How to Increase the Bounce on a Trampoline

Trampolines are used for recreation, fitness and sport. Whether you’re having fun in the backyard or taking part in an athletic competition, one trait all trampolinists share is a desire to bounce higher. Fortunately, there are some key adjustments that can be made that will give you a noticeable increase in the amount of bounce you get from your trampoline.

Use the largest trampoline you can find. The larger the surface area of the trampoline, the more the material will give when you jump into it. This allows for more recoil; trampoline recoil is the amount of upward force that is exerted when the trampoline bounces you back into the air. Large rectangular trampolines will have slightly more natural lift than smaller square or circular models.

Jump as close to the exact center as possible. The middle of the trampoline will be the point that has the greatest give, which also means it will have the greatest recoil, providing more bounce and lift when you come out of the jump. Jumping in the center of the trampoline will provide more bounce than jumping closer to the edge.

Focus the point of impact into as small of an area as possible. Spreading the jump impact over a wider area will decrease the amount of bounce the trampoline provides. For example, landing on the trampoline in a laying down position will distribute the force over a wider area, and produce less bounce than if you jump into the trampoline feet first, which focuses the impact into a smaller area.

Add more springs to your trampoline. Buying an anchor kit will allow you to add more 8.5-inch springs around the parameter of the trampoline, thereby increasing the amount of bounce the trampoline generates. Trampolines used in athletic competitions typically have 126 springs, are typically rectangular in shape and measure 17 by 10 feet. The average home trampoline has 84 springs and is round with a 12-feet diameter. Purchase an anchor kit from your local outdoor sporting goods store. Fasten on the end of the straps to the trampoline frame, and secure the opposite end to the ground, using the included ground spikes. Attach an 8.5-inch spring to the eye hole on the anchor kit, then place the opposite end of the spring into one of the trampoline eyelets.