Vertec Jump Test

The Vertec device is a simple-to-use, inexpensive, and portable device which can measure an athlete’s vertical jump height.

By Alexander Dear
Last updated: February 29th, 2024
7 min read

Contents of Article

  1. Summary
  2. What is the Vertec jump test?
  3. How do you conduct the Vertec jump test?
  4. How do you score the Vertec jump test?
  5. What can affect Vertec jump test scores?
  6. Is the Vertec jump test valid and reliable?
  7. References
  8. About the Author

Summary

The Vertec device is a simple-to-use, inexpensive, and portable device that can measure an athlete’s vertical jump height. Vertical jump height has been shown to correlate with maximal strength and sprint performance and is therefore of interest to many strength and conditioning professionals.

The Vertec device requires the participant to displace the vanes at the apex of their jump, and therefore, requires at least a single-arm swing. When compared to other measurement devices such as force plates and contact mats, the Vertec has been shown to both over- and under-estimate jump height.

What is the Vertec jump test?

The Vertec jump test is a measure of vertical jump height that uses the Vertec device to measure performance. The test is extremely practical as it uses a simple device which is portable and can be used in a variety of settings to measure performance. To perform the test, the athlete must perform a maximal jump with either a single- or double-arm swing to reach the highest possible vane of the Vertec device (1).

However, the Vertec device has been shown to both underestimate (2, 3) and overestimate (4) performance when compared to a criterion device such as a force plate, contact mat, or a 3-camera motion analysis system. Therefore, the Vertec device may not be a reliable method for measuring lower-limb power and performance.

Application

Vertical jumps are often used as a measurement of lower-body power, and thus as an indirect measure of performance (5). Maximum jump height can provide key information about functional capacity and performance in many sports (6) and is considered an essential motor skill in a range of team sports; including soccer (7), basketball (8), volleyball (9), and handball (10).

As there appears to be a relationship between vertical jump height, 0-30m sprint times (5) and one repetition maximum (1RM) back squat strength (5), it may be a useful measure of performance. This relationship is likely due to the vertical force vectors by which all of these activities (vertical jump, sprinting, and the back squat) are characterised by.

This test may therefore be appropriate for assessing performance in a variety of sports such as handball, basketball, volleyball, Olympic weightlifting, American football, and football (soccer).

How do you conduct the Vertec jump test?

It is important for any testing procedure that the conditions remain consistent throughout the assessment session. All tests should be conducted in an environment in which the floor surface and weather conditions are consistent as these could directly affect the results, particularly for a Vertec jump test. Without a consistent environment to test, the results may not be reliable or valid and would, therefore, have to be disregarded.

Required equipment

To conduct the test, it is important to have the following:

*The Vertec device is comprised of plastic swivel vanes arranged in half-inch (1.25 cm) increments which are attached to a metal pole that can be adjusted to the athlete’s reach height. It requires the athlete to use their dominant hand to displace the highest possible vane with an overhead arm swing at the peak of their jump.

Testing procedure

Jump Displacement
If the athlete jumps forwards, backwards or sideways, the results can be affected. The athlete should, therefore, be instructed to jump as high as possible and land on the same spot. If the athlete deviates too far from this point (a landing area/ spot can be marked out), then the result should be disregarded and the jump repeated.

Once the test configuration has been set up and the athlete and assessor are ready, then the test may begin:

How do you score the Vertec jump test?

Jump height is determined by the difference between the athlete’s standing reach height and the highest vane displaced. The results of the test are reported in terms of jump height (cm/inch).

To ensure a valid and reliable result, it is good practice to take an average of the three jumps performed by the athlete. The following formula can be used to calculate the average jump height:

Alternatively, the best score (i.e. highest jump) out of the three jumps can also be used.

What can affect Vertec jump test scores?

Athletes’ jump height can be affected by a multitude of factors that should be considered when reviewing the results:

Is the Vertec jump test valid and reliable?

Vertical jump testing has been shown to be a valid and reliable measure of lower-body explosive power (5). However, there are doubts over the validity and reliability of the Vertec device as a measurement of vertical jump performance.

