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----------------------------------------------------------------- TESTIMONIALS, BATCH #16 (ASSEMBLED 5/22/08) ----------------------------------------------------------------- (Testimonials taken from Newsletters #96-102) ------------------------------------------------------------ FROM NLTR # 96 (April '07) ------------------------------------------------------------ "Hello, I purchased your video about 5 weeks ago. I must say that it is hands down the best money I have ever spent. The enjoyment i have in Basketball has rocketed. I think you know why. =) "I don't play for any school team, to tell ya the truth I just began playing basketball two years ago. I play mainly pick-up games and various intramural leagues in the area. I might not play on an official team, but I am well versed in many aspects of basketball fundamentals and plays. In one of my 3 on 3 leagues, I play with two of my best friends. We have 13 set plays, which basically are a combination of post-up plays, backdoors, pick & rolls (a lot of these). I basically took elements of a 3 man game, and strung them together so if one option does not work, it can easily flow into the next, most plays have 4 options, and most of them are very dependent on defense reaction and such. We aren't the most talented bunch, but we hardly ever lose due to good execution. "In any case, I watched your video, followed it step by step, and I practice some of the "drills" every time before I play. I am shocked by how great it has changed my game. Before you my game was basically low-post, high-post turn and face, or pick and roll. I felt very confident of most of my game except shooting from any considerable distance. I could drive good enough to get my man to play off me. After that my effectiveness dropped because opponents would play far off me on any pick and rolls, or screens to free me for shots. "After your video it has all changed. I now get the ball of the screen, jab step toward baseline and pop a jumper, SWISH. I will drive right, step back and pop. I find myself taking jumpers more then anything now. And making them with great success. And since I have proven my shot in game situation, my game to the basket has exploded. In a recent game I got the ball with my man playing off, I faked the shot, he respected, and jumped. With a wide open lane to the basket, probably forcing the man to come off my teammate and allowing a pass. I instinctively took a step dribble to my right and drained the jumper. "As you suggested I kept track of how i shot on the floor before the video. And then i just recorded myself earlier this week. I transferred it into percentages, and I am hitting uncontested 3 pointers and just inside the arc in amazing 48% percent better. From 32%, to 80%. I've hit jumpers with men all over me, with hand in my face. "You know what, I give up, I CANT explain in words how happy i am over this video, it has changed everything and I enjoy basketball so much, no longer am i ashamed to shoot around. Thank you, this style is just amazing. The weird part is, there was nothing to it. Just shoot early, same arm motion, and get that ball high. "It's amazing the look on my opponents faces, when i fling a jumper high over their outstretched hands. I personally don't even know how these things go in, they just come down and swish like i have never before." - - Brandon M., Lino Lakes, MN ------------------------------ "Tom, I purchased your video for my boys, and had them attend one of your clinics a few years ago. Before that several so-called experts in AAU and other leagues had advised me that my son, who was already a top shooter, needed to develop a real jumpshot, needed more hops, if he was to move to higher levels. The thing was, he tended to shoot better against bigger competition, and always had a consistency, so I was not thrilled making him shoot like Michael Jordan. "Being a fan of great shooters, I realized they had something different, that was currently being taught at youth levels, or mimic'd and the FG% showed it. I searched the Internet and found your articles, and was relieved that someone put foundation and theory behind what many great shooters of the past already instinctively knew. Before I was a so-so youth coach, now I am a good one, thanks to your material, and my 11 year old daughter and friends don't have to listen to some of the contradictory advise I sometimes gave to my boys when they began (like the "square up" advise). BTW, my oldest son is a senior at Westmont High in Campbell now, and was MVP of a tournament last week to begin the season." - - Clayton W., San Jose area ------------------------------ "Hi Tom, I am the guy who came to Frackville with my daughter, Jen, to join that girls high school team that you did the clinic for. It was awesome for me and Jen, although very reluctant at first, was very appreciative by the time we were finished. She especially loved how you took the time to give her a private viewing. You really helped her with working on a quicker release. It is a work in progress and as you know it is hard to do that work during the season. I have changed her shot a few times prior to Swish, so she is grateful to be working on something she can continue to improve on. She is a sophomore at Abington High in Pennsylvania and is playing point for more than half the game. Her confidence is growing on the foul line and a little with her outside shot. We need another spring and summer to really nail her Swish method. "A little funny story for you. We were playing an undefeated team in York, named York Catholic in a Christmas tournament. They are fresh off a AA State Title last year in which they have all 5 their returning players for this senior year (they have been together since 5th grade) of theirs and we were down by 21 early in the 3rd quarter when we began our comeback. There were 4 minutes left in the game and we were down 7 when Jen got fouled by their leading scorer in a 1 and 1 situation. I saw Jen smiling after she received the ball, I mean a full grin. She proceeded to swish the front end and then swished the 2nd to get the team within 5. We did not get closer to that and we lost by 9. It was a good confidence builder for the squad, though. "Anyway, I asked Jen what she was smiling at and she told me the girl walked by her on the way to set up for the rebound and said, "You can't make a God Damned free throw." After the time out, Jen went to cover her on D and said, "Can't make a free throw, huh?" It was cool Jen showed the confidence not to get rattled and drill the shots. "I just finished doing a humbling Swish Clinic (Thanx Coach) replica for Abington High 9th grade girls last Tuesday and Wednesday. The girls seemed very receptive. We shall see how it goes for them. "Keep up the great work." - - Phil K., Pennsylvania ------------------------------ "Hi Tom, Just a quick update on how things are going here. I think there would be quite a few coaches that would be interested in a clinic. I will have a word with the British Coaches Association and see what they say as they have organized plenty around the country. "As for my teams. The Under 18 team which won 3 games last season is currently second in it's division with a 6 - 3 record. Their confidence in their shooting is so much greater it is fantastic thank you. Two weeks ago I had a player score 29 points in a game. Everyone who watched said it was amazing and she has had such a boost in confidence! "I now have BBL players (the top league in this country) asking me to work on their shooting with them. I am also linking your principles to some that I learnt from the Pete Newell Tall Women's basketball camp dvd. They compliment one another! Thanks again." - - David L., U.K. ------------------------------ "Dear Tom, Thanks for the great video and good sound advice you gave me! I just wanted to let you know that my daughter Beth, and her Jr. High Team that won only 4 games last year, just won the District 2AA Conference Championship with a record of 23 wins and 5 losses! There is no doubt in my mind you helped us win this. "Beth started the Championship Game with a ten foot jump shot that was nothing but 'Swish,' and she went on to be high scorer of the game. That shooting confidence set the tone of the game for us! She also made two crucial free throws down the stretch. As a matter of fact, I yelled at her to shoot them with her eyes closed to break the tension for her at the Line, and she could have, because of the shooting style you showed us. She does it at home when she is practicing! "I'm sending you a copy of the newspaper article of this game. I want you to tell me how we can get you here to Mississippi for a shooting camp. If we leaned this much off your video, there's no telling how well our kids will do with you in person! Thanks again. You just don't know the pride and excitement we felt when these kids won the Championship! I played in some really big games in college, but this is one of the biggest games I have ever been a part of. Thanks for your help." - - Bill M., Grenada, MS ------------------------------ "Hi Tom: My son and I watched all or part of Swish 2 a couple of times over this past weekend. Fortunately, the weather here in Michigan (you never know in March) was nice enough that we could get outside and immediately work on what we learned. "I took your advice and had my son (12 years old) teach me the Swish 2 method which really reinforced the concepts for him. "The results were quite remarkable. He has always struggled with a flat shot (I probably had him shooting over his head at too young an age) resulting in a low shooting