Glory days: Could you dunk? How old is too old to try again?
- Thread starter capitalcityguy
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I could dunk up until the age of 40 or so (I'm 6'2), but at that age, it took several attempts, a sticky basketball and very little if any dribbling.
Now I don't even think about it (44)
Now I don't even think about it (44)
When I was playing OL in college I could 2 hand dunk at 6'1 297 pounds.
Now almost 34 and a lot lighter I can slap backboard and thats it
Now almost 34 and a lot lighter I can slap backboard and thats it
I could barely dunk on rare occasions back in HS and early college. Then again I'm 6'4" and most thought I should be able to dunk easily. I think one of the most overlooked but important traits needed to play basketball or football is your hand size. I can't count how many times I would try to dunk and the damn ball will just clink off the back of the rim. Once in awhile I could dunk with two hands but really wasn't all that interested.
I've always thought that Fred looks like he has really long fingers especially for his height. I was looking at some of the NFL combine results like EJ Bibbs who was what only 6'2" but had 10" hand size. Most of the players were around that 9.5-10" size. I'm not really sure how they measure but I think mine are closer to 8".
I've always thought that Fred looks like he has really long fingers especially for his height. I was looking at some of the NFL combine results like EJ Bibbs who was what only 6'2" but had 10" hand size. Most of the players were around that 9.5-10" size. I'm not really sure how they measure but I think mine are closer to 8".
There is a mental aspect to it....no doubt.
I can remember in college after I finally dunked after years of trying to force it down only to have it pop out every time, and thinking how I couldn't believe how easy (relatively speaking) it had suddenly become. Yeah...a lot is technique and ability to explode to the rim (I was never able to palm a basketball but yet I was still able to one-hand dunk off the dribble) but having the confidence that you were going to take it above the rim and it would go in was a big part too. I think I gained a lot of that confidence by practicing on hoops set just a hair under 10'.
I'm thinking about getting a stand alone adjustable hoop for my daughter who is starting to get into basketball. Maybe this could be a way I could slowly progress "up the ladder" and see where that takes me.
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You shot the 3 ball like Georgios though!
I'm still bitter about that fast break bounce pass you led me under the hoop with, rather than throwing the lob for a dunk!
Made sure to attempt a dunk after my 30th this summer. Still threw it down at 6'2".
A co-worker I graduated with, age 43, went out and took on his neighborhood teens on the slam-jam. He dunked over one of them, talked some trash, and then went down flat on his back. He could not move for two weeks after!
I'm 6'4" and have long arms so that helps. I played semi-regularly up to 30 or so. Any dunk post college was not in a game for sure. Only did that once or twice "in my prime" if you can call it that. Always in the driveway or screwing around in a gym. And I won't claim lots of power.
The rim now is getting tougher and tougher every day...
Same here. I'm probably an inch or two taller than you. I can practically grab the rim from a standstill, but even in my heyday, barely be able to dunk a volleyball. :twitcy:
I'm about 6'4''. I can usually grab the rim when I'm empty handed. Put a basketball in my hands and somehow I can't even reach the net.
Of course that was 15 years ago or more. If I try it now I'm sure I'd mess up my back some how.
Of course that was 15 years ago or more. If I try it now I'm sure I'd mess up my back some how.
in High school I could touch the rim, now with 2 bad knees and multiple broken ankles one which needs fused... I cant hardly leave the ground...no joke. Not only that but Im scared to even try to jump full power. Im 30.
The last time I touched the backboard blocking a shot in college I broke my ankle and tore every ligament and tendon in the process....My last great jump.
The last time I touched the backboard blocking a shot in college I broke my ankle and tore every ligament and tendon in the process....My last great jump.
You shot the 3 ball like Georgios though!
I'm still bitter about that fast break bounce pass you led me under the hoop with, rather than throwing the lob for a dunk!
Made sure to attempt a dunk after my 30th this summer. Still threw it down at 6'2".
I was all about making the high percentage play!
Plus there were girls in attendance and I was looking out for you. They wouldn't have been impressed when I threw you an oop, only to see you end up getting stuffed by the rim. :smile:
I am 6-2, but have Woodburyesque short arms. Could dunk until about 32, but never with 2 hands. I am 38 now and still play bball some. I can get the ball over the rim but can't dunk it and when I try it feels like every joint, ligament and tendon from my elbow to my big toe are going to disintegrate.
I'm about 6'1" and I can still just touch the rim now (almost 43). In hs I once dunked a tennis ball, but never got closer than that. Never really tried real hard though.
How high above the rim do you need to get to dunk? I can reach 8' standing. 24" vertical touches the rim. Do I need to get to 36" or what?
I am suddenly interested in giving this a shot.
How high above the rim do you need to get to dunk? I can reach 8' standing. 24" vertical touches the rim. Do I need to get to 36" or what?
I am suddenly interested in giving this a shot.
In HS there was an elementary school near my house where they had a 9 footer. We used to get a bunch of guys and play dunk-back 21 with one of those mini-basketballs. Crazy fun. I could two hand 360 a mini-ball on a 9ft hoop.
On the 10 ft hoop with a normal ball I could do two hands fairly consistently and one hand all the time.
I am 6'4" with big hands.
On the 10 ft hoop with a normal ball I could do two hands fairly consistently and one hand all the time.
I am 6'4" with big hands.
Just to regress this thread back to the mean a bit... 5'8.5", 270 my senior year of high school. Short arms and small hands. I could grab net on a 10' hoop, but only dunk at like 8.5'. Got very close to dunking at 9' but never put one down. I was pretty strong, benched 285 and squatted 500 actually lifting the bar (not a calculated 1RM) but couldn't turn that into vertical.
Yeah, I think his situation is much different than yours, but it shows that training for a goal can be achieved. I think you might be able to, but it would probably just take dedication to the goal.
