| Basketball Free throw shooting: Frequently asked | | | | are usually much lower when strength is lacking. The |
| questions and answers. | | | | ideal 'shot pocket' is just above the forehead but it |
| Question 1. How important are the feet when | | | | takes strength in the upper body, arms and hands to |
| shooting free throws? | | | | be able to shoot from this position. Anytime you |
| Answer 1. There are many answers to this because | | | | shoot from the chest, chin, or face area this means |
| it really does not matter how the feet line up as long | | | | the ball is being thrust at the basket without any |
| as the feet are not too close together or too far | | | | 'pause time' thus giving less time to aim. |
| apart. Shoulder width is perfect. Also don't get hung | | | | Question 13. How important is 'timing' on a jump shot |
| up on being square to the basket on a free throw | | | | or a free throw shot in general? |
| specifically. You can shoot just as well if you are | | | | Answer 13. It does affect some players who get |
| facing a left wall. As long as your shooting shoulder | | | | their shot out of 'sync' due to leverage and improper |
| and arm can be square to the basket that is the | | | | mechanics. Anytime a player brings the ball past the |
| most important factor. The feet have little to do | | | | top of their head or way to the side of their head |
| with the shot. You should spend most of your mental | | | | and go into what I call a 'negative' phase, then this |
| energy on the follow through, the finger spread, | | | | creates more of a launching mode where the first |
| wrist movement and index finger touching the ball | | | | move is 'at' the rim. The initial movement of the ball |
| last. | | | | should always be 'up' first then 'at' the rim. This |
| Question 2. What part of the rim should I focus on? | | | | changes leverage on a shot by bringing it way behind |
| Answer 2. No specific part. Focus on the whole rim. It | | | | the head. Also during a jump shot you do not want |
| is too hard to watch a spot on the front or back of | | | | to have the ball in your hand on the way down. If |
| the rim. Focus on the rim as a whole specifically for | | | | you must it is better to shoot on the way up than |
| distance and then your mind dictates to your index | | | | on the way down. Shooting on the way down is a |
| finger to shoot the ball straight and it is also a big | | | | real strength drain. |
| part of the sensitivity and touch that helps make the | | | | Question 14. How important is it to be 'squared up" |
| shot go straight. Crooked shots rarely go in. Judging | | | | before you shoot? |
| the distance is a lot easier than shooting the ball | | | | Answer 14. It depends. Around the basket it is not |
| straight since about 78% of shots are crooked. | | | | so important because you can twist and turn your |
| Question 3. Does any specific finger dominate in the | | | | body in relation to other bodies and use the wrist |
| shot release process? | | | | and fingers to maneuver the ball to the hoop. But |
| Answer 3. Again there are various ideas floating | | | | when you are further out you want to have as much |
| around. But through scientific logic and the makeup of | | | | body control as possible and having your feet |
| the bone structure of the hand it is best to place the | | | | squared also squares your shoulders and you are |
| index finger on the center of the ball at 90 degrees | | | | basically shooting a free throw from all over the |
| to the seams. Not 75 or 80 degrees. 90 degrees. | | | | court. If you have the upper body strength you can |
| Look at the back of your hand with your fingers | | | | afford to be less 'squared up' because you can make |
| spread as wide as possible. You will notice that the | | | | up for lower body irregularities with upper body |
| tip of the index finger and the tips of the thumb and | | | | strength. Not recommended but it happens all the |
| pinky form an imaginary triangle. since this forms an | | | | time. As long as the upper body or shoulders are |
| almost perfect triangle it stands to reason that the | | | | squared your chances are improved. What about one |
| index finger should be on the center of the ball and | | | | legged shots, or fade-aways? In these cases the |
| doing the most damage. The index finger should also | | | | lower body is irregular but the upper body is usually |
| line up with the elbow joint, the center of the ball | | | | squared. Another important point here is that the key |
| and the center of the rim. These should be in | | | | body part that needs to be squared to the basket is |
| alignment just before you pull the trigger, even | | | | the shoulder, elbow and wrist joint. |
| though they may not be aligned prior to the shot. | | | | Question 15. You hear so much about the follow |
