But a new sneaker company called Athletic Propulsion Labs offers an alternative -- a pair of sneakers that they claim can add 3-4 inches to the vertical leap of a typical rec league player, with even greater benefits to the elite athletes that play Division I and NBA ball.
The so-called "Concept 1" sneakers feature a "load and launch pad" in the forefoot which "compresses (The “Load” phase) and then releases (The “Launch” phase) as the athlete exerts force on the front of the foot." Imagine a very small, flat pogo stick under the ball of your foot and you've got the general ideal.
Sounds like something Wile E. Coyote would have tried when tracking the Road Runner, but apparently they do work. CNBC's Darren Rovell and Sports Illustrated's Chris Ballard both gave the "Concept 1" kicks a try and reported a noticeable difference. I've not seen either gentleman play, but it seems fair to say neither rivals Nate Robinson when it comes to hops.
But are they worth the money? The Concept 1s are priced at $300 a pair -- which is a good deal more than the average rec leaguer spends on top-of-the-line sneakers. That said, I imagine a fair number of said rec leaguers would be willing to drop three bills if it meant they could hang on the rim like Al Harrington drawing a technical, or swat away shot attempts like Dikembe in his prime.
An extra inch or two on the vertical could make an even bigger difference to a pro, but there's no guarantee we'll see the effects in the NBA any time soon. The league's competition czars are reviewing the Concept 1, and there's a decent chance they'll be banned.
Athletic Propulsion Labs is probably hoping that happens. A ban would essentially back up their claims that the Concept 1s give ballers a significant advantage -- and increase sales exponentially.
