What is “Perfect” Basketall Shooting Form?

By Joe Haefner

Recently, I received an interesting email about Dave Hopla’s shooting form. It was in response to listing Dave as one of the shooting experts that we interviewed in our new Basketball Shooting Guide.

The email stated that Dave Hopla did NOT have great shooting form in the picture that was displayed on our site (you can see the actual picture on the right).

Now in all fairness, this is not a good picture of his actual shooting form.  But this comment brings up a really interesting and important point about shooting the basketball.   

Here’s my response that explains what I’m talking about:

You know what. I thought the exact same thing when I first started studying shooting. I thought Dave Hopla doesn’t have that great of shooting form, but after studying shooting for countless hours and developing our new Shooting Guide, I have came to a NEW conclusion on basketball shooting form…

You don’t need “perfect” or even “great” mechanics to be a great shooter. You need CONSISTENT & REPEATABLE shooting mechanics. If your shot is the same every time, it’s easier to make adjustments.

While I do highly recommend using “good” shooting mechanics, you can also look at Larry Bird’s and Peja Stojaković’s shooting form. Anybody with some knowledge of how to shoot would quickly notice that they had bad shooting form, yet they are arguably two of the top shooters that the NBA has seen in the last 25 years.

Even though, they didn’t have good shooting form, they did have the same shot mechanics on every shot. Now imagine if a coach would’ve said to Larry after he won back to back 3-point shootouts, “Now Larry, your form doesn’t look good so we’re going to have to change it.” As the old saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

I think us coaches (me included) get a little obsessed sometimes with perfection not only when it comes to shooting, but other areas of the game as well. We want the players to have the perfect defensive slide or the perfect passing technique. We forget that basketball is an art. There is no perfect way to do anything. The real question is “Is the player effective?” which pertains to anything in basketball.

I’m not saying that coaches shouldn’t critique and help players make adjustments to become a better player, we just need to be careful and use logic and rational when doing so. If a kid knocks down 50% of his three point attempts, but his elbow sticks out while shooting, I’m not going to be the one to change it. Now, if you have a kid with bad shooting form that shoots 20% from the field, you should try to help the player make some adjustments to his/her shooting form. That’s where coaching comes into play and where the top coaches/trainers earn their money. They know when to leave players alone and when to offer advice to help them become a better player.

And back to Dave Hopla, the guy makes about 98% or 99% of his shots. I’ve never personally seen his speeches or shooting demonstrations, but I’ve heard they’re simply amazing and very few people in the world if anybody can do what he does. He’s had demonstrations where he’s made 350 of 350 shots while talking to the audience the entire time. If any of my players could do that, I couldn’t care less how he shoots the ball.

Some of the NBA’s best players such as Kobe Bryant have consulted with Hopla. He is also currently an assistant for Washington Wizards. So I do highly value what he has to say.

The end goal is to put the ball in the basket. It doesn’t matter how pretty it looks. I know Dave Hopla does a heck of a job, so I’m more than willing to listen to what he has to say.

What are your thoughts about basketball shooting form?

Announcing our NEW Basketball Shooting Guide and Limited Time Discount: Increase Your Shooting Percentage

By Jeff Haefner

After 3 rewrites, over 1000 hours of research, 6 interviews with shooting experts, and tons of hard work…

We have FINALLY released the NEW Breakthrough Basketball Shooting System and Step by Step Guide!!

In this brand new system COACHES will discover…

• How to improve your entire teams shooting percentage.
• 55 new basketball shooting drills.
• 8 super effective shooting workouts.
• How to consistently develop long range shooters.
• The mental aspects of shooting.
• How to teach shooting fundamentals.
• How to easily break your players out of shooting slumps.
• Tips from the world’s BEST shooters and instructors.

Basketball PLAYERS will discover…

• How to become one of the best shooters in your league.
• 8 super effective shooting workouts.
• The mental aspects of shooting and how to easily get an edge on your competition.
• How to get more playing time.
• How you could earn a college scholarship.
• How to increase your shooting range.
• 18 basketball shooting drills for players.
• Tips from the world’s BEST shooters and NBA instructors.

Limited Time Discount 

You can get this new system at a discounted rate during the next 7 days, so be sure to check it out soon…

http://www.breakthroughbasketball.com/pr/btshooting.html
 

Tips From the World’s BEST Shooters and NBA Instructors 

The most exciting part about this program is that we have gathered advice and tips from some of the greatest shooting coaches and resources in the world.  We gathered all the best information we could find and compiled it in ONE PLACE.

We interviewed these 6 basketball shooting experts that have unbelievable credentials.  We also reviewed and researched dozens of DVDs and books to make sure we knew everything there was to know about shooting the basketball.

