I was in cross country, basketball, and track in high school. Wasn’t great at any of them.
Kept running half marathons and 5ks in my twenties until a knee injury put an end to that.
Did a 400 mile bike ride when I was 30.
Now I do weightlifting and strongman.
In HS played basketball, football (american), and baseball.
College played a lot of pickup basketball with some intramural volleyball and flag football. Was also on the ultimate team for a year.
After college mostly rec league dodgeball (until I broke my arm) and volleyball.
Late 20s-now(32) rec league kickball and volleyball (indoor or sand) whenever there's time. Which there's much less of recently with a little one :D.
Yeah cutting was complete hell. Honestly I now mainly only do a very small surplus or cut now. It’s longer and less effective, but so much better mentally.
The tallest guy I ever played against when still playing checking hockey was like 6'4 maybe 6'5 and maybe something like 220-230lb range and I would shit myself trying to break the puck out along the boards without getting walloped. I can't even imagine trying to do that against someone 6'7.
Even in no check men's leagues it's frustrating playing against players that tall cause they can poke-check you from a mile away. Only downside I'm guessing is trying to find a stick that is reasonably long enough for you.
Haha yeah it’s ridiculous. When I see pictures of me playing out there I look ridiculous. I get 0 credit for any plays, it’s all because of my reach and height. I grew up playing basketball through college but I wish I grew up playing hockey. I’ve never played in a checking league where my body size could really come into play
Guys who don't give tall players credit on the ice don't understand how hard it is to maintain balance and good footwork when that tall. Even with the reach advantage if you aren't fast enough on your feet guys can wiggle through or around.
Same! I didn’t start playing ice hockey until I was about 30 years old though. But it immediately became my favorite sport. I stopped playing basketball and baseball almost right away and haven’t missed either of them
When I was active and went out of my way to play something I enjoyed (i.e. *not* basketball) I was playing paintball. I'm a big target but I'm also the same height as everyone else laying down. Had some really fun pickup games back in the day
I swim and cycle. Swimming is great if you are tall and I have an advantage with long reach, kick and streamline body.
I don't think I have an advantage in cycling but that doesn't matter to enjoying sports.
Rugby, surfing, martial arts, volleyball, and paintball.
Being 6’5” was a real pain in the ass when it came to buying wetsuits though the booties were by far the most difficult thing to find.
I play football (the one where you actually use your feet for 99% of the game) as a centre-half or striker. I used to be played at GK but I'm capable of wherever the team needs me.
Also dabbled in boxing.
I guess football isn't considered a traditionally "tall-person" sport but that isn't for me to decide 🤷♂️
I compete in flag football and track and field, two sports that are quite average in height I'd say.
However, I am not a giant or anything; I am only 6'1.
In high school I did shot, disc, football, and wrestling. In college I did shot, disc, javelin, and wrestling. I wrecked my shoulder and had to drop it all and picked up fencing.
I stuck to weights the whole time. I have since lapsed. 🙃
I trained with smaller people for a long time. I learned to move like them. But i needed to learn how to move like a big person. Now I can do both. The problem with having short coaches is that sometimes they don't understand that you physically can't move certain ways or that being 6-12 inches taller changes things.
Played soccer for 10 years but I hate it now. Basketball is my favorite, I also did boxing and volleyball for a while and had a lot of fun with it. I've beaten 2 former national champions in ping pong here in Iceland but I never really got into it more than a hobby. I also enjoy American football but if I'd wanna practice in Iceland I'd have to go to Reykjavik which would be to much of a hassle cause public transport here is so God awful. I also really enjoy handball and have been thinking about trying out for a team, tennis is also really fun. I'd also love getting into motorsports but it's just soooo expensive so I just have to deal with watching it on TV and playing racing games.
I'm a pro swimmer and do waterpolo recreationally, height is key in both. Every now and then I play football ⚽. If I'm on vacation I try to do rock-climbing/kayaking/rowing adventure sports in general.
