How to standardized or define measuring techniques for anything is really hard (pun intended). And in competitive areas it’s essential for fairness. As I’ve argued before in this thread, anatomical variations like curvature complicates things . Using a hard ruler along the top of a curved penis sounds good because it’s an easy and simple method but it could lead to actually inaccurate measurements, as it doesn’t account for the curvature (yes I understand this has been argued to death, I still maintain the basic premise). Measuring that way can underestimate the “true” length. A flexible measuring tape or a piece of string contours along the curve which proves for a more accurate measurement. I don’t just say this from nothing. This approach is recommended by medical professionals for individuals with penile curvature. Most men have at least some small curve. ( How to Measure a Curved Penis: A Comprehensive Guid ) ( Measurement of Penis Curvature in Peyronie's Disease: Guide to Doctors and Patients - Peyronie's Disease )What’s unfair about asking for proof of 10” length? And how is asking for a simple length measurement more difficult than calculating volume?![]()
Also the fat pad at the base of the penis can obscure the length, leading to underestimation if not accounted for. Pressing the measuring device into the pubic bone until mild resistance is felt is part of the standard medical measure technique and it ensures that the entire length is measured, compensating for the fat pad.
So. That said… that’s just about my thoughts on the problems with measuring a straight line for length. Personally I think that maybe measuring penile volume offers a better overall assessment of size. Volume calculations incorporate both length and girth, accounting for variations in shape and thickness. So maybe a more accurate and over encompassing representation of size. Tools like the Penis Size Calculator (calcsd) are well known and good for trying out measurements to see comparative volume and understand size relative to global averages, many men now use it as the standard size comparison tool.
TLDR I think volume measurements offer a more nuanced understanding of penis size, which may be more relevant in certain contexts. .