Accuracy of a vertical jump contact mat for determining jump height and flight time.
Several devices are available to measure vertical jump (VJ) height based on flight time, VJ reach height, or ground reaction forces. The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy of a VJ mat for measuring flight time and VJ height compared with a VJ tester or a force plate. Seventeen men and 18 women (X ± SD; age = 20.9 ± 0.7 years, height = 176.1 ± 0.9 cm, weight = 72.6 ± 13.5 kg) served as subjects. Subjects performed counter-movement vertical jumps while standing on both a force plate (1,000 Hz) and a VJ mat. A Vertec VJ tester was used to measure jump reach. Compared with the force plate, the VJ mat reported greater VJ height (VJ mat = 0.50 ± 0.12 m, force plate = 0.34 ± 0.10 m) and flight time (VJ mat = 0.629 ± 0.078 seconds, force plate = 0.524 ± 0.077 seconds). Comparison of VJ heights from the VJ mat and the Vertec revealed no significant differences (Vertec = 0.48 ± 0.11 m). Regression analyses indicated strong relationships between testing methods and suggested that high VJ performances may be underestimated with the VJ mat. This particular VJ mat compared favorably with the Vertec but not the force plate. It seems that the different flight times derived from the VJ mat may permit the VJ mat to be in closer agreement with VJ heights from the Vertec. Also, the VJ mat may not be an appropriate tool for assessing high VJ performances (i.e., ≥0.70 m; ≈28 inches). Practitioners and researchers using similar VJ mats may not obtain accurate flight times and may underestimate high performers.
1Neuromechanics Laboratory, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas; 2Department of Athletics, Oral Roberts University, Tulsa, Oklahoma; 3Research and Coaching Performance Team, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas; 4Department of Athletics, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas; and 5Department of Athletics, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina.
Tyler D
TD
Whitmer
Andrew C
AC
Fry
Charles M
CM
Forsythe
Matthew J
MJ
Andre
Michael T
MT
Lane
Andrea
A
Hudy
Darric E
DE
Honnold
D054874:Athletic Performance; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D005430:Floors and Floorcoverings; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult