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BASKETBALL SHOOTING and SHOOTING DRILLS
The basketball shooting information provided on this page is completely invaluable, however the best advice I can possibly give for shooting a basketball is study the eBook "The ‘Mental Key' To High Percentage Basketball Shooting," offered on this website. You must warm up before basketball practice, a basketball game, or before shooting a basketball. Each basketball coach and each trainer have special ways to warm up and I do not wish to discount what your coach or trainer practices. I am providing you with guidance only on warming up your shooting arm and your shooting form. If you need guidance on pre-game warm up and stretching check this page. After your normal warm up/stretch routine grab a ball and shoot ONLY lay ups. But - SHOOT THESE LAY UPS ONLY FROM THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE BASKET FROM YOUR SHOOTING HAND, YOUR DOMINANT HAND (right handers shoot the basketball from the left side, left handers shoot the basketball from the right side). Shoot these lay ups with your dominant hand. Shoot these lay ups flat footed. Shoot them with a little hop in your delivery. Shoot these lay ups jumping. Shoot a minimum of 50 and really, you should shoot at least 150. Why the opposite side? Shooting a lay up from the opposite side naturally forces your elbow in front of you, and in turn forces you to be aware of your elbow positioning. Shooting a lay up from the opposite side forces your hand to the best natural position behind the ball. To practice your free throw shooting mechanics, shoot the opposite side lay up as a set shot, imitating your free throw shooting stance. To practice your jump shot shooting mechanics shoot the opposits side lay up while jumping, imitating your jump shot motion. The opposite side lay up sets up a self policing naturally individualized mechanical shot. USE THE EXACT SAME SHOOTING MECHANICS FOR YOUR JUMP SHOT and USE THE EXACT SAME SHOOTING MECHANICS FOR YOUR FREE THROWS. Now that you're physically and mentally warmed up, and your shooting form is locked in, move out 1 step and put up a few shots as you move around the basket. Then move out another step and throw up a few as you move around the basket. As you continue moving out from the basket, 1 step at a time, you will eventually reach a point on the court where your shooting percentage drops below 70%. When that happens, return to your "opposite side lay up," put up a few until you're feeling natural again, then quickly work your way back out. Return to the "opposite side lay up" to reestablish your basketball shooting mechanics, your shooting form, your shooting technique, before moving out again. This is the ONLY way you should warm up for shooting. If you come out after your normal warm up/stretching routine and begin firing shots from behind the three point line, or shooting from the free throw line, or any silly shots, you do yourself a terrible injustice. A shooting coach will tell you he wants you to shoot free throws at the end of practice while you're tired, to simulate game conditions, your basketball coaching staff keeps a real close eye on the shooting technique you display at this time because this specific basketball shooting training exercise is when perfect practice makes perfect. So, before you begin shooting these late practice free throws, take a moment and shoot a few flat footed opposite side lay ups, to reestablish your free throw shooting mechanics. Why, you may be asking, is muscle memory so important? When you're in the flow of a basketball game, thinking is actually the last thing you want to do. You need to be relying on instinct and muscle memory to be controlling your actions. Normally the pace of the basketball game does not afford a basketball player time to actually think. Which is a reason basketball coaching staffs repetitively drill you and drill you over and over on the same issues. A coach wants learned behaviors to rule your play during basketball games. A coach wants you to predicatively react to situations presented during a game. Dr. Naismith could not have envisioned the modern day game of basketball. He never even thought of a lay-up until enough missed shots finally forced him to invent a back-board. The good Dr. would have laughed in your face had you told him people would jump high enough to dunk the basketball and that a slam dunk would be the most popular shot; that 7' tall men would be running up and down the basketball court with the agility and coordination of men 5' tall; that professional basketball players would be considered the world's greatest athletes and that basketball shoes would become the work of science and cost upwards of $100.00. Even if the good Dr. had access to, and could afford, a play-off game ticket, it may take him some time to realize he's watching the game he invented. Yes, basketball has really evolved from a peach basket nailed to a tree. Finally, many athletes, coaches, and trainers ignore the importance of warming down, or cooling down after practice or a game. When your body is warmed up is the perfect time to stretch, cool down, and relax yourself. This time must be taken to reduce chances for any serious bodily injury while insuring proper health and stamina. The best advice I can possibly give for shooting a basketball is study the eBook "The ‘Mental Key' To High Percentage Basketball Shooting," offered on this website.
The Following Books Are Recommended Reading For All Coaches and Players (you can find them in your library):
Beginner Players / Coaches:
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