How to Measure Your Punching Reach

Like a basketball center's height, a fighter's reach is a crucial attribute that cannot be changed. The reach is a measurement used to estimate how far a fighter's fist extends when he throws a punch. A fighter with a long reach can punch his opponent from a distance where his opponent cannot reach him. Knowing the measure of your reach can show how you will stack up against other fighters.

Things You'll Need

  • Pencil
  • Measuring tape
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Instructions

    • 1

      Stand with your back to a wall and stretch your arms, with your palms facing out as far out as they will go horizontally. Use a wall that you do not mind marking with a pencil.

    • 2

      Make pencil marks on the wall at the tip of each middle finger. This is more accurate and more easily done if the marks are placed by another person; you may shift position slightly if you reach over to mark your opposite hand's finger position, resulting in an incorrect measurement.

    • 3

      Measure the distance between the pencil marks. This is your reach.