Want to Never Hit a New High Jump PR Again? Do This.

Hey Jumpers,

Some of us want to jump higher. However, there are a few of us high jumping folks that are content with the level they are jumping at and never want to get better. Here's a tip for you to remain at the exact same level...forever:

The tip? Never use video review in your jumping. Never record a single jump of yourself jumping ever again. Never analyze your own jumps.

Now...

If you DO want to get better, you might have guessed it, you MUST use video review. There is nothing like watching yourself jump that will help you get better. You may think you look one way in the air but the film tells you a totally different story.

Here are three keys to using video with your jumping:

1) Use QuickTime to watch your videos. QuickTime allows you to advance movies frame-by-frame using the arrow keys rather than Windows Media Player that does not. This means you'll want your videos in AVI, MOV, or MP4 formats. Advancing frame-by-frame is critical to getting the most out of each video analysis.

2) Record from multiple angles. Having your parents shoot from the bleachers is great, but getting a side and rear view angle of your jump will help you better see your position during various parts of the jump.

3) Don't just record meets, record practices too. Then, use your practice time to watch your videos, tweak, rerecord, and retweak when your performance is not really important. Trying to make major changes in form during a meet can be disastrous. Try to do that only during practices.

As far as cameras go, use whatever you've got. The higher the resolution and frame-rate the better, but even a digital camera with a movie mode or camera phone will work great.

Best of luck!

Gregg

P.S. - The high jump videos filled up pretty quickly last week but I have been able to open up about 10 more spots. Details here:
http://www.highjumphigher.com/high-jump-videos/

P.P.S. - I have also figured out how to efficiently get the videos on DVD and will be testing that across a few different computers tomorrow, should have those ready by Wednesday!

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