Basketball Speed and Agility Training Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Basketball is a game of skill. But it’s also a game of athletic ability and movement.
To be a good player, not only do you have to know the game and have good basketball skills, but you also have to be extemely agile.
Improving your ability to move quickly around the court and you’ll be a better player. Period.
The game is all about movement: whether it’s driving by a player on offense, sliding to defend a dribbler, or going after a loose ball...increasing your quickness and agility gives you an edge over the competition.
No matter how good a player you are, you can improve your level of play by becoming faster (up and down the court), and quicker (laterally and explosive movements).
Basketball is a game of movement. But it’s also a game of stops-and-starts. Think about a typical trip down the court as an offensive player: sprint to the offensive end of the floor, hustle 10 or 12 feet across the court to set a screen, roll to the basket, make a quick move to get open to catch a pass, pass and screen away, cut to the basket for a potential offensive rebound.
It’s all about footwork, movement, mobility. The defensive end of the floor requires equal (or even greater mobility and agility).
So, it’s up to you to work on this part of your game. It takes hard work and persistence to get better, but you can do it, you can improve this area of your game.
If you’re really dedicated to improving your game, take a look at some of the drills below. I work on these drills with my private training clients, and I know they are very effective.
Also, here’s a tip: I recommend doing a lot of speed and agility training on grass instead of on the basketball court. It’s much easier on the joints.
Agility Ladder Drills
These are often associated with other sports (such as soccer or football), but every basketball player should use an agility ladder to work on their foot speed and agility.
There are various drills you can do with an agility ladder, but here are a few basics to get started:
- One foot hop (go through each box hopping on one foot, then do again with the other)
- Two foot hop (go through each box using both feet)
- High knees (go through the boxes brining your knees up high)
- Two feet in each box (using a running motion, step into a box with your right foot, then your left, then into the next box with your right, then your left and continue this pattern)
- One foot in each box (same as above, but this time, only one foot will land in each box)
- Sideways one foot in each box (sliding to your side, you’ll put one foot in each box)
- Sideways two feet in each box (same as above, but both feet will hit the ground in each box)
There are numerous other agility ladder drills (way more than we can list here). You can pick up an agility ladder at a local sporting good store, or online. Take a look at the SPARQ line of training equipment. They have lots of good stuff to help you work on your speed and agility.
Jump Rope Drills
Old school? No doubt about it. But also very effective.
Jumping rope is a great way to get warmed up for a workout, but it’s also a great way to work on your foot speed. Here are a few drills:
- Speed jumps (jump fast, and we mean as fast as you can)
- One leg (alternating between your right and left foot...for example, jump 4 or 5 times on your left foot, then move to 4 or 5 jumps on your right)
- Running jumps (jump rope while moving from one end of the floor to the other...it’s more a fast walk than a run, but you get the idea)
Cone Drills
Cone drills are great at making you faster. Here are a few good drills I use with my clients:
- Sliding drills (place 2 cones 6-8 feet apart and defensive slide from one to the other...then move them 10-12 feet apart and do the same. They key is to slide fast...very fast.)
- The T-Cone drill (place 3 cones in a straight line about 3 or 4 feet apart, then place 2 other cones about 10 feet apart at the top of the "T". Now, start off running back and forth between the 3 cones and out to one of the cones at the top, then back-pedal to the starting spot. Do the same thing again, this time out to the other cone at the top, and back-pedaling to the start). Go FAST.
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posted by Brandon Schenz @ 7:57 AM,
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Basketball Dunk Skills Monday, March 26, 2007
How to dunk a basketball. Well, there are a few things one needs to keep in mind when you start dunking a basketball.
One is to remember there is a lot more to the game than just the dunk. And not to spend too much time on learning how to dunk. Even though it’s fun and can be addicting.
But some good things about dunking a basketball are:
- When it’s done during the game and you’re the one doing the basketball dunk, there are fewer things that’ll feel as great as that.
- It gets your fans and teammates into the game and even more importantly, it gets you into the game
- It can be a big confidence booster for you and a morale buster for those you’re playing against.
If you’re athletic enough and good at dunking a basketball any which way you want, then I doubt you need to read this. But for others it takes time and practice.
The best thing to do to become a better basketball dunker is to work your legs. This helps more then just dunking. Running hills and jumping rope helps a lot. There are several different things you can do. I suggest finding out what leg workout works best for you.