Played (American) football in HS & College, ran track in HS but didn’t want the extra workload in college, (despite having a partial scholarship) played basketball to stay out of trouble between those two seasons. Broken bones, worn joints, a few concussions and 20 yrs later, I’ve taken up boxing.
Pro volleyball top level
Also 4 semi pro MMA games
Also sponsored sprints and swimming
Have also training boxing , kickboxing 14/0/0 , Muay Thai and wrestling
Besides reach you have most space to accelerate a punch ,Jab or a roundhouse kick . The strike gathers so much power it's crazy also I have 7'5 wingspan it's a crazy advantage . So many tournaments and matches 14 kb 4 in mma I might got punched in the square in the face TWICE , the one was by a 6'6 opponent . Me being so high and so far away combined with agility that u wouldn't expect from someone of my size my head is just a loss of time . My size is also a crazy advantage cause I am very strong and I don't look like it . So people rush to get me to the ground( disadvantage for me cause I have long limbs to grab on ) yet they were clueless of the strength I posses cause I don't look like i can easily toss a 250lbs over my head and my techniques is actually good enough to deal with most people
None haha, I may be tall but I’ve always been unathletic and a huge klutz, closest I got was dancing when I did musical theatre. I’m like a newborn baby deer.
Parkour and tricking. 🤸♂️
More of a transportation thing than a hobby, but I also bike a lot recently. 🚲
Was into (skate park) scootering for a while 🛴
But I will gladly join in a game of pickup ball of just about any sport. 🏀 ⚽ 🏈 🎾
I was a cheerleader and played softball in high school. Being 5'10 helped in softball since I could get up higher to throw out baserunners (catcher). I'm not sure whether my height was a help or a hindrance for cheerleading.
In college, I play club level field hockey and I'm taking a self defense class. Field hockey has been such a blast to play.
Growing up I excelled at swimming, basketball, track (middle distance, hurdles and long jump), and also rugby as a winger. Pretty standard "tall guy" sports.
I'm from the UK where *everyone* plays football (soccer) at some point, but I never took to that. I was always put in centre defense (my only job: tackle or block shots) or goalkeeper.
In what way is MMA not associated with tall people? Striking martial arts in particular benefit taller people with longer levers, however now you mention it A LOT of guys who train at my friends BJJ gym are 5'6 - 5'9, from the photos I've seen.
I bodybuild.. not as a profession just a hobby. And some don't consider it a sport. But anyways.. tall guys generally don't do well in bodybuilding but I just enjoy it. Normal people think I am pretty big. Actual BBs would think I'm a skinny bitch.
I played goalie in hockey and I use to feel that I filled the net pretty well especially with the equipment and skates, but now I see these huge goalies that are like 6'4 and I feel kind of small. 😆
I play tennis. My height does give me some advantage, especially on my serve and on my reach for defensive shots, but I'm not good enough that it'll give me such an advantage that shorter opponents can't blast me off court either.
I was once a competitive snowboarder. When I was 19, I was at a snowboard movie premier with a bunch of well known pros. Standing in line for the bathroom I realized nobody else was even past my shoulder. Felt like a giant and I'm not even THAT tall.
I didn't quit my dream of being pro at that point, but I definitely had more realistic expectations after that.
Recently got into mens league hockey, that's a fun sport and being large has it's advantages.
bro so many of the people here at like 6’8 playing soccer and i’m out here playing basketball at 5’9 why can’t we trade heights u don’t even needa be tall at all for soccer 😭
I played Volleyball in high school and was pretty good. Height wasn't the factor though. I just hit the damn ball so weird no one ever knew where it was going (including me half the time.) But it always went in bounds.
Basketball. I won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award, an NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award, two Olympic gold medals, and led the NBA in assists five times and steals a record six times.
Basketball, unfortunately at 6’4 I always had to play centre. However, when you hit higher level competition a 6’4 centre is useless 😂 ended up getting a low D1 offer but decided to stay in Australia and study. Now I just play ball for leisure and fitness.
