How to Dunk a Basketball Off of Two Feet

Full-court buzzer-beaters aside, the slam dunk is the most exciting shot in basketball. Players of all ages idolize great dunkers like Dr. J., Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, and most dream about one day slamming the basketball through the hoop themselves. There are a wide variety of ways to finish a dunk, but they all begin with either a one-footed or a two-footed takeoff. The two-footed takeoff is more common.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Position yourself somewhere beyond the three-point line so you've got plenty of room for your running approach. You'll need to build up some speed to really explode into your dunk.
2. Approach the basket at an angle. Although dunkers occasionally drive straight down the paint in games, you'll have an easier time managing the dunk if you attack the hoop from an angle.
3. Take a large step with one of your legs about 6 feet away from the basket. This is your next-to-last step and must be larger than your approach steps to help transfer your body's horizontal momentum into a vertical leap.
4. Draw the basketball above your head using one or two hands. At the same time, step into the jump with your trailing leg and explode off of the ground.
5. Slam the basketball through the hoop. Depending the height you get during the jump, you might be able to throw in a tomahawk or a double-pump before finishing the dunk.

Tips & Warnings

• Experiment with your leading and trailing legs during the takeoff. The order of your steps has more to do with what's comfortable for you than whether you're right or left handed.
• Hold the ball with one hand to make reaching for the hoop easier.