Don’t spend too much time working on dunking a basketball. About 10 attempts after each workout or practice is all you need. It’s addicting, I know. But try to make basketball dunking a part of your game rather then just for showing off while shooting around.
Some like to jump off one leg and others like to jump off two. One leg is better for fast breaks and it helps you use your momentum a lot better.
Two legs are better for post players who only take one dribble most of the time. When doing post moves, this will help you go to the basket stronger.
When you jump, always think ’JUMP’, and jump as high as you can. Don’t always try to hang on the rim. Just putting it down helps a lot. A lot of basketball dunks are missed because guys try to hang on the rim to show off.
Most people who can dunk will do it with one hand. I like the two handed basketball dunk better because I have more control over the ball. This is something that’s really just personal and there’s no real orthodox way of dunking a basketball.
To sum it up, dunking is not all there is about basketball. It’s just a part of the game and only has been for a short time.
Dunking a basketball can help your game out and it can make your game worse. But it does help your confidence out to know you can do it whenever you want.
Just practice and watch how others might do it. Try to learn from the best. But, most of all, work on the other parts of your game and just slowly bring dunking into yours.
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posted by Brandon Schenz @ 10:37 AM,
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3 Little Known Tips of Basketball Hoop Shopping Friday, March 16, 2007
I’ve got a confession to make. I play basketball. I play it very poorly and can’t make very many of the shots that I shoot at the basketball hoop. I have a feeling that I am not alone in the world at being a rather poor basketball player.
However, one thing that I’m not bad at is comparison shopping. I’ve mastered the ancient art of comparing prices between merchants and can usually ferret out a fairly good deal with a little bit of leg work. Basketball hoop shopping is no different than shopping for other items.
There are some tips you should know before embarking on your journey to shop for a basketball hoop.
1) New or Used. You really might consider buying a used basketball hoop if you are interested in value. However, make sure you are buying one that hasn’t been banged up too bad. Years of basketball practice can only make your rim bent and dirty.
Ebay can be a great place to buy used equipment and basketball hoops are regularly for sale on Ebay.
2) Do your homework by comparing different merchant offers on different search engines and different websites. Just because something is advertised for sale on Google doesn’t mean it’s also advertised for sale on Yahoo.
Some merchants advertise their goods strictly through the Amazon partners program and don’t do any other advertising anywhere else. Prices vary drastically and the only way you will know that you are getting a good deal is to examine what the different people are selling the same goods for on different websites.
Basketball hoop shopping is no exception.
3) Learn about the different types and styles of basketball hoops. Without the knowledge of what you are buying, points #1 and #2 are nearly worthless.
Buy your hoop the right way and get a great deal on one by being an informed consumer. Learn how to buy a basketball hoop and you can guarantee that you got a better deal than everyone else.
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posted by Brandon Schenz @ 8:31 AM,
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Buying a Basketball Hoop Takes More Thought Than You May Think Wednesday, March 14, 2007
You just need a basketball hoop and the ball itself and you’re in business. I feel basketball has a huge advantage over most other sports in that you can improve as a player whether you have a partner to work with or not.
All on your own, you can pick out some basketball drills or fundamentals and get to work on developing your skills. However, without a quality hoop, it can be a challenge to see real, measured improvement during your practice time. If fact, I’ve seen many kids trying to get better while shooting the ball at a basketball hoop without a net and bent at a 45° angle.
If you’re a coach or parent looking to help your kids improve, providing them with a basketball hoop that’s in "tip-top" shape is an important first step. Let’s take a look at what you need to know in buying that hoop.
First of all, this is meant as an introduction to helping you buy a quality basketball hoop. While I can give you my own personal advice on what to focus on, I recommend you listen to my take on this and then merge it with other sources. Ask around. Talk to people you know who have already bought their hoop and see what their experience has been and what they found to be important. You’ll be surprised at how many mistakes you can avoid just by listening to someone else’s mistake.
Where Will You Install Your Hoop?
Most people install their basketball hoop in the driveway. Just make sure that you have enough space for the hoop and for playing the game. At least give yourself enough space to fit the free throw line. Space for a three-point line would be a great bonus.
Be careful if you rent or have a condo with a Homeowner’s Association. How would you like to pay to get this all done and then be forced to take it all out because it’s not allowed where you live?
What Type of Basketball Hoop Will You Install?
Portable or in-ground? I personally feel in-ground is better because it’ll be permanent and safer. However, depending on your situation (location, space, etc) a portable hoop may work better for you.
Buy a Quality Backboard
When a basketball hits the backboard, it shouldn’t fall straight down and it shouldn’t bounce out over the shooter’s head. The bounce should be somewhere in between. You need a backboard with good, thick acrylic. This gives the backboard the proper "give". If you get cheap here, your thin, cheap board will need re-enforcement and could still end up breaking on you.
What Kind of Rim Will You Buy?
Unless you’re buying for extremely young kids, a park or school, a "Heavy Duty Reflex" rim will work great for a home installation. It has the break-away style that you probably want. Just be sure your rim mounts onto a steel plate rather than straight off the backboard.
The Net
Don’t go all out on your basketball hoop and then throw a cheap net up there. Buy a quality net or else you run the risk of it ripping, shredding or hanging half-way off your rim.
The Pole
Once again, go high quality here. Get a good steel pole that won’t crumble and begin to sway. Make sure the base is smooth without any bulky bolts sticking up that could cause injury. Also, be sure to get the pads to put on your pole. It makes for better cushioning when the game gets rough rather than a nice head-to-steel impact!
Installation
Expect to pay anywhere from $100-$300 (depending on your hoop and your situation) to get a professional installation done.
Bottom line? There’s no way I can tell you exactly which hoop to buy as everyone’s needs are a bit different. The main thing is you’ll get what you pay for in this area. This is not the time to get cheap and buy low-grade basketball equipment. Do your due diligence, comparison shop and buy a quality basketball hoop.
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posted by Brandon Schenz @ 5:27 AM,
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Game-Speed and Overload Training Monday, March 12, 2007
If you're looking to really elevate your game, you've got to use the most effective and efficient training techniques available.
One thing I focus on with all of my private coaching clients is game-speed and overload training. By integrating these into your training program (both in your personal workouts during the season, and in your off-season training), your game is guaranteed to improve.
Game-speed training is pretty easy to understand. It means executing drills at as close to game speed as possible. Players, especially when they're doing personal workouts, tend to lapse into a "practice speed", which is much slower than the action that takes place in games.
So the next time you go through a workout (even just a shoot around on your own), make sure you speed up the action so it is closer to the fast-paced, quick action that takes place in actiual competition.
Overload training should also a very important part of your training. Overload training means doing things (shooting, dribbling, etc.) is a way that is even harder and more difficult than it would be in a game situation.
For example, two-ball dribbling drills, done correctly, can force your body/mind to deal with more than it usually does in a game. Most people have trained using one basketball, so doing dribbling drills with two balls gets you out of your comfort zone and forces you to become a better ball handler.
Overload drills can also be accomplished by combining multiple skills. For example, take a jump shot from the top of they key (shooting), then immediately get the rebound, toss it off the board and go up for a strong put-back shot (rebounding), then run to half-court and do defensive slides to the baseline (defense/quickness), then grab the ball and do a pump-fake and dribble drive the the basket from the wing (explosiveness/driblling/offensive moves).
Just by combining these skills in rapid succession, working on multiple skills (shooting, rebounding, dribbling, defense, etc.), and doing them at game-speed, you've created a situation where you're really pushing the limits and helping to expand your game.
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posted by Brandon Schenz @ 6:24 AM,
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Excel at Basketball Shooting & Advance to the Next Level Friday, March 09, 2007
In this lesson, we’re going to discuss the drawbacks of neglecting your shooting skills. We’ll also touch on an interesting way to get your next level’s "decision makers" to notice you.
We see a lot of young players with dreams of making it to college, then on to the pro leagues. If you fit this category, ask yourself if you’re ready to do what it takes to make this a reality for yourself.
Are you willing to put in the work it takes to develop your basketball shooting skills? Are you willing to invest in quality tools that help develop your basketball shooting to elite status?
It doesn’t matter who you are or how much "natural talent" you have or don’t have. It’s all possible if you put in the time to improve.
One mistake many players make is to give up too soon. They work on their basketball shooting technique for awhile, don’t see much improvement (or it gets worse for awhile!), and quit. Don’t be like that. Anything you work on in life will take time and commitment. But it’s all worth it.
A friend of ours calls this "chipping away". Just chip away a little each day on your basketball shooting skills. It won’t happen overnight, but day by day, week by week, you’ll get better.
