Do Basketball Shoes Make You Jump Higher?

Manufacturers' claims that special shoes increase a player's vertical leap by 3 1/2 inches or more may prove true for some athletes. Shoe technology may focus attention on better jumping technique, producing results that don't entirely depend on the shoes. Some players found that after wearing spring-assisted shoes, jumping height stayed at the improved level even with their old footgear, according to Chris Ballard of "Sports Illustrated."

History

Fast action on the hard surfaces of basketball courts causes many injuries to athletes, and basketball shoe manufacturers responded by creating complicated cushioning systems to reduce impact stress. Adding padding absorbs some energy used to drive a jump -- track and field jumpers wear shoes with thin soles for efficient energy transfer. Increasing cushioning in the heels of basketball shoes raised heel height and caused a drop in jumping ability, according to a 1992 study at the University of Michigan.

Jumping Mechanics

Vertical jumping depends mostly on muscle strength, using the muscles of calves and upper legs to drive the body upward. Muscle elasticity also contributes to jumping height by storing and releasing energy, a study in the "Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research' concluded in 1998. Maximum jumping height depends on using the structure of the body correctly. Placing weight on the balls of the feet rather than the heels allows elastic energy storage in the Achilles. tendon. The typical energy increase makes a difference of about 3 1/2 inches in jumping height, according to Ken Young of the University of Washington. (See Reference 4). That closely matches the results reported by Athletic Propulsion Labs during tests of their spring-loaded shoe, the Concept 1. (See Reference 5).

Jump-Training Shoes

Special strength-training shoes contribute to jumping ability by forcing the wearers to put weight on the forward part of the foot. Thick soles on the front part of the training shoes lift the heel off the floor. The shoes put emphasis on calf strength and prevent the player from driving the heel downwards instead of using the natural resilience of the foot. Athletes see improved jumping ability when returning to regular footgear.

Compression-Spring Shoes

Banned by the National Basketball Association on Oct. 19th, 2010, performance-enhancing spring-loaded shoes increase jumping height through better technology, according to Athletic Performance Labs. A compression spring in the ball of the foot stores energy when the athlete plants the foot for the jump, and during the propulsion part of the movement transfers energy back to both ball and heel through a patented embedded bar in the shoe's sole. Players do report improvements in jumping height, but those improvements linger even when athletes shift to other shoes. The new shoes encourage better form, but so does an hour of training with a good coach, says Chris Ballard of "Sports Illustrated." (See Reference 1).