High jump secrets – Two tips to raise your PR before you ever jump

Tip # 1: The long approach

Many high jumpers, especially those in high school , make the mistake of using a short approach! In the first three steps of their approach they have already started their curve. Because it is difficult to say how fast you are accelerating and traveling during the turn, this leads to inconsistent jumps and poor performance.

Start about 25 feet behind your approach, where you are now. Walk perpendicular to the bar and achieve a comfortable speed before you start your turn. This allows you to slide through your curve at the perfect speed and focus on your jump, not your speed during your last two steps.

The only reason you want a shorter approach is if you are ten-tenths to keep energy. If you only play two or three events, you want to use a long approach. This will help you to have more speed, control and pop when you come to the bar!

Tip # 2: Develop a Pre-Jump Ritual

High jump is like a golf swing, it is important to train your muscles to do the same, because it is a difficult mental game (especially if the bar is over your head). One thing that almost all jumpers overlook is a pre-jump ritual.

A simple ritual like shooting back on your back foot or doing two skips to start your approach lets your body know that you are high jump again. It can help you to become incredibly consistent because your muscles will get used to the repetition.

The opposite is also true, if you are stuck in a bad grind, try a new ritual to start your leap, it can be only the change that your mind needs to get it through bad bad habits that you may have developed. See how well high jumps start their jumps, each single (and I mean EVERY ONE) has a very specific ritual that they perform before each jump without fail.