I've hooked up with guys who claimed 8 but fell considerably short even when held up against my meager endowment.
I think measuring techniques are where many pick up a few inches and don't necessarily know that they're, in essence, full of shit. You'd think, however, that over the years a guy would realize that something was wrong when all of his encounters with men who rate themselves as numerically smaller turned out to be embarrassing.
Along the top with a rigid ruler, boys, please.
That said, my encounters with real nine inchers have been countable on two hands and quite memorable. Not a single one had the classic "big dick" attitude that many fear, and they all were ever so appreciative, and surprised at finding someone who can "accommodate" them. I guess as small as the number of 9+ cocks is, the number of 9+ cockhandlers is even smaller.