shooting

During a scrimmage or a game,when i shoot, it feels a little different from when i shoot normally by my self. Also, I always forget to keep my eyes on the rim and even though I'm wide open to shoot sometimes, i loose all my focus on taking my shot. How can i fix that?

Think of this as a baseball player... who has to watch the ball to hit it.... you have to keep your eye on the target IF you are going to make any shots.
It seems like you are losing focus... maybe a little nervous... this is a game... have fun and things will get easier for you.

I got the following from Randy Brown:


1. Good Shooters spend time each day on proper shooting technique. Good Shooters use a chair to "form shoot" for 10 minutes before taking their first shot at the basket.
Poor Shooters spend time on their shooting technique when they "have time." Poor Shooters grab a ball and go the the three point line to begin launching shots.

2. Good Shooters work on moving without the ball and "prepare" the shoot the ball before ever catching it.
Poor Shooters watch for the ball to be passed to them, then think about getting a shot off.

3. Good Shooters start close to the basket and make 5 straight before moving back.
Poor shooters shoot from all areas of the floor "hoping to make it."

4. Good Shooters study other good shooters and follow their habits
Poor Shooters shoot the ball the same way without any help from others.

5. Good Shooters study the path of the ball and where the ball hits the rim. They make adjustments based on where the ball hits the rim; long/short, right/ left.
Poor Shooters judge their shooting accuracy solely on whether the ball goes in or not.

6. Good Shooters square up to the basket before shooing, called "Ten Toes."
Poor Shooters are not concerned with alignment they just want to quickly get their shot off.

7. Good Shooters shoot from an athletic position known as Triple Threat position. One quick movement from triple threat produces a solid shot.
Poor Shooters catch the ball in an upright position then take time to bend their knees before shooting. Poor Shooters do not play in triple threat.

8. Good Shooters use their whole body to shoot the shot. They know that their LEGS make shots with good form.
Poor shooters shoot the ball with their upper body only and throw the ball at the basket instead of shooting it.

9. Good Shooters follow through consistently by "throwing their hand into the basket."
Poor Shooters are inconsistent in their follow through resulting in inconsistent results.

10. Good Shooters understand the importance of BALANCE before, during and after the shot! The feet are always under their head.
Poor Shooters shoot off balance from all different kinds of angles. Their feet are rarely under their head.


How many of these describe YOU as a shooter?

Your goal is to accomplish all 10 of the "Good Shooter" characteristics as you grow and develop as a basketball player.

What is your score out of 10 and how badly do you want to be a Good Shooter?
(See #1)

Good luck,
Ken

thanks for your reply it helped a lot and what does this mean:

Good Shooters use a chair to "form shoot" ?

I never did that with my players but I imagine it means to sit down and work on your form.

i do that sometimes while sitting on the couch and look in the mirror practicing on my form

I like the idea of standing by a wall and shooting with one hand better... but that is just my opinion.

Ken

its hard for me to do it like that, but do we do it like that?

i mean how do i do a one handed shot. The ball always slips out of my hand when i try to do that

Try this...

One dribble... bring it up to the shooting position with one hand.. that forces you to have your hand under the ball and your elbow under also.

Then bring the ball up and shoot against the wall and HOLD your follow through.

Try this and let me know how that goes.

Ken

thanks, it works, and so basically when doing shooting should my index or middle fingers be the last to leave the ball?

I wouldn't concentrate on which finger... IF you do the rest of those things correctly, that will take care of itself.

Ken

when i was doing form shooting, i did around over 60 shots in a row nonstop and my wrist started to hurt for my shooting hand. Is that bad? i went inside right away and iced it

I don't know what you could be doing to hurt your wrist on your shooting hand... pain is usually a sign of something being wrong... what are you doing with your wrist to cause this?

Ken

MY wrist probably got tired, but it doesn't hurt anymore

Keep practicing... remember... practice doesn't make perfect.... PERFECT practice makes perfect. The more you shoot the better shooter you will become.

Here is a quote to help you keep things in perspective...

"Keep your sense of humor. There's enough stress in the rest of your life
to let bad shots ruin a game you're supposed to enjoy."
Amy Alcott

Ken

thanks for the quote. I've been playing basketball ever since a little kid, and i am in grade 11 now. I didn't used to like basketball when i was little up to like grade 7, but at the end of grade 9 i started taking it very seriously, and now i love basketball and want to be the best player i can be. I am in grade 11 now, and an average player with excellent dribbling and OK shooting. Is it possible in a year's time for a person to become an unstoppable player form an average player if i train hard enough

Nothing that you really want to do is impossible... but one year - that's going to be a little tough. You want to go from average to the top in one year... think about it like this..... Life (as is basketball) is a journey, not a destination. It takes time to accomplish the goals that you have set for yourself.
Think about improving a little bit every day... and keep working at it... there might be some great days where you make huge strides... and then there might be some days where the you only make minimal advances. BUT, as long as you keep practicing you WILL get better... the amount of time you spend doing this will dictate how much better you get and how fast.
There is a great video on the net IF you can find it... entitled:
"The Best Way Out is Through"

Hopefully you can find it, good luck.
Ken

ps - Joe/Jeff - I still cant bring a link to this site from AOL

i found the video, its very inspiring. but i need to fix another thing. Sometimes when I'm free i could be playing outside and practicing basketball but instead i make a stupid excuse and start watching TV instead. How can i stop myself avoid doing that?

You need to sit down and WRITE your goals down on a piece of paper.... have a couple of copies around... certainly one by the TV remote... and everytime you don't feel like working out... take a look at your goals... and ask yourself.. which is more important?

Basketball or your favorite TV program...

Just remember.... when you are sitting around watching TV there is someone out there working harder than you at his game. You have to decide what is more important to you ... being the best basketball player you can be or the best couch potato. :-)