The Purpose of Wingspan Measurement In Sport

What is the purpose of wingspan measurement in sport?

Human wingspan is a predictor of athletic ability. It is especially advantageous in activities that involve the use of the arms, such as volleyball, football, basketball, or golf.

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Athlete Wingspan Measurement Explained

Often, scientists will use biometric and physical performance indicators to determine athletic potential in sports. The following are examples:

1) A person's standing height

2) How high a person can jump

3) Hand size (length and width)

However, these factors alone don't quite tell us enough about the likelihood of a player out-jumping another player for a ball. In fact, it is usually the case that shorter athletes have greater relative vertical leap abilities than taller athletes.

Translation: what a person may lack in height could be offset by how high they can jump. So, in addition to vertical leap and standing height, a sports scientist would need to assess other factors such as wingspan and maybe even hand span to better predict the likelihood of athletic performance.