| Question 4. How do you get perfect ball rotation? | | | | through yet there are thousands of different ones. Is |
| Answer 4. Perfect rotation happens naturally with | | | | there such a thing as a perfect follow through? |
| correct mechanics. It is hard to believe something so | | | | Answer 15. Now we are getting serious. This is |
| simple is really butchered by thousands of players | | | | where coaches and players should spend more time, |
| due mostly to their anatomical structure, ball hand | | | | on the perfect follow through. I can only answer |
| alignment and poor follow through. Simply place your | | | | from experience and how my follow through helps |
| index finger in the center of the ball spread your | | | | me shoot at 99% from the line. You can still be a |
| fingers as wide as possible without tensing up, and | | | | great shooter with variations but the key is to follow |
| shoot the ball in the air with the index finger touching | | | | natural laws or scientific principles. The cleaner the |
| the ball last and voila, perfect rotation. If the middle | | | | shot, the less movement in the release mechanism |
| and /or ring finger add any contact to the ball you will | | | | the more consistent the end result. But in a nutshell |
| notice the angle of the ball is slightly tilted. Another | | | | the perfect follow through is a locked elbow with |
| killer of correct rotation is the guide hand thumb | | | | forearm at 45 degrees to the floor, fingers spread |
| which adds some side spin to the ball. Millions use their | | | | and parallel to the floor, no bent knuckles. In effect |
| thumb and did so ever since they were little. The | | | | the only bent joint is the wrist. Make sure also that |
| culprit here is lack of strength then over the years it | | | | the index finger is pointing directly at the center rim |
| became a habit, (a bad one at that) | | | | with no lateral movement in the hand on the release. |
| Question 5. Should you watch the rim or the ball in | | | | Last but not least, hold the follow through till the ball |
| flight after the shot has been released? | | | | hits the basket. Enjoy the life cycle of the shot. |
| Answer 5. The great shooters watch the ball in flight. | | | | Question 16. Many players pull their wrist back. Does |
| Examples, Jordan, Stojakovic, Nash, Nowitzki, Bird, | | | | this movement affect a shot much? |
| Palubinskas, etc. Your eyes start the shot by | | | | Answer 16. Anytime you pull your arm back during |
| watching and measuring the distance of the rim. You | | | | the shot you change the dynamics and the |
| release the ball and the moment the ball leaves your | | | | consistency. The arm should remain firm and straight |
| index finger on the follow through your eyes move | | | | like a rifle barrel at a target. The wrist joint is crucial |
| from the rim to the flight of the ball. It is much | | | | to remain in one spot and locked through out the |
| better control and you can study the shot and tell | | | | shot process. Try hitting a golf ball and quickly pull |
| better if the ball is going in or not. You can also tell if | | | | back the club. Weird feeling, huh? Same principle. |
| your rotation is bad and this will reveal to you that | | | | Question 17. Is eye dominance a big factor in |
| you have a mechanical problem that needs attention. | | | | shooting? |
| Question 6. How important is a pre-shot routine? | | | | Answer 17. I wish I could answer this. But it must |
| Answer 6. It has no relevance at all to the life cycle | | | | have little or no effect on shooting since I never talk |
| of the shot. If you have the strength the ball needs | | | | about it and obviously it does not hinder or help my |
| then you will always pause the shot in the shooting | | | | own shot. |
| pocket before it is released. So if you do pause, then | | | | Question 18. How important is the knee bend in a |
| no matter what pre shot mumbo jumbo one does, | | | | free throw or a jump shot? |
| the pause will kill any pre-shot routine. (remember | | | | Answer 18. This is a natural and unconscious move. |
| K.I.S.S. Keep it simple stupid.) The less the movement | | | | Many players bend their knees too much in a free |
| the better. But it is a personal preference to do | | | | throw attempt. These are major muscles and you |
| some cool things, I guess. Jason Kidd blows kisses to | | | | don't need this stored energy to shoot 26 ounces 15 |
| the wind, Karl Malone used to pray before a shot. Go | | | | feet. The bend should be about 4-6 inches. Again the |
| figure. | | | | strength of the player will dictate the length of the |
| Question 7. During any shot, what 'mental picture' | | | | knee bend. The more power they want the more |
| should I have in my mind, if any? | | | | they bend at the knees. Again though, less is more. |
| Answer 7. It should definitely not be an image of you | | | | Try not bending your knees till the ball is near your |