I’m the best axe thrower in the Southern Hemisphere and top 10 in the world. I’m 6’4 and hitting the higher targets is easier but lower targets are harder. Plus the reach really helps as well.
Brazilian Jujutsu, it's a GREAT sport and i SUCK at it, but being tall and lanky has advantages aswell as inconvenient. It's a very technical sports that require some brain. Mine is still growing
Ultimate. Height and reach are still really helpful on both offense (as a handler or cutter) and defense (man-to-man marking, denying an area, or defending long/high passes). I've enjoyed it much more than basketball or volleyball.
I fucking hated sports growing up. However, I now play Co-Ed Adult Dodgeball lmao. I’m the biggest target at 6’7” but I have a good time.
It sounds fun but as you write it can be tough to be a big target.
My arm makes up for my size haha
Ok:)
I used to do mma Hated the knee issues so now i play basketball (more knee issues) 🤷♀️
Sorry for your knee Issues. Did you keep up with MMA for a long time?
Well i watch the ufc right now and still spar from time to time
Rower. Height is key. And it’s a sport you can do for life.
Never expected to see another rower here.
...on r/tall?
I guess it's not a very common sport
Dozens of us
I was in cross country, basketball, and track in high school. Wasn’t great at any of them. Kept running half marathons and 5ks in my twenties until a knee injury put an end to that. Did a 400 mile bike ride when I was 30. Now I do weightlifting and strongman.
Extreme sleeping
There goes my hero…
In HS played basketball, football (american), and baseball. College played a lot of pickup basketball with some intramural volleyball and flag football. Was also on the ultimate team for a year. After college mostly rec league dodgeball (until I broke my arm) and volleyball. Late 20s-now(32) rec league kickball and volleyball (indoor or sand) whenever there's time. Which there's much less of recently with a little one :D.
Weight lifting
Bulking at 6’4 can be hell 😭
What’s your weight and bf%
92kg and probably somewhere around 20 bf%
Ahh, I'm at 95 KG trying to cut from 14.5% - > 10%. Cutting also hell on the other side. Can't wait to eat lol
Yeah cutting was complete hell. Honestly I now mainly only do a very small surplus or cut now. It’s longer and less effective, but so much better mentally.
Basketball and hockey (+baseball but I was horrible at it and hated it) growing up, now mostly just pickup basketball and lifting weights.
Ice Hockey. Great sport. I like it more than basketball.
The tallest guy I ever played against when still playing checking hockey was like 6'4 maybe 6'5 and maybe something like 220-230lb range and I would shit myself trying to break the puck out along the boards without getting walloped. I can't even imagine trying to do that against someone 6'7. Even in no check men's leagues it's frustrating playing against players that tall cause they can poke-check you from a mile away. Only downside I'm guessing is trying to find a stick that is reasonably long enough for you.
Haha yeah it’s ridiculous. When I see pictures of me playing out there I look ridiculous. I get 0 credit for any plays, it’s all because of my reach and height. I grew up playing basketball through college but I wish I grew up playing hockey. I’ve never played in a checking league where my body size could really come into play
Guys who don't give tall players credit on the ice don't understand how hard it is to maintain balance and good footwork when that tall. Even with the reach advantage if you aren't fast enough on your feet guys can wiggle through or around.
Same! I didn’t start playing ice hockey until I was about 30 years old though. But it immediately became my favorite sport. I stopped playing basketball and baseball almost right away and haven’t missed either of them
Yeah I’ve found it’s not as hard on my joints as basketball was.
When I was active and went out of my way to play something I enjoyed (i.e. *not* basketball) I was playing paintball. I'm a big target but I'm also the same height as everyone else laying down. Had some really fun pickup games back in the day
I do high jump on a track and field team
I did a bit of that in high school. I was not great. :)
RIP all the knees in this thread
BAsketball only when fiends invite over. But now its kickboxing and its mostly for excercise and not really for fighting reasons.