We’re really excited because this allowed us to create a phemonal product that is very unique and unlike anythign you’ve seen before.

The off-season is the best time to improve…

One thing you’ll discover is that the best time to improve shooting is in the off-season.  Whether you’re a player trying to improve your shooting percentage, or a coach trying to improve your entire team’s shooting percentage… most of the improvements happen in the off-season.  We’ll show you step by step what you should do in the off season and during the full swing of your basketball season.

Check out it out and let us know what you think:
http://www.breakthroughbasketball.com/pr/btshooting.html

Basketball Workouts With NBA All-Star Joe Johnson

By Don Kelbick

I had the opportunity to work out with Joe Johnson, NBA All-Star of the Hawks. He was in Miami for a quick vacation. This was what his schedule looked like.

Thursday 3 pm - arrive Miami 5 pm - strength training 6:15 - speed and agility training Friday 10 am - strength training 12:00 - shooting workout (450 made shots) 2:30 - yoga and flexibilty Saturday 9:30 - shooting workout (430 made shots) 12:00 - strength training 3 pm - massage therapy Sunday 10:00 - strength training 11:30 - speed and agility 2 pm - yoga and flexibility

Photo By Chris Nelson

Monday - 11 am depart Miami.

This is a guy who is 26 years old, single, wealthy and on vacation in one of the most decadent atmospheres in the world for the first time. Don’t let anyone tell you that NBA players don’t work hard.

What China Can Teach You About Real Basketball Teamwork

By Jeff Haefner

I picked up something interesting while watching the USA Basketball Road To Redemption TV series.  (If you’re not watching it, the program is really good. It’s on NBA TV and also the web link above.)

In China, basketball isn’t viewed as a sport that you wanted to gain glory in.  Instead basketball is more of a tool to teach teamwork, unselfishness, and the value of working together.

In fact, if a player on a national team scores 25 points in a game, it’s not considered a big accomplishment.  It would actually cause the coaches to call a team meeting and it would be crisis time. Because the player would look like someone who was seeking headlines and trying to break out of the collective.

This is an excellent reminder of what’s truly important.  As a coach, you should think the same way…  Basketball is a tool to teach teamwork, unselfishness, and the value of working together.

When you think about it, basketball is an amazing tool and opportunity for us to teach kids about teamwork and how to be successful in life.  Don’t lose sight of what’s important!

Are You A Leader?

By Joe Haefner

View this video on leadership from walkthetalk.com : Leadership Video.  It has some great stuff. 

Here is my favorite quote from the video:

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” - John Quincy Adams 

It doesn’t matter if you are a coach or a player, you are a leader to somebody.  It could be your players.  It could be your teammates.   It could be your family.  It could be your co-workers.  It could be a schoolmate.  It could be anybody.

www.walkthetalk.com has some fantastic videos and motivational quotes. If you haven’t signed up for their free newsletter, I would highly recommend it.

We Could Learn From Europe

By Joe Haefner

Recently, Josh Childress bolted from the NBA to play in Europe for a more lucrative deal. What really caught my eye when I was reading about this, was this quote:

“I assumed that I’d have to go average 20, 22 points a game here,” he explains. “But the Euroleague MVP most years averages like 12 points, five rebounds, and five assists. It’s an award that the guy who actually helps his team win the most wins. … My coaches here just want me to be versatile, and to play four positions, and to help the team win as many ways as I can.”

For the most part, Americans have become so obsessed with 20+ PPG that we forget the impact a player does all of the little things can have on a team. Obviously, Europe recognizes this and that’s one of the reasons, that the world has caught up with the U.S.

The whole mentality and development of basketball in this nation in the U.S. needs to change, and I believe it starts at the bottom with youth basketball. We need to do away with (or at least change) all of the Addidas, Nike, AAU youth camps that forces coaches and players to focus on winning, instead of the EMOTIONAL and PHYSICAL development of children. We have do not have any (or very little) logical progression and continuity with the development of youth players.

We have rankings for 10 year olds! Heck, I don’t know if I even knew how to tie my shoes when I was 10. Now, we have kids being compared against other kids nationally? Come on. Not to mention, I guarantee most of the kids are burnt out by the time they reach high school.

Year-long basketball, pressure for 10 year olds to college scholarships, and shoe companies talking to middle school players? Let kids be kids and let’s focus on their overall development.

Other parts of the world have picked up on this. Shouldn’t we?

Tips On Becoming A College Basketball Coach

By Joe Haefner

Here is another email conversation with Don Kelbick & an aspiring women’s college coach.  These tips are extremely useful to anybody trying to become a college basketball coach.

Question:

I am in the military. When I get out I want to coach women college basketball. I wonder what I need to do to get prepared, what degree does coaching fall under and any advice that I need to know to get started with coaching?