Then, all of a sudden, it hits you. You see huge improvements in your skills. It seems like it all just clicks overnight. But it wasn’t "overnight", was it? All that "chipping away" made it happen.
Now, there are some tools out there that can speed the whole basketball shooting "chipping away" process up for you. Tools like Tom Nordland’s "Swish videos".
Before we finish off our ecourse with one last hearty recommendation that you pick up "Swish" (if you haven’t already done so), we’d like to offer an option to those of you looking to seriously take yourself to that next level - whether it be College or the Pros.
This has nothing to do with basketball shooting, but hey, it’s our ecourse, right? :-)
Through our internet travels, we’ve come to know Todd Kozinka.
Anyway, Todd and his partners help High School and College basketball players who are looking for help with getting to the next level of their careers. How do they do this?
They help you put together a recruiting video that helps you get noticed by that college or pro team you’d love to play for. We feel it’s a great strategy and service that they offer.
By the way, we in no way benefit if you decide to use them. We believe in it and just feel it’s worth your time to check it out:
OK, now back to "chipping away" at your basketball shooting skills with Tom Nordland’s "Swish Videos" :-)
If you haven’t gotten "Swish" or "Swish 2" for yourself, how come? The bottom line? These shooting tools just plain work.
In fact, when Dave watched the first "Swish video", he saw improvement in his shooting percentage immediately during his next game. And it’s been improving ever since. Not only that, but we also have been taking advantage of Tom Nordland’s articles, newsletter and other instruction at his website to help us understand the teachings inside his "Swish video" & "Swish 2" dvd even more.
Now, we started this message off by assuming you want to take yourself to the next level. If Tom’s "Swish video" can help NBA players, what do you think they can do for you?
Take a look:
"The proof is in the pudding - look at the stats! I’ve made a major improvement and expect to improve more by continued working
with Tom Nordland. His technique is different from most basketball shooting coaches. He does a combination of form (technique) and the
art/science of repeatability. It really works!"
- Dale Davis, NBA power forward
"I am thrilled with what Tom Nordland has done with me. His coaching method is amazingly simple, easy to apply, and the results are
easy to see. Anybody can improve their basketball shooting with his approach."
- Adam Keefe, Stanford All American and former Golden State Warriors power forward
"Working with Tom Nordland has improved my Jump Shot and Free Throws more than I could ever have imagined. He is a phenomenal
basketball shooting coach!"
- Mark Madsen, Stanford All American, 1st round pick L.A. Lakers in the 2000 NBA Draft, now with the Minnesota Timberwolves
There’s a saying in business - "Find someone with a bigger pile of money than you and follow their advice"
You can apply that to your game - "Find someone who is where you want to be with their basketball shooting skills and follow their advice"
We figured if Tom Nordland’s methods were good enough to help guys who already made it to the NBA, then they are good enough to help our game’s younger players develop their basketball shooting skills into what it takes to get there themselves.
One of our missions in building these tips was to help coaches and players find easy access to information that would help them develop faster. A part of that mission was to search out other people and tools that can aid you in reaching your potential faster.
What we see happening also, is that when you can develop a great, consistent shot, your confidence goes way up and you want to get out on the court even more. It completely helps increase your desire to improve your basketball shooting!
After seeing Tom’s product first hand, we can’t recommend him and "Swish video" highly enough. Quality all the way.
And the bottom line is, it just plain works!
The next level is waiting for you. Don’t let yourself down!
Extra comments:
"Hi Tom, I just wanted to let you know that I purchased your video last summer for my two boys who are now in 6th and 8th grade. My oldest son took the video to heart since he is one of the smaller (Late Bloomer/youngest in his class) kids on his team. He watched the Swish video several times and practiced consistently over the summer. He really has developed a soft shot with a nice arch. He made his 8th grade A team and then was selected for his AAU team. Before he was afraid to take a shot because he thought there was a better chance of missing, however now he knows there is a good chance of success and really has become more confident.
"My younger son, who has always been one of the bigger kids in his class and has always been successful, only watched the Swish video once and was a little skeptical because he thought he already knew everything. Now that he has seen his older brother’s success, I see him out practicing your Swish video more. It was a perfect time for my older son to buy into your philosophy and have success as next year there will be about 25 kids trying out for 12 freshman spots.
"Thanks again!"
- Tony P.
