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ATTENTION: You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to it. If you'd like to remove yourself from this mailing list, please see the instructions at the end of this newsletter. Our subscriber list is NOT made available to other companies or individuals. We value every subscriber and respect your privacy. PLEASE excuse the advertisement paragraph
you'll see at the top of this Newsletter. Because I have a "free"
service with the Mail List company (Topica), they insert that
ad to help them pay for the service. Sorry for the little commercialism. 1. Welcome from the Coach Most players are on these lists because of their impressive stats. However, some of these shooters didn't have the best technique -- what I would call a "repeatable" technique -- but they shot well under pressure anyway. They had great "mental" skills, like concentration, confidence, and a "will" to make their shots. Without seeing them shoot, I can't comment on their technique. If you know how I can get or see clips
of some of these shooters, please let me know. There must be
websites that have archived footage of shooters. Thanks for any
help with that. Top 14 shooters of all time (with lifetime
averages and percentages): According to Sportswriter Carl Steward,
Oakland Tribune, 2/12/00: Top 25 all-time Top 15 then playing (Feb. 2000): ------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ When I do clinics and camps, I've begun stressing "the things that matter" when it comes to shooting. In my research into this subject, I've come to identify a few things that really make a difference. I'd like to discuss them here: 1) THE HAND MATTERS In the Setting and release of the ball, the position of the hand really matters. By that I mean it's important that the hand be directly behind the ball and that it's aligned with the shooting eye and target. Then when you straighten your arm in the direction of the basket, the ball is in line, and it stays in line if the wrist and hand don't pull or push it off line. A Set Point above the eye is preferable, so it's less easy to block, but below the eye for younger, smaller players can work equally as well. When the hand is in line with eye and basket, the elbow is NOT directly under the ball. It is off to the side from 4 to 6" or more, depending on the length of your arm. That's just how we are built. Note if you bring the elbow under the ball, it will tilt the hand off the target. A coach in northern Minnesota who hosted clinics last month was fascinated by this and could see it was a major thing. He had always thought that the elbow needed to be brought into the body and under the ball. He would tell his girls that he should not be able to see the elbow from behind. But now he sees the advantage and simplicity of having the hand matter more than the elbow and he has shifted his coaching. (Note: The elbow position is something that does NOT matter in my opinion. If your hand is aligned with the shooting eye and basket (with the fingers basically vertical), the elbow will be a little to the side. This is determined by the way the hand, wrist and arm are built. The elbow will not be a lot to the side [called "flying" elbow"], because that would mean the hand is no longer aligned. The elbow position can be ignored.) 2) STANCE MATTERS This stance allows you to be more natural and tension-free as you bring the ball to the Set Point and release it on it's flight to the basket. A "square" stance is relevant to a two-handed set shot or free throw, shots that are basically obsolete. 3) A SET POINT IN FRONT OF YOUR HEAD MATTERS If you bring the ball above the head and overhead too far, it sabotages the idea of a push and requires a wrist flip, arm throw or sling to get the ball moving toward the basket. Those latter actions create flat, hot shots with a lot of variables. A pushing action aimed high above the basket gives you a simple and more "repeatable" motion, much more predictable. 4) THE USE OF LEG POWER MATTERS The exception to this is inside turnaround jumpers by the big players who can jump high. For them, it's important to elevate before shooting, so some "hang time," as I like to call it, is merited. This works for the 5', 6', 8' shots and a little longer. However, I can see that it's important to "catch" some of the leg drive even for these shots, to help power and stabilize the shot, at least 10-20% or more. You can also raise your Set Point for these shots to allow you to make a quicker Release without worrying about being too strong. An example of this way of shooting is Rasheed Wallace of Portland. Watch how he sets the ball very high but still has 4-5 inches of arm to straighten so he can have the same Release every time. He also shoots near the top but not "at" the top. When he shoots longer shots, he lowers his Set Point. 5) HEIGHT MATTERS 6) THE RELEASE MATTERS 7) THE FOLLOW THROUGH MATTERS When you're shooting long shots, three's especially, the Follow Through really matters! You cannot afford to be off by more than a degree or two from that range. A connected and strongly focused Follow Through helps you keep the ball on a good line to the basket. 8) SPIN MATTERS Take some shots using a lot of wrist and hand action and watch the spin. You will impart different speeds of backspin, depending on how hard or fast you drive the ball. Then just push upward with a relaxed wrist and hand (the hand will bounce if the wrist is totally relaxed) and see what you get. If the arm-straightening action is done pretty quickly, you'll see the spin is medium fast. The speed of the spin depends on how quickly you straighten the arm, but when you can learn to do it pretty consistently, the spin will become consistent, too. 9) VISION ON TARGET MATTERS 10) MENTAL STATES CAN MATTER Mostly the problem is "negative" mental states that interfere with performance. If, as you go to shoot, you are filled with doubts and fear of missing, it will be difficult to perform at your potential. If your technique is questionable -- if it's "flawed" -- then, of course, you won't have much confidence in it. To me that's the way most players shoot. Their techniques are not that consistent and predictable, so when they shoot, they don't know exactly what's going to happen. If they make a shot or two, their confidence rises. If they miss, it falls. Great shooters have flawless technique and a high level of confidence and trust in themselves. It isn't "positive thinking" -- "I am a good shooter, I am a good shooter." It's a confidence that comes from the success they have. It's not contrived. If you know what to do and can do it, what's the big deal? Of course you will trust yourself! When good shooters miss, they know what misfired and can make self corrections the next time. When they are truly on, they can make shots all night from everywhere.