| making or missing the basket. This is a useless | | | | nose, then bend the knees and ready your shot |
| thought. If this is the case then this proves that | | | | pocket at the same time. This is stored energy. |
| there is no thought process on any shooting | | | | Question 19. My shot tends to be a little flat. Any |
| mechanics, exactly where the mind should be | | | | suggestions to raise the angle? |
| focused on. You should absolutely be thinking about | | | | Answer 19. Without changing your shot at all try |
| the one or two worst mechanical flaws you are | | | | doing this one small thing. Simply raise your elbow an |
| aware of that causes your most missed shots. Do | | | | extra inch or two just before you start releasing the |
| you shoot short? Are you always left? Do you tend | | | | ball at the rim. This will give you added height and a |
| to shoot long? Every miss has a reason behind it. | | | | softer entry. This shot will be harder to block as well. |
| Recognize and rectify. Do you have a flying elbow? | | | | Question 20. What is the duty of the guide hand? |
| Is your hand scrunched up and in the cookie jar? Is | | | | Answer. 20. The guide hand helps get control of the |
| your hand closed on the release? Does your wrist | | | | ball on the pick up from the dribble and helps stabilize |
| look floppy and loose after the release? Etc etc. You | | | | the ball prior to the shot. Its like loading a bullet into a |
| get the idea. | | | | chamber of a rifle or shotgun. As soon as you are |
| Question 8. How important is it to shoot with the ball | | | | stabilized into the shot pocket or when you go into |
| seams ? | | | | your knee bend, the ball comes to a 'pause' and at |
| Answer 8. No significance at all. This is another | | | | this moment the guide hand must come off the ball. |
| personal preference. You can do it during free throws | | | | Now the ball is sitting on your shooting hand just like |
| but during a game you don't have time to line up the | | | | a golf ball sitting on a 'T' before being hit. You can |
| seams for a shot. You can shoot just as well with a | | | | use the guide hand to draw a lot of fouls. It can |
| seamless ball as long as the weight is official. | | | | become a weapon actually. I use it all the time to |
| Question 9. Is there an optimal angle for a follow | | | | draw fouls. Why do you think they call it a guide |
| through? | | | | hand. It 'guides' me to the foul line more than I can |
| Answer 9. Yes, absolutely. They say it is between 42 | | | | say. It also provides another benefit. By keeping it |
| and 48 degrees, which will bring an average down to | | | | stable when it comes off the ball you can use it for a |
| 45 degrees which is right in the middle. Understand | | | | guide line or a funnel channeling the ball through a |
| that the higher the arc the more longer shots will hit | | | | tube right into the hole. |
| the front of the rim. The flatter the arc the more | | | | Question 21. How can I control a 'flying elbow'? |
| perfect the shot should be because the rim flattens | | | | Answer 21. It is sometimes difficult to start a shot |
| out reducing the area of entry. | | | | with the elbow directly under the ball. Muscle bound |
| Question 10. Does the hand as a whole shoot the ball | | | | players usually can't do this but flexible, thinner |
| or do the fingers play a big role? | | | | players can. The real problem with the flying elbow is |
| Answer 10. Great question. Understanding this is the | | | | that it effects proper grip placement on the ball. So if |
| biggest and most important part of the whole | | | | you have a bad initial grip you will have a bad follow |
| shooting science. Mastering the hand placement, | | | | through. They are linked together. Try to change by |
| touch and feel control and release mechanism is more | | | | getting the elbow closer to the hip and then start |
| important than the rest of the factors involved in | | | | the shot. Forget your feelings. Science rules. Create a |
| shooting. Too many players have the ball resting on | | | | new habit. |
| the whole hand including all the pads and the palm. | | | | Question 22. I have a 'wobbly' follow through. How |
| The way to get the palm off the ball is to widen | | | | can I fix it? |
| your grip as wide as possible without too much | | | | Answer 22. This means you are basically shooting |
| tension. The wider the hand the easier it is for you | | | | with your big muscles or too much body in the shot. |
| and your mind to feel what fingers are applying the | | | | Accurate shooting is with the fingers and hand. First |
| correct amount of energy to the shot. For example I | | | | thing to do is widen your hand or spread your fingers |
| number each finger to allow for accountability. The | | | | with the index finger pointing straight ahead as if you |