percentage. Reinforcing the basics (which were pretty solid) and then just concentrating on ball flight and Upforce had an immediate impact. His set and jump shots were so much smoother and most importantly he just couldn't miss. It really was quite amazing to watch. "While he still has a ways to go, practice is so much more fun now that he is making such a high percentage of his shots. "Also, the one thing that resonated with my son more than any other (and had the biggest impact on his shot) is keeping the ball in-line with the basket from beginning to end of the shot. We really worked on how he moved the ball from dribble or catch up into his set point. When he finally got it, his accuracy increased dramatically. "Thank you for your help." - - Grant S., Rochester Hills, MI ------------------------------------------------------------ FROM NLTR # 97 (May '07) ------------------------------------------------------------ "Tom: I still read your monthly newsletters, faithfully. I have Swish I and II. "Your SWISH method is unbelievable. It's like riding a bike. Once you learn the method, you never forget. I watched your video 'SWISH 2' again last week with my 15 year old son, Michael. We went over the steps to 'control flight of the ball to the basket,' His awareness of the correct method improved and so did his shooting. "Thanks again Tom. I am spreading the word. 'Swish22.com'" -- Bill D., New Brunswick, Canada --------------- -------------------------- [RE: Joe Ehrmann, the "Love Coach"] "Tom, I'm 51 and live in Baltimore. I didn't move to Maryland until 1966 when I was 11, so I wasn't a HUGE fan of the old Colts, but I eventually did become a fan and had season tickets for the final two seasons that the Colts were in Baltimore. I remember watching Joe Ehrmann, a 1st round pick of the Colts, part of 'The Sack Pack'. He was a heck of a player, but I digress. "I coach girls basketball at a high school in a Baltimore suburb. At our annual county 'coaches' meeting' this past fall, I had the privilege of hearing Joe speak to our county's coaches. A good many of them are in their 20's and had never of Joe Ehrmann, but of course he had a great deal of credibility with me and some of the other 'old timers' before he started. As Joe began his talk about 'the 3 great myths of what society says it means to be a man today' [athletic success, sexual conquest and financial success], a lot of the crowd, especially the young ladies in the audience, were kind of snickering and not really paying attention (what do they care about 'what it means to be a man in our society'). But, I can tell you that Joe had everyone's undivided attention by the end of his talk, and what a great talk he gave!! "I won't say anything more about the specifics of his talk, but I can say first hand that Joe's ministry is simply OUTSTANDING. When Joe accepted the call to God's service as he neared the end of his football career, he went back into the city of Baltimore, into the ghetto and the crime infested neighborhoods, to minister to people and to try to make a difference, and he's made a big difference in a lot of people's lives. "I don't know him at all really, but I love his message and loved hearing him speak. Thanks for highlighting him in a recent newsletter!!" -- Steve D, Baltimore ------------------ "Hi Tom, I read your "Swish Release" Newsletter religiously every month, it's a pleasure to read you each time. I was wondering if you know how many people receive this email each month? Maybe this can help you receive more testimonials if everybody knows how many people they can reach with their experience with your Swish method. "For my self, everything as change since I discovered by chance your website in 2003. The more I read, the more I'm convinced this is the best way to shoot. Before I was a post player, now I'm a shooter. My coaching is a lot different also, now every practice has a "free shooting period" with feedback from me but also from others players and mostly from themselves. "The best way to explain how much thing have change with my players is the following sentence that I hear more and more: "You know James, at the beginning you told me to use more legs power but I was not sure how to do it, but since you show me how to coach myself, try a lot of different way to shoot and be aware, now I understand what you say a few weeks ago with my legs, stance and everything." The best way to learn something and to be sure to remember it is to learn it by yourself and by doing mistake. "I can't thank you enough for all the thing you bring to my coaching and my game." -- James E., Québec, Canada "I leave you with those quotes from Michael Jordan who fits perfectly with your coaching, Tom." --------------------------------------------------------- -I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed. -You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them. -I can accept failure, but I can't accept not trying. -I never looked at the consequences of missing a big shot... when you think about the consequences you always think of a negative result. -I've always believed that if you put in the work, the results will come. I don't do things half-heartedly. Because I know if I do, then I can expect half-hearted results. -- Michael Jordan ------------ ------------------- "Hi Tom, As a long time recreational player, I ordered your video a couple of years back to help me with my jump shot. I play in a couple of city leagues and was never formally trained on shooting mostly learned on the playground and in pickup. As I got older my mechanics started to break down and I felt I was constantly adjusting my shot never shooting the same way while I had good shooting days I also had bad shooting days.I learned of you via the web and soon bought your DVD. After initially viewing it and using its principles I saw immediate results so I put it away for two years until recently when I began struggling again reverting back to some old habits. I pulled out your video and immediately realized that I was "throwing" my shot with a release point too far back and using too much arm/hand. I was also not using proper upforce but shooting on the way down. "Now, I'm back to consistently hitting my jumpshot and with range. Anyway, just got back from some pickup and after the third day in a row of hitting almost everything, I thought I would drop you a note. Great videosolid principles and something every hoop player could learn from. You deserve credit for creating this great learning tool simple, fundamentally sound and most of all effective." - - Arnie K., Brookline, MA ----------- ------------------ "Hey Tom, My wife bought me your dvds last year in November because I kept blatantly hinting to her that it's what I wanted. I never thought she'd buy it because she would have to buy it online and get it posted, save a few pennies etc. However, she bought it!!! and I opened it up as my birthday present... it was one of the best presents i've had. hehe i'm 24 now. But i was so excited. "But i may have been too excited. "I watched both dvds once and straight away i went to practise on a hoop. I went straight into doing what I "thought" i learnt from your dvd. 7 months later, my shot has improved a whole lot. I went from getting 1 shot in out of every 6... to getting at least 4 out of every 6. BUT!!! my problem was, i didn't really follow your programme. I didn't really do any of your drills. I just thought I knew it after watching you the first time. "However, the good news is.... my excitement has finally died down and i can actually slow down and apply your drills and take it slowly step by step. last night I did your zero point and then go back 3 feet drill for the first time. I was so amazed at how good my shot was getting. I was hardly ever missing. And when I did miss, i could tell why.... I'm slowly working on getting my release automatic and i'm loving it. "I can't wait to get back out there and do some more release training. I was also getting amazed when i could feel myself catching the up force. The ball seemed like it floated into the rim. "Even though i've had your dvds for half a year now, it is only until now that I feel as though i've actually really begun your programme. My excitement blinded me of taking it step by step... I just wanted to get out there and hit swishes... but now i'm taking your programme steps in your reader manual step by step and I can't wait to do the next step. thank you very much." -- P. Luatua, Location? ------------------------------------------------------------ FROM NLTR # 98 (June '07) ------------------------------------------------------------ None ------------------------------------------------------------ FROM NLTR # 99 (July '07) ------------------------------------------------------------ "Hello, I purchased your video about 5 weeks ago. I must say that it is hands down the best money I have ever spent. The enjoyment i have in Basketball has rocketed. I think you know why =) "I don't play for any school team, to tell ya the truth I just began playing basketball two years ago. I play mainly pick-up game and various intramural leagues in the area. I might not play on an official team, but I am well versed in many aspects of basketball fundamentals and plays. In one of my 3 on 3 leagues, I play with two of my best friends. We have 13 set plays, which basically is a combination of post-up plays, backdoors, pick & rolls (a lot of these). I basically took elements of a 3 man game, and strung them together so if one option does not work, it can easily flow into the next, most plays have 4 options, and most of them are very dependent on defence reaction and such. We arent the most talented bunch, but we hardly ever lose do to good execution. "In any case, I watched your video, followed it step by step, and I practice some of the "drills" every time before I play. I am shocked by how great it has changed my game. Before you my game was basically low-post, high-post turn and face, or pick and roll. I felt very confident of most of my game except shooting from any considerable distance. I could drive good enough to get my man to play off me. After that my effectiveness dropped because opponents would play far off me on any pick and rolls, or screens to free me for shots. "After your video it has all changed. I now get the ball of the screen, jab step toward baseline and pop a jumper, SWISH. I will drive right, step back and pop. I find myself taking jumpers more then anything now. And making them with great success. And since I have proven my shot in game situation, my game to the basket has exploded. In a recent game I got the ball with my man playing off, I faked the shot, he respected, and jumped. With a wide open lane to the basket, probably forcing the man to come off my teammate and allowing a pass. I instinctively took a step dribble to my right and drained the jumper. "As you suggested I kept track of how i shot on the floor before the video. And then i just recorded myself earlier this week. I transferred it into percentages, and I am hitting uncontested 3 pointers and just inside the arc at an amazing 48% percent better. I've gone from 32% to 80%. I've hit jumpers with men all over me, with hand in my face. "You know what, I give up, I CANT explain in words how happy i am over this video, it has changed everything and I enjoy basketball so much, no longer am i ashamed to shoot around. Thank you, this style is just amazing. The weird part is, there was nothing to it. Just shoot early, same arm motion, and get that ball high. "Its amazing the look on my opponents face, when i fling a jumper high over their outstretched hand. I personally don't even know how these things go in, they just come down and swish like i have never done before." - - "Russ" Miller (an older testimonial from 2000) --------------------------------- "Tom: I still read your monthly newsletters, faithfully. I have Swish I and II. Would you please send me the URL to the PDF file "Coaching the Swish Method." "Your SWISH method is unbelievable. Its like riding a bike. Once you learn the method, you never forget. I watched your video "SWISH 2" again last week with my 15 year old son, Michael. We went over the steps to "control flight of the ball to the basket". His awareness of the correct method improved and so did his shooting. "Thanks again Tom. I am spreading the word. 'Swish22.com'" - - W. Depow, Fredericton, NB, Canada --------------------------------- "Hey Tom, my wife bought me your dvds last year in November because I kept blatantly hinting to her that it's what I wanted. I never thought she'd buy it, because she would have to buy it online and get it posted, save a few pennies etc. However, she bought it!!! and I opened it up as my birthday present... it was one of the best presents i've had.hehe i'm 24 now. But i was so excited. "But i may have been too excited. "I watched both dvds once and straight away i went to practise on a hoop. I went straight into doing what I "thought" i learnt from your dvd. 7 months later, my shot has improved a whole lot. I went from getting 1 shot in out of every 6... to getting at least 4 out of every 6. BUT!!! my problem was, i didn't really follow your programme. I didn't really do any of your drills. I just thought I knew it after watching you the first time. "however, the good news is.... my excitement has finally died down and i can actually slow down and apply your drills and take it slowly step by step. last night I did your zero point and then go back 3 feet drill for the first time. I was so amazed at how good my shot was getting. I was hardly ever missing. And when I did miss, i could tell why.... I'm slowly working on getting my release automatic and i'm loving it. "I can't wait to get back out there and do some more release training. I was also getting amazed when i could feel myself catching the up force. The ball seemed like it floated into the rim. "Even though i've had your dvds for half a year now, it is only until now that I feel as though i've actually really begun your programme. My excitement blinded me of taking it step by step... I just wanted to get out there and hit swishes... "but now i'm taking your programme steps in your reader manual step by step and I can't wait to do the next step. Thank you very much. - - P. Luatua, location unknown --------------------------------- (From a coach after I put on five shooting sessions at his school.) "Tom, first let me start out by saying, WOW! Your training was very