Author Topic: LR vs RL plant for Dunking (Read 31006 times)

Jon · « **on:** February 12, 2011, 05:46:32 pm »

This is more of a general question for everyone. If you could choose which one would you go with in relation to dunking (being right handed).

My natural jump is a LR plant. Without the ball I jump exactly the same with both plants although my RL is definitely less coordinated. When Im dunking I get ~2-3" lower RL and the coordination is even worse. My right leg is definitely stronger then my left so in the back of my mind im always wondering:

If I never practice RL jumping, but still get the same height without the ball, coupled with the fact that I have a stronger right leg, coupled with the fact that I can handle a higher approach speed RL would it be a good idea to put in the work and make the switch before I start jumping/dunking in the summer? (Im thinking of practicing submax jumps, approaching/planting without jumping, and some other drills).

It also seems that for right handers most people believe RL looks better... What do you guys think?

Raptor · « **Reply #1 on:** February 12, 2011, 05:59:07 pm »

I agree with what you say... I naturally plant LR, do depth jumps LR etc, but I like to jump RL. It feels "nicer". I have a weaker right leg though. Or, I think so.

Dreyth · « **Reply #2 on:** February 12, 2011, 07:56:04 pm »

I'm in the same boat as raptor. I've never dunked RL, but I think I could have if I practiced. But I don't think it's worth for me making the switch because my left leg is both stronger and more elastic (since I used to be a one legged jumper). I wish I were better at RL naturally

Raptor · « **Reply #3 on:** February 13, 2011, 05:05:42 am »

There are a handful of LR dunks that if you do right, they look cool. Take a look at Myree Bowden or AUT for examples. Heck, even Kobe.

Jon · « **Reply #4 on:** February 13, 2011, 11:37:01 am »

That always seems to be the case, both of you guys and everyone Iv talked to that plant LR have a stronger left leg.

While I have a stronger right leg to the point where I jump 2-3" higher SLVJ then I do off my left, and I almost never practice jumping off my right. It seems as if making the switch to a RL plant might be an option worth exploring for myself.

Raptor · « **Reply #5 on:** February 13, 2011, 11:44:55 am »

Yes it does. I want you to pay attention to your defensive stance, to how you set yourself feet wise to push a heavy object (a car for example), off what leg do you depth drop, with what leg you kick etc. These are all good indicators of what is the "control" or "rotation" leg.

For example, when I defend in the defensive stance, I am positioned in a LR stance so my right arm is forward so I can jump for a block with my right arm forward. When I'm to push a car, I put my left foot forward so I can drive on it, so basically that's also a LR stance. When I depth drop, I drop off the box from the right leg. When I kick, I use my right leg to kick so the left leg is used as a rotation leg (same as in a LR plant).

Like I said, these are good indicators of what your body automatically prefers.

Jon · « **Reply #6 on:** February 13, 2011, 01:23:06 pm »

Pushing a Heavy object - Right foot forward
Depth Drop - Drop off Right Leg
Kick - Right leg (not because I balance off my left leg, much more power/coordination available on my right leg)
Starting sprint stance - Right Leg forward
Life or Death 1 foot jumping leg - Right leg

I also have fairly minimal knee bend + gct which leads me to believe my right leg isnt being used to its full potential.

Raptor · « **Reply #7 on:** February 13, 2011, 01:41:12 pm »

Pushing and sprint stance are pretty indicative you "should" plant RL...

Sean0013 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 14, 2011, 06:24:34 am »

wtf....i'm the complete opposite...
I do everything with my left leg..in terms of one foot jumping i'm waaaaaaaaay smoother off my left leg...probably 'cos i've been doing that for years tho..most right handed ballers I know are left leg jumpers...

Raptor · « **Reply #9 on:** February 14, 2011, 08:05:18 am »

The only right handed guy I know that's jumping from his right leg when dunking is JR Smith...

