Long Jump Approach Calculator

Step pattern and board contact from approach speed.

Approach run distance

Number of approach steps

Maximum sprint speed

m/s

Takeoff angle

Body height

Body mass

Tab to move between fields

Predicted Jump Distance

7.56 m

≈ 4 adult heights

Flight Distance6.66 m

Speed at Board9.22 m/s

Takeoff Speed8.02 m/s

Vertical Velocity2.87 m/s

Horizontal Velocity7.48 m/s

Flight Time0.89 s

Max COM Height1.35 m

Avg Stride Length2.11 m

Penultimate Stride2.32 m

Last Stride1.79 m

Takeoff Force2.4x BW

Step Frequency at Board5.14 Hz

Approach Run Time6.34 s

Acceleration Phase10.8%

Transition Steps3.6

Preparation Steps3.6%

How to Use This Calculator

Enter Approach run distance, Number of approach steps, and Maximum sprint speed.
Set Takeoff angle, Body height, and Body mass.
Review the Predicted Jump Distance result.
Use Flight Distance (m) and Speed at Board (m/s) to inform your decision.

How the result changes with Maximum sprint speed

Approach run distance: Total approach run distance (elite: 35-45 m, beginners: 20-30 m).
Number of approach steps: Total steps in approach run (elite: 18-22, beginners: 12-16).
Maximum sprint speed: Your top sprinting speed (elite: 10-11 m/s, HS: 8-9 m/s).
Takeoff angle: Takeoff angle (elite: 18-24°, higher = more vertical).
Body height: Athlete height for COM calculations.
Body mass: Athlete body mass.

Predicted Jump Distance: Estimated total jump distance from board to landing.
Flight Distance: Horizontal distance travelled during flight phase.
Speed at Board: Estimated approach speed at the takeoff board.
Takeoff Speed: Effective speed after takeoff conversion loss.
Vertical Velocity: Vertical component of takeoff velocity.
Horizontal Velocity: Horizontal component of takeoff velocity.
Flight Time: Time spent airborne.
Max COM Height: Peak height of centre of mass during flight.
Avg Stride Length: Average stride length during approach.
Penultimate Stride: Second-to-last stride length (longest stride).
Last Stride: Final stride before takeoff (shortest stride).
Takeoff Force: Average vertical force at takeoff in body weights.
Step Frequency at Board: Step frequency during final strides.
Approach Run Time: Estimated time for the full approach run.

Identify Input Parameters
4 parameters
Approach run distance = 38, Number of approach steps = 18, Maximum sprint speed = 9.5, Takeoff angle = 21 = 6 input(s) provided
Calculate Predicted Jump Distance
Predicted Jump Distance = flightDistance + boardOffset + landingGain
7.56 = 7.56
Calculate Flight Distance
Flight Distance = vx * tFlight
6.66 = 6.66
Calculate Speed at Board
Speed at Board = sprintSpeed * 0.97
9.22 = 9.22