05:05
Faizan
Free-throw shooting is a critical but elusive basketball skill. Even some of the world's elite players -- most notably NBA All-Star Dwight Howard -- struggle at the line. Confidence, concentration and sound shooting mechanics are the keys to success, along with consistency. "I feel like 60 percent is mechanics. I think 20 percent is practice and repetitions and the last 20 percent is the mental component," former NBA star Mark Price said in a Golden State Warriors video.
Free-Throw Line Focus
Success starts with gathering yourself at the free-throw line, blocking out distractions, forgetting the game scenario and confidently executing your shot. Develop a comfortable routine at the line, dribbling to get into rhythm, and use it every time. Keep your hand on top when dribbling so it can ease into proper shooting position. Slow your breathing. Clear your mind. Relax your shoulders. Visualize a made shot. Focus on lofting the ball over the front of the rim. Develop your key words and repeat them while shooting to reinforce your consistency. "Doing the same thing over and over and over gives you the chance to be consistent every time you shoot," claims Price, who made 90.4 percent of his free throws in his NBA career.
Launch Mechanics
Your lower body is critical to free-throw shooting success. Square up your toes, hips and shoulders to the basket. Set your feet shoulder-width apart. Find the proper knee bend. Too much bend causes you to shoot too hard. Stiff legs force you to rely too heavily on your arms. Keep the ball high as you bend down and come up to simplify your release. Shift your weight forward with your shooting motion.
Release Mechanics
Rest the ball on your finger pads and not on your fingertips or palm. Keep your hands relaxed. Line up your index finger to the midpoint of the ball, at the valve. Tuck your elbows in. Position your shooting hand between your ear and shoulder. Put your balance hand slightly under the ball. Let it rest on your last two fingers. Shoot the ball with a smooth rhythm and even pace. As your legs go up, your arms go up. Flex your fingers and wrist toward the basket. Exaggerate your follow-through and hold it, keeping your eyes on the basket until the shot is complete.
The Ideal Free Throw
High arc and ample backspin are essential elements of good free-throw shooting. A North Carolina State University study found that a 52-degree release angle was optimal for a 6-foot-6 player. The ideal angle varies from player to player, but the ball should climb nearly as high as the top of the backboard at the apex of its flight. The ideal entry angle for the ball into the basket is 43 degrees.
Practice, Practice, Practice
Most coaches at every level include free-throw shooting in their practice routine. Good coaches will schedule free-throw drills right after a physically demanding drill, forcing their players to shoot while fatigued -- replicating game situations. But players should practice free throws as much as possible. Former NBA player Michael Young urged his son Joseph Young to shoot 100 free throws for every one he missed during his games for the University of Oregon. That is an extreme case, but high-end players shoot hundreds of extra free throws every week.
Free-Throw Line Focus
Success starts with gathering yourself at the free-throw line, blocking out distractions, forgetting the game scenario and confidently executing your shot. Develop a comfortable routine at the line, dribbling to get into rhythm, and use it every time. Keep your hand on top when dribbling so it can ease into proper shooting position. Slow your breathing. Clear your mind. Relax your shoulders. Visualize a made shot. Focus on lofting the ball over the front of the rim. Develop your key words and repeat them while shooting to reinforce your consistency. "Doing the same thing over and over and over gives you the chance to be consistent every time you shoot," claims Price, who made 90.4 percent of his free throws in his NBA career.
Launch Mechanics
Your lower body is critical to free-throw shooting success. Square up your toes, hips and shoulders to the basket. Set your feet shoulder-width apart. Find the proper knee bend. Too much bend causes you to shoot too hard. Stiff legs force you to rely too heavily on your arms. Keep the ball high as you bend down and come up to simplify your release. Shift your weight forward with your shooting motion.
Release Mechanics
Rest the ball on your finger pads and not on your fingertips or palm. Keep your hands relaxed. Line up your index finger to the midpoint of the ball, at the valve. Tuck your elbows in. Position your shooting hand between your ear and shoulder. Put your balance hand slightly under the ball. Let it rest on your last two fingers. Shoot the ball with a smooth rhythm and even pace. As your legs go up, your arms go up. Flex your fingers and wrist toward the basket. Exaggerate your follow-through and hold it, keeping your eyes on the basket until the shot is complete.
The Ideal Free Throw
High arc and ample backspin are essential elements of good free-throw shooting. A North Carolina State University study found that a 52-degree release angle was optimal for a 6-foot-6 player. The ideal angle varies from player to player, but the ball should climb nearly as high as the top of the backboard at the apex of its flight. The ideal entry angle for the ball into the basket is 43 degrees.
Practice, Practice, Practice
Most coaches at every level include free-throw shooting in their practice routine. Good coaches will schedule free-throw drills right after a physically demanding drill, forcing their players to shoot while fatigued -- replicating game situations. But players should practice free throws as much as possible. Former NBA player Michael Young urged his son Joseph Young to shoot 100 free throws for every one he missed during his games for the University of Oregon. That is an extreme case, but high-end players shoot hundreds of extra free throws every week.
Posted in: basketball