Jon · « **Reply #10 on:** February 14, 2011, 08:24:05 am »

Yea I know it's weird. I grew up playing soccer - almost all right leg, didn't play basketball at all till I was 18 (22 now), and never attempted jumping till I was 19 so those things could be contributing factors.

Raptor - another guy is jrue holiday. He definitely favors his right leg by a mile but yea not too many.

Raptor · « **Reply #11 on:** February 14, 2011, 08:33:48 am »

Quote from: Jon on February 14, 2011, 08:24:05 am

Yea I know it's weird. I grew up playing soccer - almost all right leg, didn't play basketball at all till I was 18 (22 now), and never attempted jumping till I was 19 so those things could be contributing factors.

Raptor - another guy is jrue holiday. He definitely favors his right leg by a mile but yea not too many.

If you kick with your right leg in soccer, then you rotate on the left leg to kick exactly as in a LR plant. So your natural plant should be LR. However, trying to touch something over head might change the mechanics a bit...

Jon · « **Reply #12 on:** February 14, 2011, 08:58:58 am »

Well iv been thinking about this on and off for 2 years. I think I'm going to go rl and see how it pans out. Seeing as I jump exactly the same rl/lr without the ball while never practicing my rl, the worst case scenario is getting the same air with better looking dunks (my opinion lol).

Ill start jumping/dunking mid-late may. I'll include the exercises I'll be doing to change it on my journal, starting today. $:-\$

LBSS · « **Reply #13 on:** February 14, 2011, 10:42:27 am »

Pushing a Heavy object - Right foot forward
2-foot jump plant - LR
Kick - Left leg
Starting sprint stance - Right leg forward
1 foot jumping leg - Right leg

I'm right handed and jump much higher off my right leg than my left. Also, my handle (such as it is) is much better with my left hand than with my right. When I do jumps at the rim I reach with my left hand, because my shoulder is higher on that side so I can reach higher.

The differences are huge, too. I was never much of a soccer player but when I'm messing around left leg is a lot more powerful and a LOT more dexterous (see what I did there?) than right. Even popping a basketball up to myself off the ground, left foot is automatic. Dribbling with my left hand is MUCH more comfortable than with my right hand, although admittedly I suck at both. LR plant is probably twice as good as RL plant, shit just gets awkward when I try to go RL. Sprint isn't quite so much of a difference in terms of which foot starts forward, but in a race I would definitely do right foot forward.

Interesting thread.

Jon · « **Reply #14 on:** February 14, 2011, 10:58:13 am »

Quote from: LBSS on February 14, 2011, 10:42:27 am

Pushing a Heavy object - Right foot forward
2-foot jump plant - LR
Kick - Left leg
Starting sprint stance - Right leg forward
1 foot jumping leg - Right leg

I'm right handed and jump much higher off my right leg than my left. Also, my handle (such as it is) is much better with my left hand than with my right. When I do jumps at the rim I reach with my left hand, because my shoulder is higher on that side so I can reach higher.

The differences are huge, too. I was never much of a soccer player but when I'm messing around left leg is a lot more powerful and a LOT more dexterous (see what I did there?) than right. Even popping a basketball up to myself off the ground, left foot is automatic. Dribbling with my left hand is MUCH more comfortable than with my right hand, although admittedly I suck at both. LR plant is probably twice as good as RL plant, shit just gets awkward when I try to go RL. Sprint isn't quite so much of a difference in terms of which foot starts forward, but in a race I would definitely do right foot forward.

Interesting thread.

As far as the dribbling goes, Im exactly the same. If given the opportunity I will drive with my left hand + go left 100% of the time. Also breakaway/wide open layups I will go off my right foot and lay it up with my left hand 100% of the time. $:-\$

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Author Topic: LR vs RL plant for Dunking (Read 31006 times)

Jon

LR vs RL plant for Dunking

Raptor

Re: LR vs RL plant for Dunking

Dreyth

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Raptor

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Jon

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Raptor

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Jon

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Raptor

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Sean0013

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Raptor

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Jon

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Raptor

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Jon

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LBSS

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Jon

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