The Purpose of Wingspan Measurement In Sport
- JUSTIN LEONARD
- Jul 19, 2019
- 1 min read
Updated: Apr 2
What is the purpose of wingspan measurement in sport?
Human wingspan is a predictor of athletic ability. It is especially advantageous in sports that involve the use of the arms, such as football, basketball, or golf.
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Scientists use biometric and physical performance data to determine athletic potential in sports. Examples might include the following:
1) A person's standing height
2) How high a person can jump
3) Hand size (length and span)
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.
In sports, this means that 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, we would need to assess other factors such as wingspan and maybe even hand span to better predict the likelihood of athletic performance.
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