPS devices currently available, it makes sense that a number of different sports would look to get into the action. Of course, golf is one of the major sports that now uses GPS technology, as countless golf courses now have devices mounted in their carts. In addition, many players now have their own GPS systems, as they are relatively affordable and can provide an advantage over other players. Those who want to improve their golf game in a hurry should probably not bother with GPS, as this is for players who know enough about their game to make the shots once they have the correct information. With that being said, it can help those who want to improve their game gradually to learn more about their swing and how far they can hit each club, which makes devices like the OnPar Golf Touchscreen GPS valuable.

Another sport in which GPS is currently used is the triathlon, as competitors can keep track of distances using these devices. Luckily for triathletes, these devices can be worn in the form of a watch, so they do not have to carry a bulky GPS device around as they run, swim, and cycle. These devices are also waterproof, which will definitely make a difference throughout the swimming event. By knowing how much further they have to travel, these athletes will know when to push themselves to the brink of exhaustion and when to hold back a little bit in order to conserve some energy.

While it might not matter as much in golf, GPS has been designed to work in any weather condition. This means that you will almost never have to worry about cloudy weather coming between you and your information. If you do happen to be out on a cloudy day, the OnPar Golf Touchscreen GPS and products of that nature will work well, so you will always know where you are on the course. The satellite signal is transmitted to the ground at all times, so you can track yourself as you move around the course. It is pretty neat to watch yourself move from above, as you can see exactly how far your ball has traveled and how far you still have to go.

OnPar Golf Touchscreen GPS will not enable you to improve your game immediately if you do not already possess a fairly high skill level on the course. Professionals will tell you that the shot is not always easy and so it is important to remember that there will not be instant gratification for the golfer who does not already have the basic skills needed for the game. On the other hand, if you do have a good understanding of your abilities on the course this system will be immensely useful. Whether you are a runner, a swimmer or a golfer, using this system will definitely benefit you and your performance in your sport of choice.  Not only will it help you to determine your current ability but in so doing will enable you to keep working until you reach your potential.