How Much Vertical Do You Need to Dunk at 5'11" with Short Arms?

At 5'11" (180 cm), you are right on the threshold of average height for recreational dunking. However, if you possess a negative Ape Index—meaning your wingspan is shorter than your height—your overhead standing reach is significantly reduced. So, how much vertical jump height do you actually need to dunk on a 10-foot rim?

The Short Arm Math Breakdown

Standing reach is determined by height, shoulder breadth, and arm length. A typical 5'11" male with a neutral wingspan (5'11") has an overhead standing reach of about 7'9" (93 inches). However, a 5'11" player with short arms (e.g. a 5'9" wingspan) will typically have a standing reach of only 7'6" (90 inches).

Let's run the exact height subtraction formula for a 10-foot rim (120 inches):

Comparing Short Arms vs. Long Arms at 5'11"

To see how much arm length impacts your required jump height, look at three different 5'11" athletes targeting a standard one-hand dunk:

As the table demonstrates, having short arms requires you to jump 6 inches higher than a 5'11" player with long arms. That is the difference between an average athletic leap and an elite Division I level vertical jump.

3 Actionable Training Tips for 5'11" Jumpers with Short Arms

1. Master 1-Foot Takeoff Speed: Running 1-foot takeoffs convert horizontal approach velocity into vertical height more efficiently for players needing 35"+ verticals.
2. Palming Strength: Since reaching with two hands demands 38 inches of vertical, work on hand grip strength so you can dunk single-handed with 36 inches.
3. Prioritize Rate of Force Development (RFD): Focus on heavy back squats paired with depth jumps to maximize your force output per millisecond.