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By Dr. James Gels, From the Coach’s Clipboard Basketball Playbook
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Former NBA Coach Hal Wissel of BasketballWorld.com:
First,
understand how important free-throw shooting is.At least 3 or 4 games per year in a 20 game schedule will be determined by free-throw shooting. All close games, the ones that really count, the close tournament games and conference championship games can be won or lost on the free throw line.
Coach Pat Summitt
Team Goals in free throw shooting.
Middle school teams should strive for 60% from the line, and high school teams should aim for 70%. You won't shoot as well in a game as in practice, so strive for 75% in practice (high school). Understand that this is a
team skill- become a good free throw shooting team.
Encourage and work with your teammates on free throws. Take a positive, aggressive attitude in shooting free throws. Take the attitude that you're gonna'
for fouling you. Think positive!
How to become good free throw shooters - fundamentals, attitude and practice.
In shooting free throws,
develop a ritual where you do it the same exact way every time.
Position yourself on the line the same way every time. Bounce the ball the same number of times, and take a deep breath before shooting every time. This creates muscle and mind memory, and helps you to be successful. Success creates confidence, and confidence creates better, more relaxed shooting.
Fundamentals
See Teaching/Learning How to Shoot.
1. Line up with your right toes just to the left of center so that your right arm and ball are lined up with the basket. Place the left foot back just a little. Shoulders should be square to the basket, or if you are more comfortable, you can turn the shooting side in a little toward the basket.
2. Put your weight forward on your toes, but
keep your back straightand don't lean forward. Keeping your back straight will keep you from stepping over the line. Bend a little at the knees. Your legs will provide the power with an "up motion".
Alternatively, some players find it more natural if they first stand with knees straight, but then initiate the shooting motion by dipping down and bending the knees, and then straightening them as they go up for the shot - a "down then up" motion.
3. Focus on the basket. Don't look at the ball or the flight of the ball. Visualize a swished shot.
4. Shoot with your right hand only (right-handed players) - not two-handed. Use the left hand just to help balance the ball. Release the ball from your fingertips to get backspin (rotation) on the ball.
5. Take a deep breath, and shoot. Use your legs for power and come up on your toes as you release the ball. If your back is straight, you won't cross the line or lunge forward. If you need more power, it's OK to jump a little on your release.
6. Follow-through. Keep looking at the basket and hold your shooting hand in the "gooseneck", follow-through position until the ball goes through the net.
Attitude
Make 'em pay attitude. Think and say to yourself "net" or "swish" before each shot. Focus on the ball going through the net. Be confident - this comes from success, and hours of practice. Don't let a missed free throw ruin your confidence.
If you miss one, just quickly analyze the miss and correct it. For example, if your shot was long, next one use less leg power, or use more arc. Too short, use more leg power. Off line, reposition yourself on the line, follow-through with index finger pointing at the target.
You won't make them all, so expect to miss a few, and don't let it bother you when it happens. The most important free throw is the next one!
Practice
Shoot free throws every practice. Come to practice 10 minutes early, or stay 10 minutes late, to shoot extra free throws. Each two hour team practice should allow 10 minutes for free throws.
Shoot free throws in the off-season. College players may shoot 2000-5000 free throws each summer! High school players should be able to shoot 1000 free throws each summer. Shoot 25 shots every day for 5 days of each week. In eight weeks, you will have shot 1000 free throws. Be sure your technique is correct, using the fundamentals above.
For fun, keep track each day of how many you made. Keep track of each week's stats, and see if you are getting better by the end of the 1000 shots. If you are not improving, there could be a flaw in your fundamentals, and you need to ask for help.
Here's another game, keeping track of your score each day. Shoot 25 free throws. Score a "swish" as two points, an "unswished" made shot as one point, and a miss as zero. A perfect score would be 50. Keep track of your personal best.
Learning distance control.
Here is a distance control drill. The basket is 18 inches in diameter. Move 9 inches in front of the line and while maintaining the same distance and technique on your shot that you would use from the line to swish the shot, now continue that same muscle memory and hit the back of the rim each time (missing the shot).
Then move 9 inches behind the line and hit the front of the rim each time (missing the shot). Finally, move back to the line and now swish every shot, using that same distance control.
Another drill: stand at the line, look at the basket, and
shoot with eyes closed. You'll be surprised how many you can make once you have developed good technique!
See this video (courtesy of Tom Nordland):
Related pages:
- Free-Throw Shooting Drills
- Teaching/Learning How to Shoot
- Hal Wissel's Shooting Free Throws
- Foul Shooting - by Ari Fisher
As a basketball enthusiast and someone well-versed in the intricacies of the game, let's delve into the concepts discussed in the article "Shooting Free-Throws by Hal Wissel" by Dr. James Gels. The article highlights the importance of free-throw shooting in basketball and provides insights from former NBA Coach Hal Wissel.
1. Importance of Free-Throw Shooting
Coach Hal Wissel emphasizes that free-throw shooting plays a crucial role in determining the outcome of basketball games. He suggests that 3 or 4 games out of a 20-game schedule can be decided by free-throw shooting. This becomes particularly significant in close games, including tournament and conference championship games.
2. Team Goals in Free Throw Shooting
Coach Pat Summitt offers guidance on team goals in free throw shooting. Middle school teams are advised to aim for a 60% success rate from the line, while high school teams should target 70%. Additionally, the article suggests striving for 75% accuracy in practice, recognizing free-throw shooting as a team skill.
3. Developing a Positive Attitude
The article encourages players to approach free throws with a positive and aggressive attitude. Players are advised to view free throws as an opportunity to make opponents pay for fouling them. Positive thinking is emphasized as a key element in building confidence, essential for successful and relaxed shooting.
4. Fundamentals of Free-Throw Shooting
Coach Hal Wissel outlines fundamental techniques for successful free-throw shooting:
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Consistent Ritual: Develop a ritual for shooting free throws, including positioning on the line, bouncing the ball a specific number of times, and taking a deep breath before each shot. This ritual helps create muscle and mind memory for successful shooting.
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Body Positioning: Align your right toes just left of center, with the right arm and ball in line with the basket. Maintain square shoulders to the basket, or adjust for comfort. Distribute weight forward on toes, keeping the back straight, and bend slightly at the knees.
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Shooting Technique: Focus on the basket, use the right hand for the shot (for right-handed players), and release the ball from the fingertips to generate backspin. Utilize legs for power, come up on toes during the release, and maintain a follow-through position.
5. Attitude and Mental Approach
The article emphasizes the importance of a positive mindset during free-throw shooting. Players are encouraged to think and say "net" or "swish" before each shot, visualize successful shots, and maintain confidence even after a missed free throw. The attitude is reinforced by a belief that the most important free throw is the next one.
6. Practice Strategies
Players are advised to incorporate regular and focused free-throw practice into their routine. The article recommends shooting free throws before or after team practices, with college players shooting thousands during the off-season. Tracking progress through personal statistics and engaging in distance control drills are suggested to enhance skills.
7. Learning Distance Control
The article introduces distance control drills to improve shooting accuracy. Players are encouraged to maintain consistent muscle memory while adjusting distances to hit specific parts of the rim. This includes moving closer and farther away from the free-throw line.
In conclusion, mastering free-throw shooting involves a combination of technical skill, mental fortitude, and consistent practice. Coach Hal Wissel's insights, as presented by Dr. James Gels, provide a comprehensive guide for players and coaches aiming to enhance their performance from the free-throw line.
