Plyometrics: A 50-Year-Old Training Secret for Explosive Power

Plyometrics may be new to recreational level athletes, but they're a proven method to train for speed and explosiveness, says Daniel Duane.

Smacking a tennis ball, leaping to grab a basketball rebound, sprinting hard — almost every athletic movement depends on explosive power. Professional athletes have long built that power through jumping, bounding, and throwing exercises known as plyometrics. Recently, the training method has made its way to the rec level, embraced by CrossFit gyms, boot camps, and high-end training facilities. That's because plyos provide far more than elite-level explosiveness. Read more