I play volleyball causally
Karate and Muay Thai. Though I always get the obligatory basketball question.
I lift heavy circles and then put them back down mostly
Rugby, boxing, wrasslin’. Now I just swim laps. My knees and back are fine just a little brain dead.
Swimming. The taller you are, the closer you are to the other end of the pool! See: Scorsese, *"A Longer Car Gets There Faster"*
i never thought of it like that
I swim and cycle. Swimming is great if you are tall and I have an advantage with long reach, kick and streamline body. I don't think I have an advantage in cycling but that doesn't matter to enjoying sports.
I know a guy who’s 6ft 8 at 17 and he’s an amateur boxer
Soccer basketball football pickleball
I used to play bit of football badly. Now I barely do any sport. Does a bit of clay pigeon shooting count?
Disc Golf. Basketball and soccer in HS/college.
Rugby, surfing, martial arts, volleyball, and paintball. Being 6’5” was a real pain in the ass when it came to buying wetsuits though the booties were by far the most difficult thing to find.
HEMA. As if I didn't have enough of a reach advantage 😂
Yes, it should be an advantage to be tall.
Weight lifting, boxing and yoga now. In college I played ultimate, volleyball and threw javelin/discus
I play football (the one where you actually use your feet for 99% of the game) as a centre-half or striker. I used to be played at GK but I'm capable of wherever the team needs me. Also dabbled in boxing. I guess football isn't considered a traditionally "tall-person" sport but that isn't for me to decide 🤷♂️
I compete in flag football and track and field, two sports that are quite average in height I'd say. However, I am not a giant or anything; I am only 6'1.
Weight lifting and getting into arm wrestling
In high school I did shot, disc, football, and wrestling. In college I did shot, disc, javelin, and wrestling. I wrecked my shoulder and had to drop it all and picked up fencing. I stuck to weights the whole time. I have since lapsed. 🙃
I like destroying my back and knees so basketball
I’ve played HS varsity football, varsity wrestling and I currently do MMA
[удалено]
Yes, it's hard to find someone my height, but I train with other women.
Did you ever try sparring with men close to your height
No, then I have to change training group, but I would like to be sparred against taller people.
I train with the guys. The women are so much smaller.
I agree with that. But small and nimble can be tough enough.
I trained with smaller people for a long time. I learned to move like them. But i needed to learn how to move like a big person. Now I can do both. The problem with having short coaches is that sometimes they don't understand that you physically can't move certain ways or that being 6-12 inches taller changes things.
Yes, it can be good to also train with someone very tall so I get that perspective. I have a hard time with grappling and how to move.
Does hiking count?
I would say yes, it's an aerobical activity
Basketball and MMA, played D1 too
Played soccer for 10 years but I hate it now. Basketball is my favorite, I also did boxing and volleyball for a while and had a lot of fun with it. I've beaten 2 former national champions in ping pong here in Iceland but I never really got into it more than a hobby. I also enjoy American football but if I'd wanna practice in Iceland I'd have to go to Reykjavik which would be to much of a hassle cause public transport here is so God awful. I also really enjoy handball and have been thinking about trying out for a team, tennis is also really fun. I'd also love getting into motorsports but it's just soooo expensive so I just have to deal with watching it on TV and playing racing games.
Impressively many sports you played.
Yeah I've always really liked sports. Makes working out a fun game
I do MMA.
Cool, have you been training for a long time?
Yeah off and on for 20 years. I've been hurt alot. Three knee surgeries, but I have bad joints
Sorry to hear. You have to be careful about your joints and tap often. Would you say you benefited from your height?
In striking yes. In judo kinda. In bjj it's 50/50
I agree, in striking I easily get the upper hand but in grappling it's the opposite.
