High Powered Plyometrics [Paperback]

James C. Radcliffe (Author), Robert C. Farentinos (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2, 1999

Plyometrics is an essential part of strength and conditioning programs for the top athletes in nearly every sport. High-Powered Plyometrics provides the most systematic, comprehensive, and practical study of plyometrics available and can give you performance gains you never thought possible through 77 advanced exercises for explosive sports training.

This book gives you a complete plyometric-based training program that really works. No matter what your sport, the practical and effective training regimen presented will give you the greater speed and power components you need to succeed. Progressive training programs also allow you to adjust the level and intensity according to your needs.

High-Powered Plyometrics takes you step-by-step through high-level plyometric training, beginning with an understanding of the principles of how and why plyometrics works. It details proper training techniques and equipment, safety and injury prevention, and targeted training drills to develop your lower, middle, and upper body. You also get advanced tips to take you to the elite stages of training with discussions on periodization, long-term planning, and progression training. More than 350 photos-most presented sequentially-make the concepts, descriptions, and explanations easy to understand.

These principles have worked for hundreds of elite athletes, including intercollegiate and professional football and basketball players, world-class volleyball players and cross-country skiers, professional and Olympic cyclists, marathon runners, and athletes of all ages. They will give you the explosive power you need to compete at a high level in almost any sport. If you want to go beyond basic conditioning, High-Powered Plyometrics gives you everything you need to surge past the competition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

""Plyometric training is a crucial part of any strength and conditioning program. Real, long-term gains are possible if you're willing to put in the effort. For serious gains in explosive power, follow the exercises in" High-Powered Plyometrics."""
Gary Zimmerman
Denver Broncos (1993-97), Minnesota Vikings (1986-93)
Seven-time NFL Pro Bowl selection

""The depth and breadth of this book make it a must for both sports and conditioning coaches, as well as for anyone involved in reconditioning or rehabilitation. Its scientific basis and background are nicely complemented by its practical application.""
Robb Rogers
Director of Conditioning
St. Louis Blues
1996 NSCA National Coach of the Year

Review

"Plyometric training is a crucial part of any strength and conditioning program. Real, long-term gains are possible if you're willing to put in the effort. For serious gains in explosive power, follow the exercises in High-Powered Plyometrics."

Gary Zimmerman
Denver Broncos (1993-97), Minnesota Vikings (1986-93)
Seven-time NFL Pro Bowl selection

"The depth and breadth of this book make it a must for both sports and conditioning coaches, as well as for anyone involved in reconditioning or rehabilitation. Its scientific basis and background are nicely complemented by its practical application."

Robb Rogers
Director of Conditioning
St. Louis Blues
1996 NSCA National Coach of the Year

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 184 pages
• Publisher: Human Kinetics; 2nd edition (February 2, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0880117842
• ISBN-13: 978-0880117845
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #45,356 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #54 in Books > Medical Books > Medicine > Sports Medicine
  • #73 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Exercise & Fitness > Weight Training

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

55 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Start to Plyometrics, July 28, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: High Powered Plyometrics (Paperback)

High-Powered Plyometrics is an excellent book for those striving to achieve maximum power from their fitness program of choice. This book gives plenty of information about the human physiology, necessary to understand how the body reacts to physical conditioning. It then smoothly incorporates a detailed outline of the how's and why's that make plyometrics work. The authors of the book share their accumulation of research with the reader to grant him the ability of self-evaluation. This book is amazing, it even gives you outlines for building your own jump boxes from scratch, should you be inclined to do so.

You can learn a lot from this book, since there is a wealth of research thrown into this book. Though, I'd also recommend getting Jumping into Plyometrics, by Dr. Donald Chu, in addition to this book. Chu's book, in my opinion, is no better or worse than High-Powered Plyometrics. Both books have their advantages over the other. The main advantages: High-Powered Plyometrics has a lot more routines already outlined for specific sports; Jumping into Plyometrics has outlined routines involving complex training (basically, Plyometrics + Weight Lifting).

Good luck in your quest for power.

47 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Beware Beginners, November 15, 2004

By 

Mos Nef "Mos Nef" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: High Powered Plyometrics (Paperback)

I purchased this book because I am familiar with plyometrics, having done them years ago in high school athletics. But, I am an adult now, and wanted to reacquaint myself with some plyometric exercises to give me an edge in my running.

I found this book was a bit too inaccessible for me, and ended up returning it. It's very technical and scientific, even to me-- and, I consider myself pretty knowlegeable in terms of exercise, running and fitness.

If you already use plyometrics and are looking for some new ideas, this is probably for you. It relies on several props that may not be avaialble for someone who is a fitness enthusiast, but is not a full time athlete. If you are just taking up an interest in plyometrics, I would not buy this book as my first. (For the novice, I would recommend Chu's "Jumping Into Plyometrics," instead.) The book boasts "77 Advanced Exercises" on the cover, and the key word here is indeed, "advanced."

In short, this book is for professional athletes and coaches, not for someone just getting his/her feet wet in this very beneficial form of training.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great introductory plyometric book, November 28, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: High Powered Plyometrics (Paperback)

This book is worth the price ($14) alone just for the plyometric routines in the back of the book. The description and science behind plyometrics are excellent and easy to read. My only complaint about the book is that some of the exercises are hard to grasp from the given instructions.

I knew of several lower body plyometric moves, but the amount of upper body ones in the book are impressive. You will need a medicine ball for most of the upper body ones, as well as plyo boxes for some of the lower body ones, but in the book they show you how to make them. This is a definite plus. I also like the suggested readings in the back, which will help if I ever need to go more indepth into a certain aspect of plyometrics.

Overall, this book is worth the money, and will help you in any sport, to become more explosive. Just make sure to study the instructions on the moves carefully, to make sure you are doing them right.