How to slam dunk?
Daniel Moore
Published Jan 18, 2026
How to Master the Slam Dunk
- Become Explosive. Unless your standing reach height eclipses a dizzying 3m (the rim is 10ft off the floor) you'll need to have impressive jumping power and mechanics to make a dunk. ...
- Add Muscle. ...
- Swap in a Med Ball. ...
- Feel Your Balls. ...
- Start One-Handed. ...
- Bring the Net to You. ...
- Don't Grab the Rim.
How hard is it to slam dunk?
Difficult: 5′ 7″ – 5′ 9″
You'll then have a standing reach of around 7 foot 7 inches. That means you'll need to jump 29 inches to touch the rim. To dunk, you'll need to be jumping around 35 inches high, which would be considered impressive even in professional sports.
Is it possible to train to dunk?
It's really great to be able to dunk a basketball, to get yourself higher up than you thought possible. But the process of getting yourself in that kind of position is itself rewarding. Watching videos of other people who've tried this, a lot of them are attempting alley-oop dunks.
How do I get my first to dunk?
The two exercises I recommend starting with are the squat and the deadlift. Perform these with good technique and increase the weight over time as you improve. This will help your muscles produce the force needed for that first dunk.
Does dunking hurt?
Dunking is painful. There is a consequence for slamming one's hands, wrists and forearms against the rim. Falling from the sky takes its toll on the knees, endangers the ankles. That's not to mention the vulnerability of just being up so high.
25 related questions foundIs it easier to dunk off one foot or two?
Developing a one-handed dunk requires less vertical ability than a two-handed dunk, and, for most players, jumping off of one foot from a running start makes it easier to jump high enough to dunk. There are many things that you can do to work on your vertical leap.
How tall is an NBA rim?
Throughout gyms, parks, and driveways around the world, basketball hoops are almost always 10 feet (3 meters) off the ground. Some leagues for young children play on shorter hoops, but from junior high schools through the professional leagues, the game is played on hoops of the standard 10-foot height.
How hard is it to dunk at 5 10?
You'll need to jump roughly 24 inches to touch the rim and 30 inches to dunk a full sized basketball (assuming average arm length). … In this height range, very few people will be able to dunk without training their jump. However, with some training you will be able to dunk quite comfortably.
Was dunking illegal in the NBA?
While it became a standard move in the NBA by the 1970s, dunking was banned in the NCAA for nine years when Kareem Abdul-Jabbar became the first superstar to regularly dunk the ball. He dominated so thoroughly that officials decided dunking gave teams an unfair advantage.
Can you dunk 6ft?
To summarize, with a height of about 6 feet, you can dunk a basketball very quickly. But people of shorter height can still fully afford to dunk. Although that means you will have to go through more intense muscle training and vertical jumps. With effort and luck, you will likely dunk.
What percentage of people can dunk?
In fact, most people can't dunk, period. Of the 6 billion people in the world, probably only around 1 percent can dunk, will dunk or have ever dunked a basketball on a regulation-size hoop in their lifetime.
How can I dunk in 3 weeks?
Here's their routine: Complete 40 jump squats 3 days a week, resting for 3 seconds between each rep. In week 2, increase to 70 jump squats. During the third week, add 5 pounds of weight and continue to complete 70 reps. (Disclaimer: The high reps in this routine aren't good for men with knee issues.)
When was dunking illegal?
The first incarnation of the NBA Slam Dunk Contest was held during the half-time of the 1976 American Basketball Association All-Star Game. Dunking was banned in the NCAA and high school sports from 1967 to 1976.
Can the average person dunk?
(average vertical data was for ages 20-49, so assume people under 20 and older than 50 can't dunk). 100% us population x 50% of country is men x 14.5% of those men can dunk (low end would be 4%) x 50% is in the right age bracket to dunk = between 1% and 3.6% of Americans can dunk.
Why can short people jump high?
Shorter femur, better jumper
According to kinesiology professor Tim Anderson, it's a lever issue: When you jump, your thigh acts as a lever that propels body weight upward. A shorter thigh resists movement less than a longer one.
Do squats increase vertical?
Yes, building strength in the squat has been shown to increase vertical jump performance by 12.4% after only 8-weeks of squat training. When comparing the squat with other lower body exercises, such as the leg press, the squat is 3.5X more effective in increasing jump results.
Is the NBA rim 12 feet?
The rims have always been 10-feet high since James Naismith posted 13 rules for a game he called “Basket Ball” in a Springfield, Mass., YMCA gym in 1891.
How high can Lebron jump?
With his vertical leap reportedly measuring in at somewhere north of 40 inches (the NBA average is in the high 20s), King James is able to launch his 6-foot-8-inch, 250-pound frame with seeming ease.
Can you dunk if you can grab rim?
Many of the newer rims are breakaway, and will snap down if you grab onto it. If you want to have a chance at dunking, you should be able to snap the rim down like this with some consistency. Careful, though: If you grab the rim but can't get a grip, the momentum of your body could cause a violent spill.
Who is the smallest person to dunk?
More videos on YouTube
Of course, the best-known short NBA player to make fancy dunks is none other than Spud Webb. Spud Webb is only 5'7” tall and one of the shortest players in NBA history as well.
How do you properly jump?
Your arms should be long with a slight bend in your elbows. As you lower into your jumping position, allow your hands to travel behind your body. Your shin angle and torso angle should be relatively the same. Begin your upward movement by explosively pushing your feet into the ground to jump into the air.