"Dear Tom, I would just like to thank you for the creation of your Swish video. It has changed not only my basketball shooting but my entire game for the better. I’m a 16 year old from Australia who has been playing basketball for 6 years. Before purchasing your Swish video I was a 15 year old (got your Swish video on my birthday) scrub who averaged 11ppg for a division 2 club side and for my high school side I did well at keeping the bench warm.
A year and 9 months later I am averaging 31 ppg for a division 1 club side and 24 ppg for my high school side. I am now considered one of the best small forwards in the state and I’m aiming to represent my state by the end of 2005.
"This rapid improvement doesn’t seem likely but I think many people, perhaps even yourself (though I doubt it), do not realize the effects that this Swish video has on a player’s entire game. For me my new shot was almost instant. After a week of constant basketball shooting using your Swish video’s principles I was dishing up high arching consistent beautiful shots.
My new shot inspired me to train harder in every other part of my game. It was like "man this game isn’t as hard as I thought it was, if I just train hard and try to do things the right way I’ll get better." So that’s what I did. My new shot made me enjoy playing the game more, it gave me confidence. My training workload has increased by 6 hours a week since I purchased your Swish video. I most definitely blame your Swish video for inspiring my new found work ethic and love of the game.
"I am currently 3 months away from my 17 birthday, I’m 6 foot 5 the captain of my high school team and I have a hunger that drives me to improve. For me there was no doubt about your Swish video improving my shot, what surprised me was how confidence in one’s shot can increase your passion for the game. I have probably watched your Swish video close to 20 times to date."
- Kane H., Australia
posted by Brandon Schenz @ 5:34 AM,
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Let's Dispel A Myth, Part 2 Thursday, March 08, 2007
Scoring is important, but being a solid all-around player is even more important than just putting up big scoring numbers. Now don’t get me wrong: scoring the basketball is important. But it’s not the only part of the game.
And in a previous post, I told you I was going to cover part 2 of the myth. So here goes.
Part 2 of the myth is that scoring points is difficult. Well, the answer is that it is, and it isn’t. But let me give you a little secret: once you make up your mind that you can score, and that you will score, and then go out and work on your offensive game, you’ll start to realize that putting points up on the scoreboard isn’t as hard as you once thought it was.
When I was in high school, a 12 or 14 point game was a pretty solid scoring night. In college, I considered an 18 or 20 point game pretty good. Than as a pro, I considered a 30 or 32 point game a pretty good outing. So what changed? Why did I think a 12 point game in high school was good, but if I scored 12 points as a pro, I would have thought I had a pretty awful game?
My mindset changed. As I progressed through my career, I started to realize how to score, but more importantly I started to believe that I could score.
Don’t believe me? Break the game down and approach it this way:
- If you score 1 basket per quarter (if you play with quarters), you’re almost a double digit scorer.
- If you score 2 baskets a half, you’re almost a double digit scorer.
When I look back on my career, I can’t believe I ever averaged less than 10 points a game, regardless of what level I was playing. I mean, think about it: all you have to do is score 2 baskets a half, and you’re already at 8 points a game. Throw in another basket or a couple free throws and you’re at 10 points.
You’re probably thinking this is all pretty simple. Why am I even writing this? Because looking at the game this way makes you realize that you can become a double-digit scorer pretty easily. And that’s the first step in making it happen. And from there, you can move onto increasing your average into the 20 points per game range.
Here are some quick tricks to becoming a double-digit scorer (and being well on your way to averaging 20 points a game):
- Score early in the game. During the first few minutes of a game, players are still getting warmed up and getting into the action. If you can hit a few buckets early, before everyone else is really into the game, you’ve established a good foundation for a big scoring night.
- Don’t underestimate how important crashing the offensive boards is. If you can get a couple rebounds and put-backs shots (and score 2, or 4, or 6 points on high-percentage shots), it makes reaching double figures in scoring pretty easy.
- Work on your free throws. If you go to the line 3 or 4 times a game, that’s 3 or 4 points you should be able to put in the scoring column (if you’re a good free throw shooter). If you hit 4 free throws in a game, all you have to do it hit 3 shots and you’re in double figures.
- Run hard on fast breaks. If you don’t already know it, running hard on the fast break, and following teammates that are on the break, can get you an easy bucket or two a game. I’m always amazed at how many layups are missed on the break. But if you run hard and follow your teammates to the basket, you can get lots of put-back shots on missed layups.
