Updated on 26 de June de 2026 by Adrián Escobar Morales
The vertical jump is one of the most used neuromuscular performance indicators in sports science. It is measured in elite athletes, professional teams, physical competitions and physiotherapy consultations. And more and more coaches and athletes incorporate it into their daily work.
But what exactly is a vertical jump platform for? What information does it give you that you can’t get any other way? And who really needs it? In this article we explain it to you with specific use cases.
Índice
What is a vertical jump pad and how does it work?
A vertical jump platform It is a device that measures the time that the athlete remains in the air during a jump (flight time), and from that data it calculates the height of the jump with precision. More advanced models also measure inter-hop contact time and reactivity index (RSI).
There are different technologies: force platforms (the gold standard but very expensive), contact platforms, infrared systems and video apps. The infrared platforms like him ADR Jumping They offer scientifically validated precision at a much lower cost than force platforms, making them accessible to trainers, sports centers and individual athletes.
What is a vertical jump platform for?
1. Measure explosive performance and vertical jump
The most direct use is to quantify the athlete’s jumping ability. This is relevant in any sport where jumping or lower body explosiveness is important: basketball, volleyball, soccer, athletics, handball, rugby… but also in individual strength and power sports.
An objective and reproducible measurement of vertical jump allows:
- Compare the athlete’s performance with your own historical values.
- To evaluate the effect of a training block on lower body power.
- Identify imbalances between athletes on the same team.
- Have objective data for physical examinations and selection processes.
2. Monitor neuromuscular fatigue between sessions
This is probably the most valuable use in the coach’s daily life. The vertical jump — especially the CMJ (countermovement jump) — is one of the most sensitive indicators of accumulated neuromuscular fatigue.
When the nervous and muscular system is fatigued, the jump height drops before the athlete subjectively notices it. Performing a quick 3-jump test at the beginning of each session allows you to know with objective data whether the athlete arrives recovered or if he or she is carrying fatigue from previous days — and adjust the training load accordingly.
A drop of 5-10% compared to the athlete’s baseline value is a sign of mild fatigue; More than 10-15% indicate that it may be counterproductive to perform a high-intensity session that day.
3. Control fatigue within the session itself
In addition to monitoring between sessions, the platform allows you to measure the fatigue generated during the session. By performing a CMJ test before and after a block of intense work, you can quantify the percentage drop in performance from that particular session — very useful information for calibrating the intensity of future workouts.
4. Evaluate the stretch-shortening cycle (SSC) with the RSI
He reactivity index (RSI) measures the relationship between jump height and contact time between consecutive jumps. It is an indicator of the efficiency of the stretch-shortening cycle: how much the athlete uses the elastic energy accumulated in the eccentric phase to enhance the concentric phase.
The RSI is especially relevant in sports with high plyometric demand (athletics, basketball, soccer) and to evaluate the quality of power training over time.
5. Measure vertical force-velocity profiles
By combining jumps with different external loads, it is possible to build the vertical force-velocity profile of each athlete — a tool that allows you to identify whether the athlete has a strength- or speed-oriented deficit, and design training specifically to correct that imbalance and maximize jump improvement.
6. Track performance over time
By recording the vertical jump periodically — ideally under the same conditions and with the same protocol — a history is built that allows you to visualize the evolution of neuromuscular performance over months and seasons. It is one of the most used metrics to evaluate the real effect of training on the athlete’s physical condition.
Who needs a vertical jump platform?
| Profile | What do you use it for? |
|---|---|
| Team sports physical trainer | Monitor daily fatigue, control seasonal load, evaluate explosive performance |
| Personal/Strength Trainer | Measure the progress of the potential athlete, detect fatigue, individualize training |
| individual athlete | Monitor your own performance and fitness, prepare for physical competitions |
| Physiotherapist / rehabilitation | Evaluate return to sport after injury, compare symmetry between legs |
| Teacher/researcher | Measure the vertical jump with validated precision for studies and training practices |
What differentiates ADR Jumping from other options on the market?
To measure the vertical jump you have several options: mobile apps, contact platforms, infrared systems and force platforms. Each one has its advantages and disadvantages:
- mobile apps (My Jump, etc.): inexpensive but require manual video analysis, are slow in sessions with many athletes and do not measure contact time or RSI.
- Force platforms: the gold standard in precision, but they cost several thousand euros, are not portable and require specific software.
- Infrared platforms such as ADR Jumping: scientifically validated precision, portable, with integrated display to see results without a mobile phone, real-time auditory feedback and free app. The middle ground between precision and accessibility.
He ADR Jumping this scientifically validated by independent universities, measures jump height, flight time, contact time and RSI, and its app ADR System stores history in the cloud and allows data to be exported to Excel. All without monthly subscription.
Conclusion: Do you need a vertical jump platform?
If you work with athletes who need to be explosive, or if you want to control neuromuscular fatigue objectively, the answer is yes. Vertical jump is one of the most informative, quickest to obtain, and easiest to interpret metrics in sports science.
A validated infrared platform like ADR Jumping allows you to have this information in less than 2 minutes at the beginning of each session, with data that you can compare over time and share with the athlete to increase their involvement and motivation.
→ See ADR Jumping and its technical specifications
