Dunk Vertical Calculator: Vertical, Standing Reach, and Basketball Rim Height

I needed a dunk calculator because, at age 51, I set a goal to be able to dunk by my 52nd birthday. Yes, I understand, I need a different hobby. I had knee trouble during my last varsity high school basketball season. That, with a combination of weak hands and not much of a vertical leap to start with, ended my hopes of ever dunking.

There are a couple of dunk calculators out on the internet, but I was also interested in how to code one. So that is what I did. In this blog post, I’ll guide you through the ins and outs of the tool so you can calculate the vertical jump you will need for your first slam.

The Dunk Calculator: How It Works

The Dunk Calculator is easy to use and can provide spit out how many inches high your vertical jump will need to be to potentially dunk. Let’s break down the process step by step:

1. Measure Your Standing Reach: Stand next to a wall, raise your dominant arm, and mark the highest point you can reach with your fingertips. Measure the distance from the floor to this mark in feet and inches.
2. Input Standing Reach: Enter your standing reach measurements into the Dunk Calculator’s appropriate input boxes.
3. Specify Rim Height: Standard rim height is 10 feet (120 inches), but you can input a different value if you’re practicing on a non-regulation rim.
4. Extra Reach for Dunk: Estimate how many additional inches you need to reach above the rim to complete a successful dunk. This can vary depending on your hand size and dunk style. A good default value is 6 inches.
5. Calculate Vertical Leap: Click the “Calculate Dunk” button to discover your required vertical leap to touch the rim and dunk.

Troy Wallace

Troy Wallace is Certified Basketball Speed Specialist and shares his experiences in trying to stay as healthy as possible to stay on the court. He is active in coaching youth basketball in YMCA, Team Work Sports Nebraska, and, currently, in the Jr. Warriors program in Omaha, NE. Visit Troy's Full Author Bio Page or email him directly.

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