- And finally, be sure to approach the game as a scorer. Expect that you’ll play well. Expect that you’ll score a lot of points. Raise your expectation level and you’ll be surprised at how that can effect how good a scorer you will become. If you don’t expect much, you probably won’t get much.
 Basketball Coaching DVD Shooting Scoring Moves Mike Meek Instruction video (DVD) |
 Scoring Without the Ball (DVD) |
 Better 1 on 1 Offense for Basketball ~ Sue Bird (DVD) |
posted by Brandon Schenz @ 5:51 AM,
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Get Better at Coaching Shooting & Gain Credibility With Your Players Tuesday, March 06, 2007
There is definitely a problem today with the quality of basketball shooting skills in our great game. All you have to do is attend a high school game or flip on ESPN and watch the "pros" clunk their shots all over the court.
It gets down-right ridiculous at times, if you ask us. So what's the problem? We feel the main reason our youth isn't learning basketball shooting skills properly is because most youth coaches just aren't experts at it.
This isn't an indictment on the coaches out there. Many coaches are parents or concerned adults who would like to lend a helping hand and make a difference. And all of you who fit this category should be commended for this.
Some other coaches are former players who just never had their own basketball shooting skills down pat. So, many coaches read a good basketball fundamentals book or the fundamentals on a site like ours and try to do the best they can in teaching and coaching their players.
However, the fundamentals (how to hold the ball, how to "square up", the follow-through, etc.) are a good beginning in developing superior basketball shooting skills. But if the process just ends there, players are going to struggle.
And as we've mentioned, the proof's in the pudding - The games we all watch!
Coaches - take this idea seriously. How do you think your players really feel if their coach can't get them to "expert" status when it comes to their shot?
If you already do have a way to get them there, ignore what we're saying.
But if you know in your heart you need to improve your own basketball shooting skills in order to make a difference for your kids - If you know in your heart you just don't know how to teach them these skills properly -Listen Up!
Players need a system that works after they have the basic fundamentals down. It's no secret we feel that system has already been developed by Tom Nordland.
If you're a coach looking to gain more credibility by showing your team you really do know how to teach them basketball shooting skills, or you're a player looking to introduce your coach to this idea, check out Tom's "Swish Videos":
By the way, Tom Nordland believes there are 7 other major reasons why basketball shooting skills today are in the shape they are:
- It's Not Cool
- Wrong Players Shooting the Ball
- Power Game
- The Rise of AAU Programs
- Poor Technique
- Poor Facilities
- Better Defenses
If you'd like Tom's specific ideas on these topics, just check it all out: Swish -- A Guide to Great Basketball Shooting
We agree with these issues, but really feel that if coaches would take the time to better their own basketball shooting skills by using the "Swish Video" system, kids would benefit, the game would benefit, and everyone trying to enjoy this great game we all love would benefit from more enjoyable action.
Learn this art. Teach your players real success when it comes to their basketball shooting skills. Help them reap the benefits. See the joy in their eyes as they transform themselves from beginners to winners in a very short time.
Gain their confidence...
posted by Brandon Schenz @ 5:34 AM,
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4 Steps to Sure-Fire Free Throws Monday, March 05, 2007
NBA Finals, Game 7...Your team is down one point...One second left... A foul and two free throws coming... Who do you want at the charity stripe?
Of course, we’d like to have a Reggie Miller or a Larry Bird or even better, Michael Jordan at the line to sink those crucial shots. Chances are, though, they’re not on your team. So now what? It’s up to you!
So how do you build the skill and confidence needed to win the big games at the charity stripe?
Four simple steps: Ritualize - Visualize - Optimize - Capitalize. Success at the line is an important part of your game. How many times have we seen games come down to the final seconds and either be won or lost at the free throw line? All the time! So learn these 4 timeless secrets and join the ranks of John Stockton and become great at this basketball skill!
1. Ritualize
Ritualize means you create a specific repeating pattern of behavior prior to performance, a regular pre-task routine, which sharpens your focus, concentration and attention.
Reggie Miller would step up to the line holding the ball on his hip with his left hand and place his feet about 12-14 inches apart with his right foot slightly forward. He then would raise his arm straight up towards the basket with his hand bent as if he had just released the ball. Then he would take three consecutive dribbles, sit back into a slight crouch and let if fly. Every free throw was exactly the same.