insightful and inspiring. I have received numerous calls from players and parents thanking us for hosting the event. We have installed the "Swish Method" to our daily shooting practice. Most of my players are approaching the 70% mark from the charity stripe. Recently we had a player go 28 for 30 during practice. "The girls really believe in the "Swish Method". We are a young team with much potential. I am expecting great things this coming season. If our preseason record 6-0 is any indication, we are on the track. I am confident in saying your training has been a vital part in our success thus far. I would recommend this training to any coach that is serious about helping his team become great shooters. "I will keep you posted on the team's progress. Thanks again for all your help." Coach M. LaNier St. Lucy's Girls Basketball. Glendora, Calif. --------------------------------- "Hi Tom, I just wanted to say hello as it's been a while. I also thought you might like to know that Kristi became the first graduate of her High School to receive a scholarship to play basketball (school opened in 1992). She will attend Grand Canyon University in Phoenix (NCAA Div II) beginning in September. "While we attribute much of her success to her experiences with Dena Evans and Point Guard College, and her club coach Craig Hodges (Chicago Bulls), the fundamental elements of the Swish method of shooting continue with her today (though it's tough when other coaches are constantly teaching something else). Kristi's new college coach says that while he wanted Kristi for her leadership and the way she sees the floor so well, he also said, "But I won't recruit a point guard who can't also score!" "God Bless." - - G. Girdley, Orange County, Calif. --------------------------------- (When asked how he found the Swish website, here is what this new customer said.) "I simply googled "how to improve your jumpshot" and your video came up as one of the listings. By the way, it has taken my son from about a 30% jump shooter to around 60% in two weeks." Respectfully, - - J.Reynolds, Greensboro, NC --------------------------------- "Hi Tom, First of all, let me tell you that your DVD, in all it's simplicity, is brilliant. "I have been coaching young players for several years and am now going to take on a team of girls at about 17 years old this season. I have been teaching kids shooting based on my own set of fundamentals, but have had difficulties finding anything to support that in books etc. In Sweden that is. I like the fact that your method can be summarised in upforce, alignment and release. I also like that you give the answer to questions previously unanswered to me, like open or square stance and whether or not the shooting arm should be totally vertical or can be tilted. "I have watched it twice already and dragged my son, 15 and very skilled, to the court for shooting practise. Instant improvement. Swish, swish, swish! "Now to your question [he was asked how he found the Swish website]. I was searching for zone offence instructions and thus googled on "Zone offence" and found a site created by Coach Larry Jackson. As you probably know, you have a banner on his site. It caught my eye and a week later my son's shooting has improved dramatically." "I can only say: Thanks Tom!" Best Regards - - P. Näslund, Stockholm, Sweden --------------------------------- "Astounding" Results from shooting program -- 3/19/07 Tom Just completed three sessions (7.5 hours) of basketball shooting basics based on the "Swish" training DVD'S. My approach was as follows. 1. I studied the DVDS and created a lesson plan. 2. All the learners where pre-tested from 5', 8', 11', 14' and 19'.....five shots from each location. (students are 7th and 8th grade boys and 2 girls) 3. I had the shooters view the DVD only long enough to watch how your shooters made basket after basket. My point here was to show my students that making basket after basket is a learned skill and the "Swish" method will teach them how. 4. I taught each of the basics. We rehearsed all of the basics for three sessions of 2.5 hours each. 5. After the last session I retested all shooters. The results are astounding. The open stance, the relaxed release arm and hand, the up-force, and the arch of the ball were easy to teach and learn. Thank you for all that you have done with basketball shooting. - - R. Skiles, Belle Vernon, PA ------------------------------------------------------------ FROM NLTR # 100 (August '07) ------------------------------------------------------------ "Tom, By the way, regarding your last newsletter and your talk about the Open Stance and why it's so natural, powerful and effective, I can't tell you how many times when my son, Brady, is at camp he is directed to square up or "ten toes" [another way to get a player to square up, point all 10 toes at