Don’s Response

Your email was forwarded to me by Breakthroughbasketball.com. I write many article for them and I have coached on the college and professional level for over 25 years. I hope I can help you.

In regard to degree requirements, it depends on what level you want to coach. At the Div. I level, just having a degree is enough. As you move down in level, the subject matter becomes more important. As you move down (Div. II, Div.III, NAIA), many schools look for a Master’s degree as well.
If this seems backward to you it is because of this reason, at Div. I level, they hire coaches. They have the resources to support an autonomous department. At lower levels, the athletic department is often integrated with other departments. For that reason, many (but not all) coaches on those levels have to teach as well. Also at those levels, it is very rare, if ever, that that there are full-time assistant positions that do not include teaching. Many departments are integrated with a Phys.
Ed/Recreation/Education Depts. Some are through Student Services. There are no hard and fast rules and each school is different. A lot of it depends on where their funding comes from. I would recommend that at least one of your degrees be in Education. Whether it is Phys. Ed. or somewhere else is up to you but most teaching areas tend to lean that way.

At sub-Div I levels, it is not uncommon for positions to be part time or coach multiple sports. Especially at the Div. III level you see a Head Coach and an Assistant in another. You will also see things like Sports Information or Facilities Manager or Intramural Director as an added responsibility. Again, this is based in finances. Many positions are part time, volunteer or Graduate Assistant (a great option if you want to get a Master’s Degree).

It is most important to know that coaching is very much a contact based, not knowledge based, profession. Even at the highest levels this is true.

I had a friend who is an NBA coach say to me “Nowhere on an NBA job description is the word competence.” It is who you know, not what you know that gets you jobs. Of course there are things you can do where you can gain contacts and knowledge. The best place is to work at summer basketball camps. Camps sponsored by Universities or “exposure groups” such as Eastern Invitational or 5-Star are the best way to go. They get the most knowledgeable and best connected coaches. Go to national clinics, such as Nike Clinics, and use them as educational and networking opportunities. You can volunteer as a coach or administrator at a basketball program near you. The biggest “surprise” for coaches new to college coaching are the administrative and ever-present recruiting responsibilities. The higher level you go, the less the job is about basketball. Academic and eligibility responsibilities are present every day.

Lastly, understand that it will take time and might be extremely frustrating as you try to establish yourself. There are a finite number schools and only a small percentage of jobs open each year. It is kind of like the Mafia, someone in front of you has to die for you to move up. You can use www.NCAA.org as a resource for job openings. You also have to understand that the political climate for males coaching in women’s sports is not really positive right now. There is a need for female role models to be in front of women and I am not sure that I disagree with that. That is not to say that it doesn’t happen, but it can be an obstacle.

I hope this gives you some insight. Don’t get discouraged, just keep pluggin.

Don

Offensive Tips For Coaches With Shooters & Post Players

By Joe Haefner

Don Kelbick recently answered a question about offense from one of our email subscribers.  It has some great information about utilizing post players and shooters within your offense.  Here it is:

Question:

I have one good shooter and two good post players. I need an offense for my team. Anything would help out would be great.

Don’s Response:

If only the answers were easy, we would all be undefeated.

I would need more information to give you an answer but I can give you some concepts.  Then you trust yourself and your instincts, keep it simple, use a little trial and error and I am sure you can come up with an offense of your own.

First, you say you have 2 post players. Most teams don’t have any so you are blessed. However, if they both posses the same skill set or have to occupy the same area, they will get in each other’s way and cancel each other out. That is why the “Twin Tower” experiments (Houston’s Sampson & Olajuon, NY’s Ewing & Cartright) didn’t work out too well.

Next, you say you have a good shooter. The effect of shooters with good post players is profound. If you use him wisely, he will open up many and varied options. Good shooters strip post help. If the shooter and the post player are on the same side, the shooter’s man cannot drop down to help in the post. If the shooter is on the other side, your players will be able to penetrate due to the fact that the shooter’s man cannot help. If his man does help, it will open penetrate and kick opportunities.

Lastly, an old concept but a very effective one. This is what most offenses are based on. The offense, with 5 players, is divided into a 3 man game on one side, and a 2 man game on the other side. Screen-downs with shooters and posts are very effective. Ball screens with kick opportunities are also very effective. You need to have someone to handle the ball though.

Keep your shooter moving, as much as possible. Use your post players to screen for him so the post defender has to make adjustments and that will open the post.

As I said, try and to keep it simple and experiment. Most of all, let the players do what they are good at in areas in which they can be successful.

I don’t know if this helps but hopefully it will at least be a start. Let me know if I can help you any further.