Karl Malone could be seen mouthing something to himself (we have no idea what he was saying) right before he shot the ball.
Whatever ritual you develop for yourself, know that it’s the most effective device for delivering yourself into the mindset you must be in to sink every free throw.
"Repetition brings familiarity, and familiarity is the opposite of the unknown." - Steven Levenkron
2. Visualize
Visualize means mentally rehearsing or "seeing" in your mind what you intend to do before you do it. When you visualize perfect form and a flawless shot that draws nothing but the bottom of the net, it becomes exponentially more likely to happen.
You’ve heard the saying, "What you see is what you get", haven’t you? Focus on the process and see perfection. You’ll find that visualization is a powerful tool.
"I see a mental movie before I hit every shot." - Jack Nicklaus
3. Optimize
Optimize means allowing yourself to trust in you and your capabilities, to have the self-confidence to pull the ripcord, knowing the parachute will open.
Simply put, don’t hesitate! Delay does damage. Nike said it best with their million dollar slogan: "Just Do It!" This is when shooting free throws just becomes automatic.
"You must seek to have control and then act with abandon!" - Anonymous
4. Capitalize
Capitalize means celebrate your success as well as the success of your teammates. Pat yourself on the back with each success at the line.
When you make your free throws savor the success, nourish it, grow it, use it - capitalize on it. Allow it to build your confidence in other aspect of your game - defense, offense or whatever. Let this positive energy ooze out all over you and your team.
"What I do best is share my enthusiasm." - Bill Gates
With these easy-to-follow principles you can become the elite free throw shooter of your team. Actually, you can apply these principles to every part of your game. Whatever you do, keep on shooting!
posted by Brandon Schenz @ 6:21 AM,
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Improve Your Basketball Free Throw Shooting & Feel Like A B-Ball King Thursday, March 01, 2007
Our experience is that most players go through periods where their shooting confidence is shot. Ever have that happen? You'd do anything to just "feel better" about yourself, right?
Then get ready to feel better as you read this current article.
Before we get into today's lesson on how to improve your free throw shooting, we thought we'd mention that Tom Nordland goes into a lot of detail on your "Shooting Motion" in his "Swish" video.
Tom’s "keep it simple" method does wonders for your foul shots (as well as any other shot you’re looking to improve on). Get "Swish" and check out why Tom puts such importance on properly using your legs in your "Shooting Motion".
Why do we say you can get your confidence back and feel better about your over-all game just by working on your foul shots? 2 reasons:
1) Free throw shooting takes concentration. It's just you & the ball at the line. It can have a calming effect as you focus on breathing, relaxing and proper technique. Kind of a way to forget your recent slump as you get back to basics.
2) Basketball free throw shooting is just damn important. People focus on making that last foul shot at the end of the game, but every one of them is important, whether it's the 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th quarter, don't you think?
How many times have you lost by a couple points? If you could have made a few more foul shots throughout the game, it wouldn't have been a loss, but a win. Plus, if you made your early free throws, you probably would have had a nice lead at the end and it wouldn't have been so close.
So, you take the time to improve your free throw shooting skills, deliver during the game for your team; and in crunch time at the end, you become the hero that wins the contest.
That's a confidence booster. You feel better and now you're back on track.
Great, now let's get into the nitty gritty. We're going to give you 2 tips as to what causes problems at the line and give you a free throw shooting drill.
1) One reason many players miss foul shots is because they slow down their shot. They get conservative and slow down the whole motion of the arms and legs. You can't do this. Shoot at your normal speed.
2) Many times, free throw shooting suffers because you're tired. So you don't get the proper lift with your legs and you try to "push" the ball up into the hoop.
Too many coaches don't prepare their players for "game-like" conditions when it comes to basketball free throw shooting. Players stand at the line all rested in practice and shoot 15-25 shots. When the heck does that ever happen in a real game?
Here's how to prepare properly for free throw success:
Take 2 foul shots (just like a game!), then sprint down the court and back again. Now shoot 2 more and repeat the sprint. Get used to taking your free throws before you have a chance to catch your breath.
Wow, this is much harder, isn't it? But drill on this and see the difference it makes when it all counts. It'll help revolutionize your free throw shooting skills and you're going to feel much better about yourself when you're the one putting in the winning points.
posted by Brandon Schenz @ 7:37 AM,
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