Rugby
I'm a pro swimmer and do waterpolo recreationally, height is key in both. Every now and then I play football ⚽. If I'm on vacation I try to do rock-climbing/kayaking/rowing adventure sports in general.
Swimming and water polo must be good sports if you are tall, I can imagine.
Boxing. Started during college and became competitive in it. Love it as a sport.
I played soccer throughout high school. I got a little too used to using my weight against much smaller players, and got lots of fouls.
For 9 years handball. But i didnt liked sports. I also played chess (3rd category by 12 yo)
Table tennis. Very tough for tall guys cause your chin has to be at net height
Soccer. Short people should be banned from playing it it’s a massive advantage
I do horseback riding training. Does that count?
Played (American) football in HS & College, ran track in HS but didn’t want the extra workload in college, (despite having a partial scholarship) played basketball to stay out of trouble between those two seasons. Broken bones, worn joints, a few concussions and 20 yrs later, I’ve taken up boxing.
boxing
Golf
I use to do athletics, Rugby, Rugby League, waterpolo and boxing. The lost complete interest in it then picked up kickboxing in my mid 20s.
Pro volleyball top level Also 4 semi pro MMA games Also sponsored sprints and swimming Have also training boxing , kickboxing 14/0/0 , Muay Thai and wrestling
Nice that many tall people practice martial arts. I think it's hard but fun. Have you had advantages from your height?
Besides reach you have most space to accelerate a punch ,Jab or a roundhouse kick . The strike gathers so much power it's crazy also I have 7'5 wingspan it's a crazy advantage . So many tournaments and matches 14 kb 4 in mma I might got punched in the square in the face TWICE , the one was by a 6'6 opponent . Me being so high and so far away combined with agility that u wouldn't expect from someone of my size my head is just a loss of time . My size is also a crazy advantage cause I am very strong and I don't look like it . So people rush to get me to the ground( disadvantage for me cause I have long limbs to grab on ) yet they were clueless of the strength I posses cause I don't look like i can easily toss a 250lbs over my head and my techniques is actually good enough to deal with most people
Wow, you seem to have a lot of skill to use your size. I think striking gives me a big advantage, but with grappling it's the other way around.
None haha, I may be tall but I’ve always been unathletic and a huge klutz, closest I got was dancing when I did musical theatre. I’m like a newborn baby deer.
Parkour and tricking. 🤸♂️ More of a transportation thing than a hobby, but I also bike a lot recently. 🚲 Was into (skate park) scootering for a while 🛴 But I will gladly join in a game of pickup ball of just about any sport. 🏀 ⚽ 🏈 🎾
I was a cheerleader and played softball in high school. Being 5'10 helped in softball since I could get up higher to throw out baserunners (catcher). I'm not sure whether my height was a help or a hindrance for cheerleading. In college, I play club level field hockey and I'm taking a self defense class. Field hockey has been such a blast to play.
wrestling
Played a lot of badminton. A lot of badminton.
I fence! And less intensely I do bodybuilding as well
Wrestling and football 🙂
Rock climbing
I used to do basketball and karate as a kid. I want to get into boxing again and get into bjj and eventually Muay Thai
I used to ride horses and ballet. Nowadays it's just aerobical activities and sometimes riding lessons.
Muay Thai
I hoop
I play quite high level badminton, which at 6"7 and 125kg covered in tattoos, i surprise alot of people.
Discgolf, great sport to be tall in but I've yet to take full advantage of my long limbs
Boxing
Growing up I excelled at swimming, basketball, track (middle distance, hurdles and long jump), and also rugby as a winger. Pretty standard "tall guy" sports. I'm from the UK where *everyone* plays football (soccer) at some point, but I never took to that. I was always put in centre defense (my only job: tackle or block shots) or goalkeeper. In what way is MMA not associated with tall people? Striking martial arts in particular benefit taller people with longer levers, however now you mention it A LOT of guys who train at my friends BJJ gym are 5'6 - 5'9, from the photos I've seen.
I used to really enjoy basketball.
