Takeoff velocity around 8.5 m/s
The single biggest predictor of distance. Most 20-foot jumpers run a sub-12 100m and convert most of that speed to the board. If your takeoff velocity is under 8.0 m/s, sprint work is the highest-leverage investment.
20 feet (6.10 m) is the threshold from recreational long jumper to varsity HS-class. To get there you need a takeoff velocity around 8.5-9.0 m/s, a takeoff angle of 18-22 degrees, and a clean flight technique. Here is what each one looks like. Pair with the long jump takeoff and how to long jump farther breakdowns.
The single biggest predictor of distance. Most 20-foot jumpers run a sub-12 100m and convert most of that speed to the board. If your takeoff velocity is under 8.0 m/s, sprint work is the highest-leverage investment.
Most beginner jumpers take off at 12-15 degrees and crash into the pit. Hitting 18-22 degrees consistently adds 1-2 feet to most jumps. Drills: knee-drive bounds, low-box jumps.
The second-to-last step should be 3-6 inches lower than the takeoff step. This stores energy for the vertical punch. Most 20-foot leaks are penultimate errors, not flight errors.
Three levers control long jump distance: speed, angle, flight. AI form check measures all three on phone video and tells you which one is costing you the most distance. Train it, re-test, then move to the next.
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