Ralph was a 4 year varsity player for me. He was a key part of some really good teams.

He was a tenacious defender and a good ball handler. 

That said, he had one weakness that limited him from ever becoming an elite player. He was a below average shooter.

While there were a couple reasons for his shooting struggles, one stood out:

• He caught the ball with his shooting hand wrapped over the top of it.

This meant that for him to shoot, he had to cock his wrist back as he was bringing the ball up and then immediately snap his wrist forward to shoot and follow through.

There was just too much going on. As a result, his 3 point % never got out of the 20’s.

We tried various things to correct it, but none of them stuck.

I was reminded of Ralph’s issue when my oldest daughter started doing the same thing.

As I sought a way to help her, I came across a great cue . . . 

How Channeling Your Inner Pudge Rodriguez Will Help You Shoot More Consistently

When I worked with Ralph, I constantly told him to wrinkle his wrist. That was the hand position we were seeking. And yet, it never took.

Then I heard a coach say “catcher’s mitt.” Think of how a catcher holds their glove.

Their wrist is wrinkled as they await the pitch.

When I started using this cue with my daughter, it made a tremendous difference. I attribute some of that to the increased effectiveness of external cues (“catcher’s mitt”) v internal cues (“wrinkle your wrist”).

Now, whenever she falls back into that habit, I only say those 2 words.

The Value Of A Wrinkled Wrist

When you catch the ball like Ralph did, there’s a tendency to sling shot the ball. By starting with a wrinkled wrist, you can go right into the lift of your shot.

This creates a smoother and more accurate shot.

As you start to work on your shot this off-season, make showing your “catchers mitt” a priority.

Whenever you work on catch and shoot drills, show your hands. Have your shooting hand cocked back and ready to shoot.

This simple tweak will make you a more effective and efficient shooter!

2025 Shooting Camp Info

Want to improve your shooting during the offseason with personalized instruction?

While all 467 of our camps focus on shooting in some capacity, we also have 130 camps that specialize in shooting. 

These specialized camps—such as “Shooting & Offensive Skills” and “Shooting & Ball-Handling” camps—focus heavily on the techniques, drills, and confidence-building needed to develop elite shooters.

By the end of the camp, you won’t just have improved mechanics and learn tips like the one above—you’ll walk away with total confidence to knock down shots under pressure.

So if you want to learn the secrets of the game’s best shooters and take your skills to the next level…

>>>Check out our upcoming 2025 Shooting Camps and find one near you

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