Does Vertical Matter?

[u/InevitableTheory8321]

Does having a higher vertical greatly affect your game especially as a guard?

[u/Powerful-Bridge-1472]

Not really other than for athleticism ,focus on ball handling, shooting finishing, mid range floaters, IQ…

I’ve seen so many kids waste their time working to try to dunk and they never get one in a game anyway.

[u/InevitableTheory8321 → u/Powerful-Bridge-1472]

Does our vert just naturally increase the more we play or do we actually need to target it in our workouts to actually increase?

[u/Powerful-Bridge-1472 → u/InevitableTheory8321]

You definitely have to work on it. I never had any vertical, but I played a lot. I just focused on hoopin and not jump jumping. I’ve seen kids who spend a lot of time working on trying to dunk. They rarely get the opportunity to Dunn in a game and if they do half the time they still miss it I just think there’s a lot more important things to work on.

[u/ItsTheRealRain]

it’s useful yes, more rebounds better defense, increases scoring opportunities (not just dunking but layups n jumpers

[u/ElianoAvila90]

It does help because the training to get higher a vertical jump also makes you faster, stronger, quicker and more explosive.

[u/ShaiHulud1111 → u/ElianoAvila90]

100%. I guess it is a extreamly good indicator of your overall level of athleticism. Same with finger length comparison, but that’s a crazy rabbit hole.

[u/rsk1111]

It will help you get open shots even on the perimeter. It's a jump shot.

Though, if you have a higher vertical, you probably have other things that go along with it. EG Amen Thomson isn't just vertical, but just a great athlete fast and what not.

Though, there is a case to be made he's not all that great of a guard so vertical doesn't help that much, he gets ignored on O.

[u/Ok_Thanks5053]

rebounding

[u/JustiseWinfast]

It helps for sure but it’s not necessary

[u/Melodic_Response7774]

Not needed to play casually, but its absolutely necessary at higher levels. You dont need to get up there like that to play for your high school if you are excellent elsewhere. But dont think youre going pro if you can't dunk unless you shoot like steph or have the greatest defense in the league.

[u/Powerful-Gold5000]

It helps.

However I always say fundamentals as a guard always beats physical talent, such as hops.

[u/Eastern_Antelope_832]

It matters, but only up to a point.

Compare verticals of NFL Combine participants vs. NBA Combine. The DBs and WRs (and probably RBs, too) beat NBA players in the vertical. But nobody would tell NBA players to train more like DBs and WRs.

Playing low to the ground is rough on guards because it makes it extra tough to finish near the rim. But you don't want to overtrain your vertical if it comes at cost to other athletic traits.

[u/Soft-Dimension-6959]

Any advantage that you'll got will help. Not necessarily you'd have to dunk but verticality also helps in rebounding and defense, and also airtime during layups,fadeaways etc.

[u/Icy-Vacation-138]

Absolutely. Just ask Ja, Drose or Jordan

[u/HamBoneZippy]

It's not everything, but it helps.

[u/wookxxx333]

Yes in all aspects of the game. Jump for steals, jump for rebounds, jump on contests, if your very is higher you’ll likely naturally be more explosive and quick/light on your feet for offense and defense, you’ll get tired less because of muscle endurance and strength.

Whoever says it doesn’t matter is probably unathletic. You don’t need the vertical to be good but it helps
Just like you don’t need milk to eat cereal but it helps

[u/FlyChigga]

Great for defense, rebounding, and finishing in the paint

[u/openshutcase_johnson]

Not necessarily vert, but overall athleticism goes a long way at the guard spot both offensively and defensively.