at the recent NFL combine Xavier worthy stole the show by running the fastest ever 40 yard dash in the events history the young wide receiver clocked an official time of 4.21 seconds breaking John Ross's record by 100th of a second unlike a traditional race where Reaction Time plays a significant role the 40- yard dash begins when the runner breaks the timing Beam by lifting his hand off the ground aptly nicknamed the dash for cash this test holds considerable sway in a prospect's contract negotiations with NFL teams often influencing his draft position and earning potential while staying within the rules Xavier worthy exploited nuances in the timing method showcasing not only his exceptional speed but also his creative Ingenuity his starting technique though unconventional provided him with a huge Advantage right from the first stride assuming the starting position he bends his support arm and lowers his body then explodes into motion before officially starting the clock reaching a certain initial acceleration the clock starts as his hand leaves the ground in contrast John Ross uses a standard starting technique pushing with his legs and lifting his hand almost simultaneously here is how it looks in a side-by-side comparison the video is aligned with the moment when both athletes lift their hands off the ground the striking difference is that when the clock starts John Ross begins from a stationary position while Xavier Worthy is already in full motion making his first step twice as fast as that of Ross such a creative approach makes him worthy of every extra million he will receive for this record with his unparalleled speed and knack for Innovation worthy certainly has the tools to succeed on the football field however while his performance has drawn comparisons to Usain Bolt there is really nothing to compare just for reference Usain Bolt's fastest 40 yard dash out of the blocks is 4.35 seconds both his hands left the ground approximately 0.26 seconds after the start which translates to 4.09 seconds using the NFL timing method