The Drop Hop Test assesses single-leg reactive power and landing control after dropping from a height. It can help monitor unilateral plyometric readiness and side-to-side performance.
Bilateral drop jumps can hide limb differences. The Drop Hop Test increases demand by requiring the client to absorb and rebound on one leg, making it useful for later-stage rehabilitation and sport preparation.
Test name: Drop Hop Test
Purpose: Assess single-leg reactive power
What it assesses: Unilateral landing, rebound, contact time, hop height or distance
Equipment: Box, landing surface, force plate/contact mat/Hop MAT
Key finding: Hop height/distance, contact time or RSI if available
Best used with: Drop Jump, Vertical Hop, Single Leg Rebound
Key limitation: High demand; not suitable early in rehabilitation
The MAT page identifies the Drop Hop Test as a Power Testing assessment. In practice, the client drops from a box or marker and rebounds on one leg, with performance and control recorded.
It assesses unilateral reactive strength and landing-control capacity.
It may measure hop height, hop distance, contact time, RSI or landing control, depending on the setup.
Advanced rehabilitation clients, athletes, jumping athletes and clients preparing for return to sport.
Low box or step
MAT, Hop MAT, force plate or contact mat
Flat non-slip surface
Measurz or MAT
Optional video
Choose a safe drop height.
The client stands on the box.
They step off and land on one leg.
They rebound immediately into a hop or vertical rebound depending on the selected protocol.
They land with control.
Repeat on both sides with rest.
Record the chosen output consistently.
Record height, distance, contact time or RSI depending on equipment. Compare sides cautiously and prioritise safe landing and controlled rebound.
No universal normative values should be applied.
Reliability depends on drop height, surface, arm use, equipment and instructions.
Common errors include jumping off the box, collapsing on landing, excessive contact time, failing to rebound and testing before adequate readiness.
Use Drop Hop testing for late-stage plyometric progression, limb comparison and reactive power monitoring.
Record side, box height, output metric, contact time, RSI if available, pain, landing control, balance and confidence.
Single-leg reactive power and landing control.
Usually yes, because it is unilateral.
Yes. It strongly affects the result.
The Drop Hop Test is a unilateral reactive power test.
Use only when the client is ready.
Record drop height and landing quality.
Compare sides under identical setup.
Flanagan, E. P., & Comyns, T. M. (2008). The use of contact time and reactive strength index. Strength and Conditioning Journal, 30(5), 32–38.
Schilaty, N. D., Bates, N. A., Krych, A. J., & Hewett, T. E. (2020). Utility of single-leg vertical jump measures after ACL reconstruction. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 50(2), 71–77.
