Clutch, D., Wilton, M., McGown, C., & Bryce, G. R. (1983). The effect of depth jumps and weight training on leg strength and vertical jump. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 54, 5-10.

Two studies evaluated the effects of depth jumping (plyometrics) and traditional weight training on performance of vertical jump and other measures of strength.

Study 1. Three jumping activities were compared: a) maximum vertical jumps, b) 0.3 m depth jumps, and c) 0.75 and 1.10 m depth jumps. These activities were preceded by three weeks of weight training. Four weeks of twice-per-week continued weights plus the additional jumping were experienced.

All groups demonstrated similar improvements on 1RM squat strength, isometric knee-extension strength, and vertical jump. The lack of significant differences could have been due to the small group sizes which restricted the statistical power of the analyses.

Study 2. A weights alone group (N = 16) was compared to weights plus depth jumping group (N = 16). Training was performed twice per week for 16 weeks.

The weights alone group did not improve vertical jump although strength parameters improved. The weights plus jumping group did improve in the vertical jump.

Implications. Once again the specificity of weight training was demonstrated. Gains in strength training activities do not transfer to dynamic activities such as a vertical jump.

A second important finding was that weights plus jumping produced no added beneficial performance improvement over that gained from doing jumping alone. The weight training program provided no added benefit.

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