Review Summary
Product Name:
Product Type:
Vertical Jump Training Program, Ebook PDF
Price:
$1 Trial, then $66 to keep
Summary:
A program designed to increase explosive ability in athletes.
Rating:
The Jump Manual by Jacob Hiller has recognized as one of the best vertical jump training programs available. It consists of a training program and step-by-step guide that claims it can add up to 10 inches or more to your vertical jump, with a money-back guarantee. How does it work and is it legit? You can see my Jump Manual review below.
If you play volleyball, basketball, or any other sport that requires explosive power, you know how hard it can be to improve power. Many athletes I talk to are interested in improving their vertical jump. When I ask them what there plan is for it, they quickly realize they don't have one! If you want to improve something, you have to have a plan that focuses on exactly that.
That is where The Jump Manual comes in to play. It is a proven and simple to follow program that has hundreds of success stories. I have had success with it myself.
Who is Jacob Hiller?
Jacob Hiller is known around the world as a vertical jump expert. Hiller wasn't a great athlete in his youth days, but eventually found a training program that made him a more explosive athlete and eventually become a professional basketball player.
Now in his 30s, he still has a vertical jump of over 40 inches. Hiller is still a highly sought after coach for explosive athletes such as basketball and volleyball players.
Hiller has been featured in ESPN and Men's Health, among others, for his vertical jump training expertise. You can find out more about Jacob Hiller by visiting his blog. You can see some of his thoughts and theories on training in the video below.
How can you improve your vertical?
- Proper Training - You don't just need to train, but you need to train the right way.
- Nutrition - Eating the right foods in the right amounts can make or break your improvements.
- Recovery - You have to rest and recovery for your body to come back stronger than it was before.
- Technique - You may be losing inches right now if you aren't jumping with the right form.
What is the Jump Manual?
The Jump Manual was created by Jacob Hiller and is one of the best vertical jump training programs available today. I first decided to try it because I was intrigued with the Max Explosion workout. The manual is an entire program of vertical jump training. It show which days to train, sets, reps, techniques, and a video demonstration of all exercises used. It also gives you information on nutrition and recovery. Recovery is huge for explosive athletes. Training too much leads to overtraining, which will lead to decreased performance.
I've tried a lot of programs before, but had mixed success. Some of the programs have you doing sets of 100s of reps of a single exercise! How is this going to train your fast-twitch muscles? Doing so many reps will train your slow-twitch muscles, which are used for endurance activities. Vertical jumping is one of the most explosive activities you can do.
Workout Chart
The workout chart is the way you will see the layout of the program. It is a chart showing what days you'll train and what exercises you do when. It is your guide and you should follow it precisely. You will have the ability to download and login to the program it after you start your trial.
Does it work? What kind of results can I expect?
The Jump Manual has been around for years and Jacob Hiller's training has dozens of impressive testimonials. Hiller claims you can add at least 10 inches to your vertical within 60 days and he has had many success stories claiming just that and more. What's cool about this is that you can try it for $1 and see what kind of progress you are making. If you aren't improving, you can't stop.
Unfortunately, I didn't measure my vertical before and after the program, so I can't give you any personal statistics or case studies. All I know is that I never dunked a basketball the first 18 years of my life, but after starting this program I did within 4 weeks. I've also had several athletes I work with have similar results.
What does the program consist of?
The Jump Manual is a complete program. You will have information on the science of jumping, nutrition, recovery, and training. It also has a weekly workout chart so you can plan ahead and know what exercises you will do when. The chart has all the sets and reps of each exercise as well as a video demonstration. You can see the chapters of the ebook below:
- The 9 Essential Variables of an Explosive Vertical
- Understanding the Science of Optimal Results
- The LAWS of Vertical Jump Improvement
- Muscle Gains DO NOT Happen During Training
- Optional Equipment for Vertical Jump Drills
- Use the Jumpers Forum
- Pre-workout Stretching and Warm-ups
- Explanation of the Max Explosion Workout
- Post-Workout
- Progress and Sustained Increase
What kind of exercises will I do?
You'll want to be ready to jump - a lot, but that's not all you will be doing. There are some basic plyometric exercises to do, but there are also some advanced ones that I've never seen before. These are both fun and extremely challenging. Luckily, you can see video demonstration from the workout chart.