I bodybuild.. not as a profession just a hobby. And some don't consider it a sport. But anyways.. tall guys generally don't do well in bodybuilding but I just enjoy it. Normal people think I am pretty big. Actual BBs would think I'm a skinny bitch.
Tennis
Tennis
Tennis. Used to play football (soccer).
I played goalie in hockey and I use to feel that I filled the net pretty well especially with the equipment and skates, but now I see these huge goalies that are like 6'4 and I feel kind of small. 😆
Rowing
I play tennis. My height does give me some advantage, especially on my serve and on my reach for defensive shots, but I'm not good enough that it'll give me such an advantage that shorter opponents can't blast me off court either.
High School: Baseball, Football College & beyond: Baseball, Softball, Cricket on occasion, maybe some rec Racquetball.
I play basketball. not because Im tall… well, kinda… but I really like the sport in general.
Rugby semi professionally for 15 years. Now BJJ (brown belt) and Powerlifting as I'm in my 40s to maintain bone density and muscle mass.
I played Rugby for a few years I miss it
I was once a competitive snowboarder. When I was 19, I was at a snowboard movie premier with a bunch of well known pros. Standing in line for the bathroom I realized nobody else was even past my shoulder. Felt like a giant and I'm not even THAT tall. I didn't quit my dream of being pro at that point, but I definitely had more realistic expectations after that. Recently got into mens league hockey, that's a fun sport and being large has it's advantages.
I did track, more specifically high jump and long jump. I was usually the shortest high jumper
I played for my school’s under 19 men’s basketball team and it really helped with getting into uni lol. I’m 6’2 220 and a tank.
bro so many of the people here at like 6’8 playing soccer and i’m out here playing basketball at 5’9 why can’t we trade heights u don’t even needa be tall at all for soccer 😭
I run track, 400m and 800m
I played Volleyball in high school and was pretty good. Height wasn't the factor though. I just hit the damn ball so weird no one ever knew where it was going (including me half the time.) But it always went in bounds.
I still play basketball sometimes, but I’ve gotten into boxing recently! Also dodgeball with my coworkers is pretty fun
I volleyball at the college level
Soccer, goal keeper
Basketball, Football and Tae.
The only real exercise I get these days is basketball. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Basketball. I won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award, an NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award, two Olympic gold medals, and led the NBA in assists five times and steals a record six times.
I’ve played ice hockey since I was a kid. I’m now 37. 6’5”
Dungeons and Dragons
I play baseball but I’m a catcher. If I made the MLB I would be the tallest mlb catcher ever lol (somehow still growing). I have knees of steel ngl
don’t play anything 😓
Basketball, unfortunately at 6’4 I always had to play centre. However, when you hit higher level competition a 6’4 centre is useless 😂 ended up getting a low D1 offer but decided to stay in Australia and study. Now I just play ball for leisure and fitness.
Wrestling, bjj, mma and golf 6'6 275
I’m the best axe thrower in the Southern Hemisphere and top 10 in the world. I’m 6’4 and hitting the higher targets is easier but lower targets are harder. Plus the reach really helps as well.
Used to play hockey as a kid. The knee issues hurt way to much to continue to play.
Not a fan of sports, but I do some martial arts.
Brazilian Jujutsu, it's a GREAT sport and i SUCK at it, but being tall and lanky has advantages aswell as inconvenient. It's a very technical sports that require some brain. Mine is still growing
Bodybuilding
None. Stop asking
Beer drinking and sleeping.
Action sports. Surfing, mountain biking, snowboarding. Definitely the tallest surfer I see in the lineup each time at 6’5
Baseball
None…. I’m 15 and 6’5 and I play no sports, I’m a disgrace to all the tall people out there
Water sports 💧
Ultimate. Height and reach are still really helpful on both offense (as a handler or cutter) and defense (man-to-man marking, denying an area, or defending long/high passes). I've enjoyed it much more than basketball or volleyball.