Dunking a basketball is perhaps the most difficult feat on a basketball court. While professional players make this look easy, they require high levels of athleticism and coordination to pull off this difficult task. If you able to just touch the net, you still have a ways to go before being able to slam dunk, but if you can touch the net with ease, you are probably close to being able to do it.
Step 1
Determine whether you can jump higher off one foot or two feet. The key to dunking is getting off the ground as high as possible, and people usually can jump a few inches higher off one foot rather than two, or off two feet rather than one.
Step 2
Work toward getting closer to dunking, starting with where you can reach on the net. The next step is to touch the rim, followed by trying to dunk a smaller ball. Once you can dunk a tennis ball, try dunking a volleyball before progressing to a basketball. Keep practicing this progression, which could take weeks -- if you ever reach the height necessary to slam dunk a basketball.
Step 3
Perfect your timing so that you reach the highest point of your jump at a point where you can dunk the ball. If you jump from too far away, you will have to throw the ball at the basket, rather than being able to flush the ball cleanly. If you jump from too close to the rim, it will be difficult to get up and over the rim from underneath.
Step 4
Finish the dunk by releasing the ball when it is entirely over the rim. Many people feel that if they can touch the net or rim, they are very close to dunking. In reality, you need to be able to get the entire basketball over the rim to be able to dunk the ball.
Tips and Warnings
- Stretch and strengthen your leg muscles to help you maximize the height on your vertical jump. Practice dunking on a hoop that is lower than 10 feet to perfect your form.
Things You'll Need
- Tennis ball
- Volleyball
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