Can Blanka Vlasic dunk??

Again, I didn't say she couldn't dunk. I think she can. Just saying that just because you can high jump 6'10", it doesn't mean you can dunk.

Anne Donovan. 6'8". Never dunked.

Margo Dydek. 7'2". Never dunked.

Rebecca Lobo. 6'4". Never dunked.

Only 4 women have dunked in the WNBA. There are easily 3-4 times that many who are 6'4" or taller in the WNBA. And all but 4.... have never dunked.

And they're the ones who are trying to dunk. Dunking is not easy and Vlasic funking is NOT a given.

Barring extraordinary circumstances such as not having arms, anyone who can HJ 6'10 can dunk.

chikin wrote:

so high jump physics is the same as physics for dunking a basketball...

I'm not doubting she can dunk, she's 6'4". But the contention that dunking is a given for someone who can high jump 6'10" is not accurate.

Stones jumped 7'7". By your logic, since his c of m is at 7'7" with 2 feet extra in his body and 2 feet for his reach, he would be able to dunk 11'7".

Stones said he couldn't dunk. And I don't get physics...

If he could get his shoulders 7'7" in the air, his arms would only have to be 2'5" tall for him to reach up and touch the rim. He could easily dunk.

chikin wrote:

and Vlasic funking is NOT a given.

Yeah, she's not Amy Acuff at the Olympics.

Then why did Stones claim to not be able to dunk? Touching the rim does NOT mean you can dunk. I could touch the rim and never really had a chance to dunk.

Has anyone on here ever played basketball?!

and

chikin wrote:

Then why did Stones claim to not be able to dunk? Touching the rim does NOT mean you can dunk. I could touch the rim and never really had a chance to dunk.

Has anyone on here ever played basketball?!

but if you can touch the rim basically doing a backflip, i don't think youd have much trouble dunking after a few days of trying

Can anyone get a better source of Stones saying he couldn't dunk than an anonymous poster saying "I think I heard him say one time..."

Anyway, I had a teammate who jumped 7'0.25" and was about 6'4" ... during practice he would dunk medicine balls jumping off of flat feet. If she's his same height and can jump withing 2.5 inches of his HJ pr, there's no way she can't dunk. Sure, she might not be able to do it in a game or even off a dribble, but if you let here run with the ball and take a free approach there's no way you'll convince me she couldn't.

Amy Acuff must have really big hands

A couple of things some of you are missing. First, in at least the flop style your "center of mass" passes under, NOT over the bar, though at one time or another all of your body does travel over the bar. Second, HJers do not necessarily have good vert jumps. What they are good at is converting horizontal motion into vertical motion - perhaps the best example was Dwight Stones (and perhaps the best student of the event, and a 2 time OLY bronze medalist).

She can do WHATEVER she wants. She doesn't even have to ask me.

For everyone saying that she can dunk: How come so few WNBAers have dunked? Has any female collegiate basketballer ever dunked? To be honest, if Vlasic tried I wouldn't really be surprised with either outcome.

Already visited the WNBA argument. Only 4 women in the WNBA have dunked. Candace Parker dunked in college.... and that's all for the NCAA. These are the women trying to dunk. More would have if they were capable. The possibility Vlasic could dunk is slim but it is feasible. Her high jump ability does not guarantee that she can dunk.

Here's an interesting thread about this subject. Stones getting beat in the vertical by shot putters. Stefan Holm's vertical was 23". Check the post about transferring velocity into buoyant force. That might be the answer. Vlasic jumping up to dunk is very different than producing rotational movement for a high jump.

http://www.elitetrack.com/forums/viewthread/7314/P30/

chikin wrote:

Already visited the WNBA argument. Only 4 women in the WNBA have dunked. Candace Parker dunked in college.... and that's all for the NCAA. These are the women trying to dunk. More would have if they were capable. The possibility Vlasic could dunk is slim but it is feasible. Her high jump ability does not guarantee that she can dunk.

Sorry, forgot about Griner from Baylor.

Griner doesn't count - he is dude (just watch a youtube video of his, listen to his talk, trust me, there is no way that isn't a dude).

chikin wrote:

Anne Donovan. 6'8". Never dunked.

Margo Dydek. 7'2". Never dunked.

Rebecca Lobo. 6'4". Never dunked.

Only 4 women have dunked in the WNBA. There are easily 3-4 times that many who are 6'4" or taller in the WNBA. And all but 4.... have never dunked.

And they're the ones who are trying to dunk. Dunking is not easy and Vlasic funking is NOT a given.

Uh....that's in a game situation. Much different messing around in a gym. Not to mention, look at the body types of 6'4" Vlasic and 6'4" Lobo. Which one looks like they have better hops.

Amy Acuff dunked. She's shorter and can't jump as high as Vlasic.

Anyone suggesting that Dwight Stones couldn't dunk is being contrary or trolling. What did he high jump? 7'6" or something?

Yanqui wrote:

Amy Acuff must have really big hands

What's the worst thing about getting a HJ from Amy Acuff?