Strength vs Power

Strength is a major component for jumping and producing power.  This can be a little confusing, however, because many times you will see large bodybuilders who are very strong in the weight room, but do not have the ability to jump very high.  This happens for two reasons: 

·         While there is a positive correlation between muscle size and strength, it is also possible to get very big muscles without lifting large amounts of weight.  The technique that bodybuilders use to get big is to lift moderate amounts of weight for large amounts of volume (4-8 sets of 15-20 repetitions) with very little recovery between sets.  For those trying to excel in sports, this type of training doesn’t do much to replicate very many sporting activities.

·         The second reason many large athletes aren’t able to jump very high is that they spend most of their training time lifting large amounts of weight at rather slow speeds.  If you want to create power (ability to jump), you have to factor in a time component.  So, if you want to move slowly, train slowly.  Conversely, if you want to be quick and explosive, you need to train that way with slightly lighter weights and more speed during the exercise movement.