Have you ever been in a shooting slump? Of course you have! If you play long enough, shooting slumps are bound to happen.

They happened to me as a player. And I’ve seen them happen to numerous players over 20 years of coaching.

As a player, it’s common to want to look to others to help you break out of your slump - parents, coaches, trainers, etc.

While it’s a good idea to seek help, it’s more important that you have tools at your disposal to help yourself!

In doing so, you can make sure your slumps stay is short lived!

The Caring Conundrum That Can Make Slumps Worse

If you’re reading this article, you are a dedicated player. That’s great. It gives you a leg up on your competition.

However, it’s possible to care too much. And that can make a slump worse.

Chances are, when you get into a shooting slump, you are aware of it. Because you care so much, it may be all you’re thinking about.

You may be feeling hopeless. It feels like you will never make another shot.

It’s painful because you see the gap between how you know you are capable of playing and how you’re actually playing. And the more you lean into that, the worse it seems to get.

You may even question if your hard work is worth it. If it’s not producing results, why put the time in? Deep down, I’m sure you know that’s not the right approach, but it’s easy to adopt that mentality.

So you want to try to bring down your level of care a notch to prevent making the issue worse. 

Of course, this is easier said than done. But it is important to be aware that your shoot slump is not being caused by a lack of care. 

With that said, let’s look at 5 ways you can flip the script on your slump.

Slump Busting 101: 5 Simple Ways To Start Swishing Again

• Remind yourself why you love the game - when you’re in a slump, basketball isn’t that fun. Take a few minutes and remind yourself what’s fun about the game for you. Reflect on how you first fell in love with the sport. There are a number of ways you could do this:

  • Close your eyes and remember some of your best basketball memories

  • Write out your thoughts in a journal

  By rekindling your passion, you will find the motivation to push through and keep the bigger picture in mind.

• Get back to the basics - slumps can be physical and mental. Maybe you’ve developed a bad habit. Maybe you’re thinking too much. Maybe both!

  Break the slump by getting back to the basics. This could mean you perform a favorite drill. It might mean going back to a shooting workout you’ve always enjoyed. It could just be going to the gym or an outdoor hoop by yourself and shooting (that experience is almost meditative for many players).

  Find what works for you and lean into it. Not only will your shot be better for it, but it will mentally ground you as well.

• Help others - when we are in a slump, it’s easy to become solely focused on yourself. This only makes the issue worse.

  Instead, think of how you can serve your teammates and team. What can you do to be the best teammate possible? If your shot is off, what other areas of the game can you put your attention towards?

  By taking the focus off your shooting struggles, they occupy a smaller place in your mind, freeing you up to play to your potential.

• Fight entitlement - yes, you work hard. Yes, you put time in. But that doesn’t guarantee you anything. Many players feel they DESERVE to make shots because they work hard. That’s not how it works. The game doesn’t owe you anything.

  Think about what you’ve already gotten from the game? A partial list might include things like new friends, travel opportunities, memorable games, physical fitness.

  The game has given a lot to you already. Instead of looking at your slump as an obstacle, view it as an opportunity. It’s a test. . . will you step up and pass?

• Develop a mistake response - when you’re in a slump, it’s easy to live and die on every shot. When you miss, you are tempted to hold onto that shot. Unfortunately, that makes it more likely that you’ll miss the next one.

  Try creating a mistake response. A mistake response is a quick action done after a mistake (in this case, a miss) that gets your mind out of the past and back into the present moment. It could be a physical action - snapping your fingers. It could be a verbal response - a word that cues you back into the moment.

  Having a mistake response keeps you in the moment and out of your own head!

The Mamba Mindset All Players Should Have

One of my favorite Kobe Bryant quotes was, “I’d rather go 0-30 than 0-9.”

Imagine the confidence it takes to go 0-30. Most players would stop shooting at some point. Not Kobe. And that’s part of the reason he was so great.

The ability to stay out of your own head is crucial to your success as a shooter. Use the tips above and you’ll short circuit and slump!

If you’re looking for more ways to become a great shooter, check out:

• The Breakthrough Basketball Shooting & Scoring System - shooting is the most important skill in basketball. It also might be the hardest to teach. In this product, Coach Jim Huber takes players through an encompassing program that covers the in & outs of shooting. He starts with form and then progresses players through increasingly higher levels of difficulty. After learning how to catch and shoot, players are taught how to shoot off the move & the catch.

Comments Most Likes First   Oldest First   Newest First

Leave a Comment Name : Email (not published) : Seven minus three is equal to?  (Prevents Spam) Answer :  Load New Question Comments : Leave this Blank :