You’ve all heard the saying “The squeaky wheel takes the oil.” In reference to shooting free throws in basketball, the best coach is the ‘missed shot’. When we feel bad or get sick, the first and immediate response is “what is the origin of the pain”. There is an immediate thought process that focuses on the area closest to the pain and the accompanying action is to take a pain reliever, rest, or depending on the severity, seek medical attention. The worse you feel, the more motivated you will be to ‘feel good’ or attend to your daily duties without any conscious thought about physical discomfort.

This is exactly the same process that we should use to deal with a missed free kick. (I use a hyphen because it joins the word ‘free kick’). The main reason this topic needs some expansion is that through my own scientific observations, I have calculated that about 75-80% of shots are not at “dead center” in the center of the rim. This is a huge margin of error and the main problem in the world of basketball is that you never hear any instruction or coaching on how to shoot the ball ‘straight’. The next time you watch a game of ball on TV, take note of how many shots made are the correct distance but ‘off line’ or crooked. It is an amazing phenomenon and can be corrected with some scientific understanding and the application of relevant principles.

A major part of the problem of shooting a lopsided shot starts with your grip, or the way your hand is aligned on the ball. If the hand is not placed on the ball in a scientifically correct manner, it will have future repercussions on “follow-through” which is the most important part of any shot. The ‘tracking’ is the computer processor that programs the shot for success.

Just notice when you use the keyboard and type words on a page, how easy it is to hit a rong key or even skip something (oops I missed the ‘w’, looks weird right?) and if it doesn’t mark what you typed you will have grammatical errors. There is good and there is evil. If you’re writing a resume or official document, you definitely don’t want to have any mistakes. We are judged by our application. There is no difference when shooting a basketball. A small miscalculation or an inch of lateral movement anywhere in the fingers, arm, or elbow will cause a shot to miss. Missed baskets lose games, cause a loss of confidence and a plethora of other concerns.

Since shooters are made and not born, the pressure is on players and coaches to get this process right. Perfection at the foul line is achievable and maintainable, but it requires constant and total mental control of the physical capacity of the body. A great shot is not simply pushing the ball in the direction of the rim. The other day I went to see a local high school girls basketball game. Naturally I observed the shooting mechanics of the participants, as I always do. I can’t be critical anymore because the great shooting mechanics are simply absent in the full-scale high school level. The average free throw percentage in high school is around 65% from the free throw line. I’d say that’s a failing grade and nothing to brag about and I bet these players shoot with their eyes OPEN.

Let’s put this process in some perspective as it is very important. The free throw is the fundamental shot in basketball. All other shots have a connection to the free kick and a similarity in the delivery of the shot. (More on this in another article)

First, if you’ve ever fired a rifle, shotgun, or BB gun, you’ll have noticed that you naturally brought the butt of the gun up to your shoulder and pointed the barrel at the target line in line with your dominant eye and would have your trigger finger on the trigger ready to fire when you’re ‘ready’. Also note that he doesn’t pull the trigger until he has the aim, the sight at the end of the barrel, and his eye in the ‘line of fire’. I also call this the correct “shooting pocket” when preparing to shoot.

Compare this process to the free kick attempt. You pick up the ball (usually with your dribbling hand to associate with your lead hand), then place the ball on his ‘pocket shot’ out of the comfort zone, which may or may not be scientifically correct. Let’s compare.

When you pick up a rifle and are ready to fire, do not hold the barrel of the gun near your hip or above your head or in front of your stomach. Squeeze the stock with your shoulder and align all other parameters (sight, barrel, eye and target) before firing.

Many players today have an incorrect grip on the ball (index finger in the center of the ball with fingers spread as far apart as possible so the pads are only touching the ball and not the palm) start in a ‘shot pocket’ incorrect and consequently have faulty tracking. through. The ideal “shooting pocket” is to have the ball about 2 to 3 inches above the center of your forehead where your eyes can see the center of the rim, the inside of your shooting wrist, which is the center-aligned peephole. The rim and shooting arm when extended over the shot form the barrel of the rifle. This method allows complete vision and control. But this is not for everyone because it takes strength and practice to shoot from this position. Players who are weak will have ‘shooter pockets’ that usually start from the face and work their way down, due to a lack of strength.

Also, the ideal follow through should be one arm extended and locked out, fingers spread apart and parallel to the floor with only two joints bent: wrist and elbow. Take particular care that there is no lateral movement during or after the ball is released and especially in the fingers. At the end of the shot, the index finger should line up with the center of the rim, down the inside of the shooting arm and the right eye on a right-handed shooter should be in line.

Now you have some tips to concentrate while practicing shooting. Of course, there is much more involved in terms of finger pressure and the responsibility of the fingers on the ball and which finger has which role in the shooting process. But at least this gives some “perception” (pun intended) in the line of fire.

Also understand that when I refer to free throws I mean that the same process occurs with every shot, especially 3-point shots. The downside of shooting further is that a small error in the follow-through mechanics increases the chance of missing the basket.