the basket]. It happened again tonight. It is kind of a running joke with my son and me now. After camp we usually sit back and laugh. I am glad Brady is aware of his shot enough and confident in what he knows that he does not get sucked in [to squaring up]. But at the end of the day it's kind of sad." -- J. Busateri, Lake St. Louis, MO ------------------------------------------------------------ FROM NLTR # 101 (September '07) ------------------------------------------------------------ "Dearest Tom, Just a quick note to say I thank you! "My son, Evan, is doing so well on so many fronts - He is just starting Grade 9 and thankfully found a hobby (basketball) which has pulled him out of himself. As you may recall I wrote to you over a year ago telling you about Evie's obstacles. "He has found you to be a wonderful role model and you really don't know how much you have affected one young man's development and aspirations. We just had to replace the Swish 2 Video (I think it was taken from the house); the order went fine and thank you for the discount options. "Thank you for all you have done for my son you don't realize the impact you have had on his life!" Sincerely E. Evans Barrie, Ontario Canada [Editor's Note: Thank YOU, Eli! You made my day!] ---------------------------------------- "Tom: Your video is incredible!!! Absolutely the best I have ever seen and I have quite a few. Every coach I show them to comes away learning a lot." -- P. Trevino, Wapato, Washington ---------------------------------------- A testimonial from a coach working with the Swish Method and my reply: "Hey Tom, this year I have a competitive sixth grade team that has just been horrible at shooting the basketball in our first few games. "Last night we spent the first hour teaching a condensed version of your methods. In the first shooting drill after the instruction period, we were 16 of 18. They were nearly all swishes. No broken backboards. No clunks and clangs. No air balls. I am just so impressed at how your approach brings out the natural shooter in a player. "No doubt we will need to spend a few months making their new form habitual, but this team is going to shoot it. "Thank you. You not only helped me teach shooting, you've really opened my eyes about how players learn. I'm a better teacher for it. My kids not only knock down more shots, but they enjoy the game more as well." "Funny, the day after the practice in which we covered shooting, we had a game. We couldn't hit a two footer. I was laughing on the sideline, it got so bad. Now granted we were up by 20 anyway. "Habits take more than a day to change. It doesn't surprise me that they might get worse before they get better. Thanks again for nothing less than brilliant insights you shared about the art of shooting. "I was watching another of our teams practice the other day and ended up playing horse with one of the dads. His comment when we were done was that he played basketball all his life and he'd never seen anyone shoot the way I did and as well as I did. Now, I'll completely grant that my arthritic knees were having a good day. Mostly though, I was in the Swish22 zone." -- Mark ------------------- My response: "Just keep returning them to the SIMPLICITY of the shot, Mark. How, if they have the ball aligned with eye and basket, get their footwork going to get their bodies oriented toward the basket, then set and release the ball on line, just varying the angle for the distance, the ball will tend to go in. It's a big target. There may be fear or doubt, of course, but if they "know" what to do, it will go in. If it doesn't, awareness of where it went and how it got there will allow self correction and the next shot will go in. "As you noted, learning and changing an ingrained habit take time. A key thing is that shooting is not a mystery to your kids any more so they can change things. Have a conversation with them. Ask them what's going on in their heads as they go to shoot. Are they focused or scattered? What happens mentally when they miss? Is there a lot of judgment, or are they able to forget and focus on the next shot? Get them to talk about shooting and they'll find they all have the same challenges, the same doubts and fears. Face them and they'll lessen in size. And now they have a path to go down, the Swish Path." ------------------------------------------------------------ FROM NLTR # 102 (October '07) ------------------------------------------------------------ “I purchased Swish 1 from you approx 2 years ago. Please forward me a coupon to put towards my order of Swish 2. Since I coach, hopefully this will help me improve and teach method. “BTW – best tip received is to teach kids to teach themselves – to learn to make the adjustments - they certainly enjoy hearing less from me, I’m sure – especially my own kids. Thanks.” -- Harry