Editing Slam dunk (section)

===Tomahawk===
[[File:JuliusErvingSlamDunk1981.jpg|thumb|right|[[Julius Erving]] performing a "backscratcher" tomahawk dunk in 1981]]

One of the simplest dunk types is the "tomahawk" dunk, resembling the windup and sharp downward motion of a blow with a [[tomahawk]]. A Tomahawk dunk can be performed with one or two hands, and when two hands are used, it is called a backscratcher. Initially referred to as a gorilla dunk,<ref>{{Citation |last=EA Sports |title=Lakers versus Celtics and the NBA Playoffs Electric Arts Video Game |date=1989 |url=http://archive.org/details/img-20210524-111104 |access-date=2022-03-21}}</ref> that term is uncommon now. During the jump, the ball is raised above, and often behind the player's head for a wind-up before slamming the ball down into the net at the apex of the jump. Due to the undemanding body mechanics involved in execution, the tomahawk is employed by players of all sizes and jumping abilities.{{citation needed|date=July 2017}} Because of the ball-security provided by the use of both hands, the two-handed tomahawk is a staple of game situations—frequently employed in alley-oops and in offense-rebound put-back dunks.

In one common variation, a 360° spin may be completed prior to or simultaneously with the tomahawk. Circa 2009, independent slam dunker [[Troy McCray]] pioneered an especially complex variant of the dunk: once the tomahawk motion is complete, instead of slamming the ball in the rim, a windmill dunk (see below) is then performed.<ref>{{cite AV media|title=101Retro - Troy McCray|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSkQptkSysc&t=1m20s |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/KSkQptkSysc| archive-date=2021-12-11 |url-status=live|access-date=21 May 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref>