Being a spectacular skill, most people want to learn how to dunk. Dunking a basketball might only come second to a buzzer-beater from beyond half-court in terms of awe. If you are short, you are significantly disadvantaged and would probably never dunk a basketball. Here are some tips to get you dunking for people of average height just at the cusp of the rim.

Get in shape

If you are not naturally gifted with height and have any intentions of dunking a basketball, you have to be reasonably athletic. Being physically fit can help you beyond just being able to dunk. Good cardio gives you the stamina needed to take on training and the muscular strength to lift your body high enough. Running, swimming, and lifting weights are good ways to get into shape. You can also run stairs or use a treadmill if you don’t like the outdoors.

Improve your vertical jump

Your height, reach, technique and vertical leap are all factors that determine if you can dunk or not. Of all these, your vertical leap is the one you can improve the most. Your vertical leap is how high you can jump up from the ground level regardless of your height. Plyometrics are a group of exercises that use explosiveness and speed to develop muscle power and reaction. They are a choice exercise for improving vertical leaps because extra equipment like weights can be used but is unnecessary. Squat jumps, box jumps, lateral bounds, depth jumps, and sprints are a few of the plyometrics that is sure to put power in your legs and improve your vertical jump.

The take-off

It is customary to approach the net from the left side if you’re right-handed. This maneuver makes it easier to put the ball into the hoop. In this case, taking off with one leg helps you achieve a more significant vertical leap. While many emphases should be placed on a proper take-off, the landing should not be neglected. Attempt to land sturdily on both feet always to avoid twisting an ankle. Do not drag down the rim, as your momentum can send you tumbling. Hanging is also strongly discouraged unless someone is directly beneath you.

Start small

With everything as regards dunking, start small. Start with a shorter rim to get the dunking movement down to a tee. Only when you can do it on a smaller hoop should you progress to the 10ft rim. This ball handling is essential for the perfect dunk. Without big hands, palming a basketball would be difficult for most people. Hence, start with smaller balls like a golf ball and slowly progress till you can conveniently palm a basketball during a dunk.

Get good shoes

While shoes will not magically get you dunking, a good pair can make it less daunting. Good basketball shoes can also offer injury prevention benefits as they wrap nicely around the ankle and have a sufficient cushion. This cushion helps with the consistent jumping required to learn how to dunk.

With dunking, consistency is vital. Being persistent is how you can see marked improvements. It is necessary to take time off when fatigued as this can affect your explosiveness and give you a false sense of failure. When you finally get the basic dunk down, you can try varieties like the two-handed dunk and the windmill.