Why plyometrics? Many studies have shown that plyometric training can lead to very positive improvements in leaping ability. They have a specific transfer to jumping. Plyos should be a staple of any program designed to improve vertical jumping ability.
It's also not just plyometric jumps. You'll mix in sprints and other exercises as well as core work, upper-body work, and stretching. It is a comprehensive program, which is surprisingly important. For example, many athletes don't realize that stretching can impact jump performance, as this study shows: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19204571
All of the exercises can be done without special equipment, although having a jump rope, medicine ball, and sturdy chair will make things easier. You can get by without them, but they are worth getting if you can afford them.
How soon can I access it?
I was able to access the program almost instantly. After you purchase the program, you will receive an email with information on how to access it. You'll have to download the program to your computer. Then, you login to The Jump Manual and you have access to everything - training, nutrition, and the workout chart with sets, reps, and exercise demonstrations.
Does it come with anything else?
- Lean Power Protocol - A nutritional guide for maximum gains.
- Personalized Video Analysis - Have your jumping technique analyzed by an expert.
- Beast Hoops - Upper-body training program for basketball players.
The jump manual isn't just a list of charts and exercises. It comes with extra free bonuses. This includes the "Lean Power Protocol" which discusses proper nutrient timing and exactly what to eat before and after a workout to make the most of it. If you think you can train hard for an hour a day and then sit around eating junk food and still make gains, you are living in a fantasy.
Personalized Video Analysis and Beast Hoops are also cool bonuses. Many people are losing inches off of their leaping ability and don't even know it. Having an expert take a look at your form can't hurt. When I first order the program, my biggest gripe was that I didn't know what all I should be doing for my upper-body. Beast Hoops is a great add-on for that.
It also comes with free updates whenever they are made. I first downloaded this over 5 years ago, and I still can login and get the latest version whenever I want. Don't underestimate how awesome of a benefit this is. Some of the best vertical jump programs come out with a new version every year or 2 and charge you if you want to access it! Having unlimited free updates is a huge deal.
What I like about the program
I love that this program focuses on max explosion. If you wan to jump higher, you don't need to do 100 reps of anything. You want to create the most power you can at angle single moment, not repeatedly. The focus on fast-twitch muscles should be a priority for vertical jump programs.
Obviously, it helps that its a proven program with a history of results. The best part is that you will actually have a step-by-step plan to follow. So many athletes want to make progress, yet have no action plan to actually get where they want to go. With this, you'll know exactly what to do and when. You'll also be able to measure it so you know exactly how much you are progressing.
I also like that it can be done from anywhere, including your home. It's nice not to have to go to the gym for every workout, or have the freedom to train on the weekends or odd hours when your facility might be closed.
What is the program missing?
There are a few ways I think the program could be improved. There is very little emphasis on good old-fashioned strength training. This is a problem, particularly if you are a beginner. Beginners need a basic level of strength before doing an intense vertical jump program. I wouldn't recommend doing this if you don't have good general strength in the squat and deadlift. Your body won't be ready for the impact if you don't.
The nice thing about this program is that it is simple and challenging, but I would like to see a more specific 2nd program to it. Is there any other training or equipment I need to make more progress? Although Hiller does give an explanation of how to continually make improvements in your vertical, more specific guidance for after the program would be nice.
The last thing to be aware of is that this is a vertical jump program! It sounds obvious, but for the length of the program you entire training focus has to be on maximizing your vertical jump. You can't also be trying to grow your biceps and get a six-pack. This isn't a problem if this is your number one goal, it is what you need to do.
Thanks for reading my Jump Manual review. If you have any specific questions about the program that you'd like to know, don't hesitate to contact me.
Jump Manual Conclusion
You aren't going to add a foot to your vertical jump overnight, but the Jump Manual is a proven system that has been getting results for years. The best part is that it provides an easy plan to follow and measure your progress. It doesn't hurt that you can try it out for 21 days for only $1.
The Good Stuff:
- Proven results
- Step-by-step workout program
- Can be done at home
- $1 trial
The Bad Stuff:
- Not made for beginners
- Must commit to vertical jump training in place of other programs