Compared to the Optojump system (1) and contact mat (4), the Vertec device has been shown to overestimate vertical jump height. In contrast to these findings, other studies have found that the Vertec device underestimates jump performance when compared to a force platform (considered as the ‘gold standard’) (2) and a 3-camera motion capture system (3).

Conclusion

As a result, it seems as though the accuracy of the Vertec jump test varies depending on the device it is compared to, the testing protocol used (single- or double-arm swing), and the population who perform it (e.g. trained vs untrained). The test also requires coordination of leg and arm movements together to achieve maximal jump height, meaning individuals who are untrained and/or unfamiliar with the test, may not be capable of producing accurate and reliable results.

Therefore, it is recommended that vertical jump heights measured using different protocols, and on different devices, are not used interchangeably.

References
  1. Muehlbauer, T., Pabst, J., Granacher, U., & Büsch, D. (2017). Validity of the Jump-and-Reach Test in Subelite Adolescent Handball Players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 31(5), 1282–1289. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000001607
  2. Buckthorpe, M., Morris, J., & Folland, J. P. (2012). Validity of vertical jump measurement devices. J Sports Sci, 30(1), 63–69. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2011.624539
  3. Leard, J. S., Cirillo, M. A., Katsnelson, E., Kimiatek, D. A., Miller, T. W., Trebincevic, K., & Garbalosa, J. C. (2007). Validity of two alternative systems for measuring vertical jump height. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research (Allen Press Publishing Services Inc.), 21(4), 1296–1299. https://doi.org/10.1519/R-21536.1
  4. Menzel, H.-J., Chagas, M. H., Szmuchrowski, L. a, Araujo, S. R., Campos, C. E., & Giannetti, M. R. (2010). Usefulness of the jump-and-reach test in assessment of vertical jump performance. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 110(1), 150–8. https://doi.org/10.2466/PMS.110.1.150-158
  5. Rodriguez-Rosell, D., Mora-Custodio, R., Franco-Márquez, F., Yáñez-García, J. M., & González-Badillo, J. J. (2016). Traditional vs. sport-specific vertical jump tests: reliability, validity and relationship with the legs strength and sprint performance in adult and teen soccer and basketball players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research / National Strength & Conditioning Association, 1. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000001476
  6. Bui, H. T., Farinas, M.-I., Fortin, A.-M., Comtois, A.-S., & Leone, M. (2014). Comparison and analysis of three different methods to evaluate vertical jump height. Clinical Physiology and Functional Imaging, (January 2016), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1111/cpf.12148
  7. Stølen, T., Chamari, K., Castagna, C., & Wisløff, U. (2005). Physiology of soccer: An update. Sports Medicine. https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200535060-00004
  8. Ziv, G., & Lidor, R. (2009). Physical attributes, physiological characteristics, on-court performances and nutritional strategies of female and male basketball players. Sports Medicine. https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200939070-00003
  9. Sheppard, J. M., Cronin, J. B., Gabbett, T. J., Mcguigan, M. R., Etxebarria, N., & Newton, R. U. (2008). Relative importance of strength, power and anthropometric measures to jump performance of elite volleyball players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 22(3), 758–765. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e31816a8440
  10. Kruger, K., Pilat, C., Uckert, K., Frech, T., & Mooren, F. C. (2014). Physical Performance Profile Of Handball Players Is Related To Playing Position And Playing Class. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research / National Strength & Conditioning Association, 28(1), 117–125. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e318291b713
  11. Harman, E. A., Rosenstein, M. T., Frykman, P. N., & Rosenstein, R. M. (1990). The effects of arms and countermovement on vertical jumping. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 22(6), 825–833. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2287261
  12. Payne, A. H., Slater, W. J., & Telford, T. (1968). The use of a force platform in the study of athletic activities. A preliminary investigation. Ergonomics, 11(2), 123–143. https://doi.org/10.1080/00140136808930950
  13. Shetty, A. B., & Etnyre, B. R. (1989). Contribution of arm movement to the force components of a maximum vertical jump. The Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy, 11(5), 198–201. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18796913

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Alexander Dear

Alex is currently studying for a Master of Science degree in Physiotherapy and working as a sports massage therapist. He is researching the effect of attentional focus on athletic performance and also has a MSc in Chemistry (1st Class Honours).

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