A groundbreaking study of 2,770 men found something that should be taught in every sex ed class: there is almost ZERO correlation between flaccid and erect size. The correlation coefficient was 0.24 - that's basically nothing in scientific terms.
What does this mean? A guy who's 2 inches soft can be 6 inches hard. Another guy who's 4 inches soft might also be 6 inches hard. You literally cannot tell anything by looking.
Same person, same day, different conditions
Medical researchers define it by how much you grow from soft to hard:
Being a grower is the norm, not the exception. If you feel small in the locker room, you're probably just comparing your grower status to the few showers who happen to be walking around.
Your flaccid size isn't even consistent hour to hour. It changes based on:
"I used to avoid changing at the gym because I thought I was tiny. Then one day I went to the sauna first, and when I changed after, I looked completely different - easily twice the size. That's when I realized the whole comparison game was bullshit."
The same realization happens to thousands of guys once they understand the science.
Here's what's actually happening when you feel inadequate:
You're comparing your anxious, cold, post-workout grower state to a relaxed shower who just came from the hot tub. You're literally comparing your worst to their best.
Studies show that growers and showers end up at almost identical erect sizes. The guy who looks huge soft is often the exact same size as you when hard - or sometimes even smaller.
The guys who walk around naked in locker rooms tend to be:
Meanwhile, growers (79% of us) tend to:
This creates a false perception that everyone else is bigger - you're literally only seeing the confident showers, not the majority of growers hiding like you.
"In high school, I was literally known as the small guy because someone saw me changing after swimming. I was maybe 1.5 inches in that cold pool locker room. Fast forward to college - hookup with a girl who knew that rumor. Her exact words after: 'Holy shit, you're huge! Everyone said you were tiny!' I'm 6.5 inches hard. Completely average. But I grow over 300%."
- Anonymous submission to the site
"My girlfriend thought something was wrong the first time she saw me soft. She literally asked if I had a medical condition because the difference was so dramatic. Nope, just an extreme grower. Goes from acorn to average. She had only been with showers before and didn't know this was a thing."
- Another grower's experience
Several celebrities have openly discussed being growers:
Even in porn, many performers are growers who need fluffing between takes. That massive dick on screen might be smaller than yours when soft.
Being a grower is actually an evolutionary advantage:
Protection: Smaller when soft = less vulnerable to injury
Temperature regulation: Better heat retention in cold climates
Athletic advantage: Less interference during physical activity
Hygiene: Less surface area exposed to elements
Showers are actually the evolutionary outliers. Being a grower is the design that natural selection preferred.
Let's look at actual numbers from studies:
A study of 1,000+ men found:
The guy who's 2 inches soft and the guy who's 5 inches soft can both be 5.5 inches hard. You literally cannot tell by looking.
Pro Tip: If you really want to see your "normal" flaccid size, check after a hot shower when relaxed and alone. That's your actual baseline - not the shriveled anxiety nugget from the gym.
Here's what actually matters - what partners think:
"It's like a magic trick - I love it!"
"The surprise factor is actually hot"
"I had no idea it could change that much"
"Growers are fun - it's like unwrapping a present"
Many partners actually prefer growers. There's something psychologically exciting about the dramatic transformation. Plus, a smaller flaccid size is often more comfortable for various activities.
If you're judging yourself based on locker room appearances, you're comparing apples to oranges. Or more accurately, you're comparing a cold acorn to a room-temperature banana, when they both become the same size cucumber.
The guy you're envying in the locker room might be:
You literally cannot tell. And neither can anyone else.
Stop guessing based on flaccid appearance. Our calculator compares your erect measurements to real medical data.
Get Your True PercentileNext time you're in a locker room, remember: 79% of the guys there are growers just like you, feeling the same insecurity, while the few showers walk around creating a false impression of what's "normal." The locker room doesn't show dick size - it shows who's a shower and who just came from the sauna.
While size doesn't matter as much as you think, confidence does. Good grooming and self-care make a bigger difference than an extra inch ever could.
Check out Manscaped's Performance Package - because regardless of whether you're a grower or shower, everyone appreciates good presentation.