B. New York City --------------------------- “Tom: Your videos are incredible!!! Absolutely the best I have ever seen and I have quite a few. Every coach I show them to comes away learning a lot.” -- Poncho Trevino Where? ------------------------- “I already have your Swish 1 video. One of my friends received it as a gift but he wasn't interested in basketball so finally he passed it to me. Now I would like to have your Swish 2 video. I would like to buy it only to show my gratitude to all you have given to me. I have no doubt that this video is really good and will help people to discover how to coach shooting. In my situation with your first video, your articles and your newsletters, I can say that you have transfer to me all your knowledge. Now I understand what you say because I have thought and experiment it. And I have to say that you are right, in my opinion, in every statement. “This way to shooting is not new to me. When I was a child, and I began to play basketball, I had not enough strength. So my release point was very low and I took all the strength from my legs, of course I gave a beautiful backspin and proper arch to the ball. Later I grew enough to be coached. They tell me to be squared and all that things about technique that many coaches think. Also they say that I couldn't shoot as a child. As you can imagine, I began to shoot "better" but I missed many more shots. They always said that it was because I hadn't enough strength. Always I have thought that if when I was younger I can put the ball in the basket without effort, later it should be at least as easy. “I remember wistfully that time when I was alone in the basketball court and after a period of time shooting in the way that everybody supposed I should shoot, I went to the free throw line, opened my body and shot in a way that I hadn't done for a long time, with little effort. Just in the way that you coach. Of course all the shots were swishes, but I wanted to shoot with a ”proper” technique, so I returned to the newer form and continued missing shots. “So when I discover your technique it wasn't new to me. It was just the way I used to shoot when I was a child. Anyway I had to spend a lot of time trying to eliminate the bad habits. Now I'm old enough and I couldn't become a professional player, but when I play basketball with friends or in the local league everybody knows that if I have option I will shoot without doubt and it will become in a swish. Thank you very much for your thoughts.” -- Daniel U. Spain “P.S. I'm from Spain so English is not my maternal language. So please excuse me for the spelling mistakes. Next year, in the Olympics we will have a beautiful game between USA and Spain.” ------------------- “Hey Tom, Last week I noticed I could get a lot of shots in from around the free throw distance range (mid range)... but I struggled with shooting further out..... So yesterday i decided to go and work on using the upforce and maintaining my constant release. “A couple of guys were there practising their shooting also. One of the guys decided to try and shoot 3 pointers from further away from the 3 point line (nba distance). He then decided to move back even more and try to shoot... his shots were missing badly.... He was now about 5 metres away from the 3 point line trying to get it in.. I joined him. “I missed a couple, but knew i could get it in. Suddenly i swished one. He was surprised. He missed his next attempt, then i missed mine. I then got another swish in. He was eager to get one in... all of a sudden another guy joins in and wants to get it in like i did. “I told them both that we should have a race to see who can get in 5 shots from there. They agreed and I got my five in before them... Matter of fact after I got my five in, I moved back another 2 feet and tried to get 5 in before they got there first 5... “I did!! So i got 10 in while they were still trying to get their 5 in.... I was amazed!! All I was doing was using as much upforce as I could and just making sure my release stayed the same. And it was going in.... I missed a lot... but from that distance I was amazed at how good your technique is. “They then tried to shoot from half court. They missed. I missed.. They missed again.... then i got a swish!! It was amazing. “After that long range adventure, shooting 3 pointers felt like layups. I challenged myself and went to the left wing of the 3 point line... and then stood out of bounds... I swished in about 5 in a row from out of bounds!!!!! it was awesome... I just tried to keep my release constant. “So i just want to thank you sooooo much... because my shot has improved so much from watching your videos. (The guys that were shooting with me are around 18 - 22 years old.)” -- canunotg (Email name) New Zealand ----------------------------------------------------------------- |