| thumb is zero, the index finger is #1, the mid finger is | | | | were pointing at someone. Then to guarantee that |
| #2, the ring finger is #3 and the pinky finger is #4. | | | | the hand does not 'wobble' make sure your elbow is |
| The thumb and pinky maintain support and width and | | | | locked firm on the follow through. It is very difficult |
| are responsible for about 5% each on the ball while | | | | to separate the two. It is real hard to have a locked |
| the index finger is responsible for the other 90%. It | | | | elbow and a soft wobbly hand. Try it. It's a weird |
| does the lion's share of the work. Notice I have left | | | | feeling. Basketball Free throw shooting: frequently |
| out #'s 2 and 3, since I believe they do more | | | | asked questions and answers. Do you have a flying |
| damage than good since they tend to go across the | | | | elbow? Is your hand scrunched up and in the cookie |
| grain or in a lateral movement thus detracting from | | | | jar? Is your hand closed on the release? Does your |
| the perfect straight direction the ball needs. | | | | wrist look floppy and loose after the release? Etc, |
| Question 11. Why is it that the ring finger and the mid | | | | etc. You get the idea. |
| finger should have little effect on the shot? | | | | Question 23. Could you expand on the ‘shot |
| Answer 11. Scientifically speaking, you will notice that | | | | pocket’? |
| there are no appendages (fingers) between the | | | | Answer 23. This phenomenon of the ‘shot |
| thumb and the forefinger. But obviously there are 2 | | | | pocket’ is interesting because it tends to move |
| fingers between the index finger and the Pinky. This | | | | with age. The younger the player the lower the |
| creates a natural imbalance that does not benefit | | | | ‘shot pocket’ because of lack of strength. |
| consistent accuracy. Due to this imbalance and the | | | | Smaller children want to heave the ball rather than |
| extra weight of these 2 fingers the tendency is for | | | | shoot it. They are just happy to reach the basket |
| the hand to always move inwards towards the body | | | | and whatever it takes by golly they are going to try |
| causing lateral movement which is responsible for | | | | to get it there. It’s the same as a 2 year old girl |
| crooked shots. All the fingers must move forward to | | | | wanting to wear her momma’s shoes. Kids want |
| the basket without any lateral sway. Watch a bear, | | | | to act like adults. Reaching the basket is very |
| tiger, or bulldog walk and you will notice that their | | | | ‘grown up’. So generally you can figure the |
| front paws always move back and inwards when | | | | shot pockets of the following age groups are as |
| they walk. Same principle. BUT, I will add this. For | | | | follows” 10 year old starts around the belly. 12 |
| those physically weaker individuals who have thin | | | | year old- sternum 14 year old-chin 16 year old- nose |
| arms, hands and fingers I think it may be a good idea | | | | 17 and older - eyes and above. |
| if they join the index and mid finger together on the | | | | Lets complicate this a little more and add other |
| ball which basically makes the index finger stronger. | | | | variances. The ball may be held left or right of the |
| But there can be no more than a quarter inch extra | | | | center. You see how weird the ‘shot |
| length on the mid finger otherwise it will dominate the | | | | pocket‘ can get. Again the strength of the |
| release point. | | | | individual varies and the shot pocket changes with |
| Question 12. Why is there somewhat of a difference | | | | that. The ideal ‘shot pocket’ is between the |
| between boys and girls shooting mechanics? | | | | eyes and a couple inches above the forehead. |
| Answer 12. One main reason that separates the boys | | | | It’s just like you would aim a rifle. You would put |
| from the girls is the 'strength factor'. Generally | | | | it up about shoulder height level with the eyes and |
| speaking until the age of puberty boys and girls are | | | | look right down the barrel to the peep sight. The |
| about the same in upper body strength. This ranges | | | | eyes, peep sight on the end of the gun barrel and |
| around 12-14 years old. I could be wrong here. | | | | the target all form one line. Same line up with the |
| Anyhow it takes longer for girls to develop a true | | | | free throw. Eye, wrist, and center of rim form a |
| jump shot because they really don't jump very high | | | | straight line. This alignment also creates a triangle with |
| and if your jump is only a few inches there is not | | | | the top of the ball with both elbows and basically |
| much time within which to develop a 'pause' just | | | | centering you and the ball with the rim. These are |
| before you release the ball. Plus the 'shot pockets' | | | | generalities and can vary. But you get the point. |