Not Squaring Feet?

I was listening to an interview done with Tom Nordland who claims that you don't need to square your feet when shooting and then he goes on to say the elbow isn't important, neither is the flick. Personally, I'm already a great shooter, like to the point where I can be deadly, but I just wanna know if this guy is full of it, or is he saying something right?

his site is swish22.com and the interview is here if you want to listen.

http://doubleyourscoringaverage.com/?id=btball

Yes, Tom is correct. I have listened to him many times and watched his DVDs. He has one of the best shooting approaches there is.

With that said, consistency is the most important thing. If you study the greatest shooters, not all of them shoot exactly the same. Their shots look a little different, right? But what they all do is they shoot the exact same way each time. They place the ball in their shot pocket the same way, they jump the same way (height), they follow through the same way, etc. Their shot just looks the same every time.

So if you are a deadly shooter, you might not need to change. And I'll bet that if you watch film, you probably shoot in games similar to what Tom teaches. Most players think they always square to the basket, but when they watch film of themself they notice their body naturally turns and compensates.

Anyway, good question. Glad to hear your trying to learn and get better.

Personally, I believe squaring your feet and aggressively snapping your wrist forward are two causes for inconsistent shooting. When I was a freshmen in high school, I changed my shot to do both. Guess what. My shooting percentage went down, down, down.

I like to do things a little bit different than Tom, but I still believe he does make some great points about shooting. As you probably heard in the article, squaring your feet derived from the two-handed set shot.

I like to teach the staggered stance. I like to teach that the shooting foot should be slightly in front of the back foot. For example, if you shoot with your right-hand, your right foot would be forward. I usually like to align the toes of the back foot between the heel and the midfoot of the shooting foot.

I also like the staggered position better than the wide open stance because I feel that it is a more athletic stance to make athletic movements out of such as jumping, cutting, and pivoting.

I teach that the players should point the shooting foot at the rim. I'm not too picky on it being dead-center.

Rather than floppy wrist, I like to say "relaxed" wrist.

This video was also very convincing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-ejFVxQtlo

Wow, the video is really convincing. I just got back from shooting around for a little and didn't really see a difference.

Then another question about the follow through, just so I can get a general sense of what you mean on relaxed...it should be a soft touch off of the front two fingers?

I think that when we talked about squaring up, we were teaching to square up to the basket.... not so much your feet as your shoulders... as you go into your shot your feet will turn slightly.

Best advice - get comfortable with your shot and as Jeff and Joe say, be consistent. It's all about muscle memory. I used to use the term, reach into the cookie jar upon release.... not flicking your wrist. A soft touch off the fingers is a good way of putting it.

By the way, IF you are already a great shooter, don't change a thing - just work on the consistency thing.... and we can always get better. What do you shoot from the FT line? Short jumpers like the short corner range? Mid range Js? From the arc? ( percentange wise )

I heard the same exact interview, and I liked some of the things he said. I don't square my feet to the basket, but I don't square my shooting shoulder to the basket either. I turn slightly and I put my shooting foot in front of the other like Joe said (staggered stance) but my shooting foot isn't always pointed directly at the rim, sometimes to the side of it. But I was surprised when he said you don't need to flick your wrist. I always flick my wrist and my wrist doesn't flop either. I don't flick my wrist as hard as I can, but I just flick it in a natural motion when shooting, not in a soft flop, but not a hard flick, somewhere in between. I am a good shooter, not deadly or anything, but I'm a good shooter, so I don't want to change my release to a "flop". however, somedays I shoot better than others. somedays I'll shoot 62-65% from 3 pointers, but somedays I'll shoot 55-58% from 3's during my shooting workout. however, my form is consistent, and even though I flick my wrist, it is the same shot every time, and I shoot 750-1000 shots a day, and I am comfortable with my shooting form, I consider I have good form, but sometimes I miss right and left. I don't know how it happens, but it happens every few times. I know shooting is about keeping the ball straight all the time but I still miss to the side sometimes. I guess the solution is to just keep putting up shots, because I'm already shooting around 60% from 3's when I practice, so the percentage will just go up the more I shoot.

