It is the most celebrated shot in basketball. It is the dream of the average player and it is an in-your-face “statement” that a good player makes to a defender. It is the slam dunk. We all know WHAT it is, and we all WISH we could do it. But how do you dunk a basketball?

Before We Start

Before an average player can start thinking about dunking, he should take an inventory and be realistic. How tall a person is and his athletic abilities are the two main factors that determine from the beginning if he will ever be able to dunk. Not to say that it’s not possible, but there are very few short players that will ever be able to dunk. In fact, an average sized person will have to have above-average abilities in order to be able to dunk. Be realistic in your goals. At the same time, don’t limit how high you can jump before you even try. Many people have made amazing increases in their vertical jumping ability. It will take hard work, but you can reap the rewards.

Things you should evaluate before starting:

1.) Is your height a problem? This won’t change. You CAN increase your vertical leap, but you still might never be able to dunk a ball. But, that is alright! You should develop other areas of your game.

2.) Are you carrying too much weight? By carrying more weight than you should, you are limiting yourself right from the start.

3.) What are your athletic abilities? Some people just have the “gift” of being able to jump. It can be developed as well, but understand where you are starting. Get a messurement of your vertical leap before you start. This will show how you are progressing.

4.) Are you in good physical shape? Jumping utilizes muscle groups from the entire body. Just having strong legs alone is not enough.

Let’s Get Started

Start by getting in the best overall shape you can be. This includes all other body parts as well as your legs. To ensure you can reach your ultimate jumping potential, you need to be in good overall shape. You use every part of your body while jumping, so it stands to reason that your entire body needs to be in shape. While this part of the process isn’t glamorous, it needs to be done. A strong foundation is needed in order to see the best results. Begin here and you will be rewarded down the road.

For the remainder of the article on How To Dunk a Basketball, see our website on How To Increase Your Vertical Jump.