Updated: Dec 20, 2025
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.
