Why do my fingers hurt when I dunk?
Sarah Smith
Published Jan 24, 2026
Wizards guard John Wall, the NBA's dunk contest champion this season, said the most intense pain comes if you misjudge the distance of your jump, causing your fingertips to meet the rim. “That really hurts bad,” said Wall, who recalled drawing blood under his fingernail after one such attempt.
Does dunking hurt your hands?
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.
Is dunking with one hand easier?
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.
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.
Can you dunk without touching the rim?
Many times, players opt to go up for a dunk but gently put the ball in the basket without touching the rim. Also not a dunk. If you remove your hands at the last second, that's called a layup, although Merriam-Webster defines a dunk simply as “throwing the ball into the basket from above the rim.” Not so.
15 related questions foundCan you dunk without palming ball?
Simple answer: Jump Higher.
You don't need to palm a basketball to dunk it; you just need to be high enough over the rim to throw it down.
How high is a basketball hoop?
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.
Should I jump off one or two feet?
Jumping with two feet has the potential to get you higher off the ground than jumping off one -- if you're an elite gymnast. Gymnasts can generate great momentum by, for example, sprinting and doing several back handsprings as they approach the jump.
What is the minimum height for dunking?
Standard: 6 feet 1inch – 6 feet 3 inches
This height allows you to dunk comfortably without having to go through too much vertical jump training. Many NFL football players are at this height, and they prove that they can jump better than basketball players.
How high does a 6 foot person have to jump to dunk?
If you are close to being 6-foot tall, dunking becomes a lot easier. 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).
Why do basketball players flex after dunking?
Basketball players hanging onto the rim (in its non-showboat or non-styling version) is a way to protect yourself when you are up in the air, off your feet from being knocked to the floor in a way that you could not control or could not recify and possibly land on your head.
What is dunke?
It comes from the Pennsylvania Dutch word dunke, meaning “to dip” or “to immerse.” Dunke is related to the Middle German dunken, which means “to duck” and is the basis of the word duck (the verb, not the animal).
Can you grip a basketball with small hands?
Small hands can make it difficult to grip and palm a basketball, especially if the leather is worn down, and players with small hands might find themselves losing control of the ball more while dribbling or passing. Even if you can jump high enough, small hands might keep you from dunking the ball.
How big is the average NBA players hand?
The average hand length of a 6'8" player in the NBA is around 8.9 inches. The average hand span for that height is around 9.7 inches. Royce stands at 6'8" but has the same hand size, both in span and length, as 7'1" Wilt Chamberlain. His hand span of 11.5 inches was the widest at the 2012 Draft Combine.
What is the secret to dunking?
Dribble toward the basket.
Take the allowed two steps while palming the ball in your dunking hand and controlling your approach. Jump from about 1 metre out from the rim. Leap from your plant foot, opposite your shooting hand, extend your arm to the rim, and drive the ball through the net. You can build up to it.
Who is the shortest dunker?
Top 5 Shortest NBA Players to Dunk
- Will Bynum (5 ft. 11 in.)
- Ty Lawson (5 ft. 11 in.)
- Allen Iverson (5 ft. 11 in.)
- Nate Robinson (5 ft. 9 in.)
- Spud Webb (5 ft. 7 in.)
Can Stephen Curry dunk?
Stephen Curry dunks. He tried a dunk during opening night of the 2021-22 NBA season against the LA Lakers but failed. 26 dunks in 13 years is 0.2% of his total field goals and he has never averaged more than 0.4% in a single season.