Don

Win More Games With This End of Game Defensive Tip for Players & Coaches

By Joe Haefner

In our Man to Man Defense System, we discuss situations and options when playing with the lead at the end of the game.

One of the options we discuss is to overplay the outside shot and force the players to dribble penetrate when you are winning by 3 points with minimal time remaining.

When doing this, it is important to have no help defense from teammates! All of the defensive players stay around the 3-point arc in the area of the offensive player they are guarding. Even if the player gets an uncontested lay up, you are still winning the game.

Here is the tip that can dramatically increase your chances of winning the game: When forcing the player to dribble penetrate, force them to the direction of their non-shooting hand. If they shoot with their right hand, force them to dribble to the left. Now, let me tell you why. If an offensive player is covered and can not attempt a 3-point shot, the player will often take one hard dribble and pull up for the 3-point jump shot or dribble inside the arc and use a step-back move to create separation to get the 3-point shot off. If you have forced the player to his weak hand, you are on the shooting side of the offensive player. Now, you are in great position to take away or disrupt the offensive player’s shot. This can result in: - A deflected or blocked shot. - A shot where the offensive player hitches or double-clutches, which dramatically decreases the chance of the shot going in.

By johntrainor

- An offensive player panics and turns the ball over.If you are not on the shooting side, you have to reach across the player’s body to disrupt the player’s shot which can often lead to a foul.

As a coach, if you do not feel comfortable with your players’ decision-making, have them put their arms straight up instead of trying to block the shot.

There are times that players will make miraculous shots, but this approach will help you win more games in the long run!

A great way to get your players to perform in the clutch is to use this End of Game Drill.  This drill is great for all levels, because it is also a fun way to end practice.

If you are a youth coach, I would NOT bother covering this situation in depth.  There are more important things to cover!

3 Simple Steps to Improve Your Rebounding

By Jeff Haefner

Rebounding is one of the most important, yet underrated skills in basketball. Of all the uncertainties that exist in basketball, the one constant is there will be missed shots. Whether a team shoots well or shoots poorly, often the winning or losing team is determined by what happens to the shots that are missed. The team that gets most of the rebounds gets additional offensive opportunities and that often translates into more points on the scoreboard, which usually means wins.

Becoming a better rebounder is simple and you can get there in 3 simple steps.

1) Conditioning

Basketball is a physical game. Running up and down the court over the course of a game will wear you out. In addition, there is a lot of physical contact. The closer you get to the basket, the more physical it gets. Remember, close to the basket is where most of the rebounds are. The combination of the running that you do during the game and the body blows you take while going after the glass is enough to wear anyone down. Often, rebounding comes down to a war of attrition, whoever is left standing at the end wins. The better condition you are in, the longer you can last on the glass. You will find that being in great condition will allow you to get rebounds at the end of the game that you might not be able to get early in the game.

Conditioning is a great equalizer. A player that is bigger and stronger than you are in the beginning of the game might not be so effective at the end of the game if you are in better condition than he is.

2) Knowledge

Just knowing a couple of things will drastically improve your chance of getting a rebound.

First, know personnel, especially your teammates. If you know other players tendencies, when they shoot and from where, you will greatly enhance your chances of grabbing misses. Knowing when shots will be taken will give you a quicker start to the glass and allow you to get better position than your opponent.

Second, knowing where the ball is going to go will also give you a great advantage over your opponent. The simple fact that 80% of all missed shot rebound at the same or opposite angle should give you a head start on the rebound. What that means is, if a shot is taken from the corner, 80% of the misses will rebound back toward the same corner or over the rim to the opposite corner. Shots taken from the wing will rebound either back toward the wing or toward the opposite wing 80% of the time.

Knowing these two things will put you in great position to collect any missed shots

3) Technique

You don’t have to jump over tall buildings or be stronger than a locomotive to be a good rebounder. You need good rebounding technique.

You don’t have to know a lot of things, only how to swim. What does that mean? A swim move is simple, quick and effective.

This is how to execute a swim move. The objective is to get your inside hip and inside shoulder past your opponent. As your defender either steps to box you out, don’t fight his pressure, use it against him. As he steps out, step inside of him with your inside leg (the leg closest to your defender on the side you want to beat him on). At the same time, use your inside arm (the arm on the same side as your inside foot) and “swim” over the top of his shoulder. It is called a “swim” because it is essentially the same stroke you use when you are swimming in a pool. The “swim” will allow you to get your inside shoulder past your defender. When timed properly, you will find yourself between the basket and your defender and in excellent position for the rebound.

Rebounding is an important part of the game of basketball and it is vital to the success of your team. With these 3 simple concepts you can improve your rebounding and become a significant factor in the success of your team and make you an invaluable asset to any team you are a member of.