Mikko - If possible, you might want to film your shot and upload it for us. If you're missing to the left and right, I suspect a very minor "adjustment" will help. Shooting 1000 shots a day is great, but if you practicing with a critical flaw, it won't help. Your just perfecting a flawed shot.

Even watching yourself on video can help. Actually, as I think about it, I'll bet your feet are the reason you miss left and right. Consistent footwork is very important. If you can video tape yourself, make sure we can see your feet. We might be able to help.

I agree with Jeff, its a lot easier to correct a problem IF we can see it. Otherwise it is just guess work on our parts...... you might think that what you are doing is correct and when someone else takes a look they can see a minor flaw that is hurting your shot.

alright I'll try to get you a video. I uploaded one before, like 3-4 months ago but my form has changed a little bit since then, and so has my footwork, I used to have a parallel squared stance. And you can also be able to check out if I have a relaxed wrist, even though I flick it

I think I remember looking at that video.... and your form looked pretty good then.... and you were pretty successful correct? Like they say - "IF it aint broke, don't fix it!"

I would still like to see how you are shooting now...... (then find the other one you downloaded and we can compare.)

here is the new video http://www.viddler.com/explore/Kozbo32/videos/2/ sorry for the short pause midway through the video. please give me your feedback. On that 2nd view, it seemed like my elbow was way to far out. lets see what you think

In the first part... it looks like you are letting your arm fall to one side after or as you are shooting .... try and hold your follow thru until AFTER the ball goes in the net.

The second part your elbow is far out but you seem to get it under the ball as you are shooting......

Let me suggest this to you, start in a little closer and shoot with ONE hand only..... one dribble, bring the ball up and go into your shot.... that will force you to keep your elbow under the ball right away. Hold your follow thru until the ball goes in.... (this is all about concentration and creating muscle memory.) You can do this against the wall too, that way you wont be worrying about the shot going in.

Give this a try and let us know how that works for you.

I'm about to get a video within the next few days for critique. I'll post it when I record it.

alright I understand that follow through stuff. So how long do you recommend shooting with one hand off the dribble? Is my shot fine? should I continue to put up my daily routine of 1000 shots (mostly 3 pointers, but some off the dribble mis-range)?should I focus on trying to bring my elbow tighter to my body? and what about my footwork? I shoot very well some days and poorly on a few days, but I am around 60%. Is that elbow the reason I miss left and right sometimes? and do I need to change my release to a flop? I notice that the 2 greatest shooters don't have their elbow in either.
http://blog.masslive.com/parquetpride/2008/05/medium_Ray-Allen.jpg
http://www.nba.com/media/act_reggie_miller.jpg

As I watched you shoot - one part the elbow seemed to be in closer... the second part... it was way out....... As for the one handed dribble / shot.... do that as a warm up every day, just to get your form corrected.

Like I said, it seems like you are getting your elbow under the ball as you shoot... but IF you are missing left or right... something is wrong with the follow thru... it has to be the same every time. 60% is pretty good shooting young man, you can play for me anytime. I think that you can get better by correcting the elbow... JMO - take a look at your video, your elbow is pretty far out there.

I always taught having the elbow in, lets see what the other coaches say. BTW, don't forget that those guys are PROS, some of the best in the business..... Do what's right for you, don't worry about someone else.

alright thanks Coach Sar. So I'll do that one-handed dribble/shot drill everyday as a warmup, and as I shoot, during my shooting workouts, I'll focus on having that elbow in. And I'll try to make my follow through and stroke consistent everytime so I don't miss right or left, and that will probably just come with repetition. did you see anything wrong with my footwork?
so basically I'm going to continue shooting with high amounts of repetition (750-1000 shots per day), and I will focus on bringing that elbow in tighter. unless another coach see's another flaw, I'll keep my release as a "flick" instead of a "flop"

Footwork looks fine.... lets see how the one hand warm up goes and then how you shoot... do that for a few days and then let us know if you see any improvement or change in your shot. You're a hard worker, keep after it. :-)

Here’s what I see, Kozbo32,

1) STANCE: Open, I feel that’s effective. And you want to step in to the shot for the most power.