------------------------------------------------------------ I have now placed a fourth document in
my "For Coaches" section that has additional coaching
ideas in mostly a Q&A format. You can go to the web page
to read the items, with links from and back to the Index to make
the reading easier than in a newsletter. Here are links to all
four collections: ------------------------------------------------------------ Basketball is fascinating! Shooting well is a thrilling physical act! In my travels I meet a lot of young players who deeply love basketball. They attack it with a passion and fever that is inspiring to me. It is truly a great game, when it's approached that way, as a love, as a passion. I'm sure you love to see yourself perform well. I know we all need to prove ourselves in different things. Basketball is one of those arenas where we can see how we're doing, how much we're learning, how we learn! The basket grades us as we strive to put the ball into it. It gives a readout of how focused and concentrated we are. We can see how much we're trusting ourselves to do things. Basketball is also a great team game. You interact with teammates and coaches on a deep level, and it can be an exciting arena to be in. Give it your best effort, all the time. Ask for coaching in those areas where you're weakest. A LIFE LESSON IN ATTITUDE But then she had a shift, a mental shift! She decided that, rather than complain and be depressed by her lack of minutes, she could become a "cheerleader" for the team and give it all she had whenever she did get a chance to play. It didn't change her minutes, but it changed her experience and, I'm sure, the experience people around her had of her! I happened to watch her on TV for a few minutes during this time and I saw an "unstoppable" player, moving quickly, powerfully and gracefully on the court. Even though she didn't play very long, she was going non-stop, trying to upset the opponents at every chance on defense, and constantly moving and causing things to happen on offense, taking shots when she had an opening. I think she missed the couple of shots she got, but they were good shots and could have dropped. The main impression I got was that she was a "force to reckon with" on the court. So, get this, her "attitude" changed, not her physical predicament. Her minutes were not changing, but who she was as a person had changed. I was aware of her situation and could read the stats, usually few shots, few points. Then one day I was looking at the stats and saw her name on a different team and she was getting shots and points. I was very surprised. It was a team she used to play for. Obviously she had been traded, and in just the few games since the trade, she's playing 4 times the minutes and scoring 5 times the number of points she was averaging. She's now a key player on the new team. She feels great, is making 50-60% of her shots, has a whole new future ahead of her. -------------------------------------------------------------- "Since I'd already accepted the decline
and even the bottom of my career, I felt no pressure at all.
I just went out and enjoyed the minutes I was getting. I never
really understood why I wasn't getting minutes (on my old team).
I don't understand why I'm getting minutes now. But things have
really changed. I think my career just got extended by a few
years and I'm exhilarated to be home. Plus, my shot has been
excellent ever since I put on my new (old) uniform. I'm just
going along with the ride right now and enjoying each minute
I spend on the court." A song lyric: "If you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with!" The lesson here is that you can't always change the environment you're in, but you can change who you are being, your attitude. If you're feeling sad or discouraged or unappreciated, you're probably showing that feeling. Your body language is picked up by others and may serve to keep you in your predicament. If you can catch this "negative" behavior and make a switch (for example, to being appreciative for what you have, being grateful, being open, being loving, being optimistic, being fearless, etc.), you can often transform your situation. At the very least it will be more fun and teach you how you are in control of who you are "being." Your "new" you will affect your surroundings and the people you are with. This example has a trade of teams that came completely out of the blue. She didn't expect it, wasn't even asking for it, but maybe her attitude shift affected her future. Maybe it was just a lucky thing, but then luck comes more to those who work hard, love life, look for opportunities, and believe in new possibilities around every corner. ------------------------------------------------------------ I invite you to bookmark my Website (http://www.swish22.com) so you can go there easily to catch my latest comments on shooting. You can read about my video there (including endorsements, testimonials, reviews and an Overview of the video), my coaching, and the many articles on shooting I've written. You can see video clips and archived back issues of this Newsletter and, of course, subscribe, if you're not already getting this on a regular basis. Please tell others about this newsletter,
my site, and my video. Forward the newsletter to them and suggest
they read it and the many archived issues. Send them the URL
(http://www.swish22.com) and let them know there's a proven method
for powerful shooting. Note I'll be in Idaho and Minnesota in August for clinics and one Coaches' Training. Check the clinic website for the latest details. Other places and dates are being planned as we speak (read). If you'd like to organize some shooting
clinics or camps, please call or email me. I'll be scheduling
Coaches' Trainings at each stop as much as possible, too. Stay
in touch for them. ***Important: Please note that when you "subscribe," Topica, the company that manages the free list for me, will send you a "confirmation" email and offer you two ways to "confirm." I SUGGEST YOU USE THE SECOND OPT ION! The first option is to click on a link to Topica where they will ask you open a free account with them. This is okay to do, as they have good free mailings lists, discussion groups, etc., but I think most of you just want to subscribe to the newsletter. You do that most easily by the second option, just REPLYING to the email. That's all you need to do, no need to key anything. Click on this email -- it will start the subscription process: Subscribe me. To UNSUBSCRIBE from this Newsletter, just send a blank email to the following: Unsubscribe me ------------------------------------------------------------ |