ANSWER: Stance is okay.
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2) POWER: You bring ball up to your S/P and appear to stop and wait for legs to drive the shot.

ANSWER: Start the leg action first and then set and release the ball in one motion. It will be more “in synch” and also more powerful. If you’re trying to jump over someone, that’s a different kind of shot.
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3) SET POINT: In line with right ear, maybe right shoulder. Are you right-eye dominant? If yes, that would explain it. If you’re left-eye dominant, then you want the ball to line up with the left eye. Bottom of ball is around nose to mid-forehead (it appears to change). You want it to be consistent for a jump shot.

ANSWER: Have S/P be in line with left eye, if not right eye dominant. If you are, then align with the nose as a compromise. Start Release at same point, with bottom of ball above the eyes, all the time for a jump shot (you appear to have enough strength to have it above the eyes).
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4) SETTING THE BALL: You bring the ball up your right side, in line with shoulder approximately.

ANSWER: It would be much better to bring ball up your left side, in line with your left eye and basket the whole way. If right eye dominant, then come up the nose as a compromise.
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5) ELBOW IS FLYING: Because you have the ball aligned with your right ear/shoulder, the arm is across the body and the elbow is out excessively. Thus control of direction is much more difficult.

ANSWER: Open stance more (up to 45º) and bring ball up left eye (or nose). Then elbow will be out, but not flying. You want the hand to be in line with left eye (or nose) and face the target. To do that the elbow has to be out ... a little. Forget any worries about the elbow. It will be where it has to be. The hand position is what matters!
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6) RELEASE: It’s a wrist flip, and the arm straightens and then moves off the target to the left as you shoot. The hand finishes to the left, also.

ANSWER: Release can be a “Push and Flop,” with relaxed wrist and hand, hand just flopping forward and relaxing. This turns all the possible variables of arm, elbow, wrist, hand and fingers into one Constant, a motion that can become “repeatable.” It thus puts control into bigger muscles.
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I hope this helps. For further coaching and ideas, visit my website (http://www.swish22.com) and also consider getting my top-rate “Swish” and “Swish 2” videos there, especially my masterpiece, Swish 2.

Tom Nordland

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Tom Nordland, Swish International, Inc.
Website: http://www.swish22.com
Email: Tom@swish22.com
Creator of the Swish approach to shooting
For a Basketball Shooting Renaissance!!!
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THREE EXAMPLES OF EXTRAORDINARY SWISH SHOOTING!

1) Here is video footage of 14-year-old “Swish” shooter, recorded three years after learning the Swish Method from Tom in Maryland. To this day he and his dad continue using the tools and methods they learned, and Gavin here brilliantly demonstrates the technique. Look at the beauty of his shooting!

http://go.webvideoplayer.com/view/RHZhKYJ0tiD4Ec9CTkaW23246

2) Here's a clip I just got of a 12 year old boy (93 lbs, says his dad) named Joe from Palo Alto I've coached a few times. Just see the control and confidence this young boy has. It's the confidence of "knowing." He recently won a shooting championship at a big sports academy in Florida, beating boys up through high school, some of whom are committed to Division 1 schools.

http://go.webvideoplayer.com/view/eGB9csEvgAmqRfTanxIY23668

3) NEW: Here is the latest of Joe from Palo Alto, draining 3's.

http://go.webvideoplayer.com/view/nkywrjFxdOqJmhbopaUC24581

Anybody can learn to do this. And then you learn to do it faster and quicker, and then with a defender in your face, and, voilà, you're "A SHOOTER!"

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NEW SWISH FLYER TELLS THE WHOLE STORY!

This two-page PDF tells the story of the need for more effective coaching of shooting and how the Swish approach to shooting solves that need. The answer is a simple, easily learned approach anyone can learn and most can master:

http://www.swish22.com/assets/SwishFlyer.pdf

tom, thanks for answering. I sent you an email btw. I have read everything on your website and I am working on those changes. If I post another video with those changes, will you analyze that too?