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TESTIMONIALS -- BATCH #5
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"Tom: I've noticed that many NBA scorers utilize an adaptation of your
swish method: Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Detlef Schrempf, Dell Curry,
and many, many more. Their mechanics are all unique but the basic
principle is clearly evident. If you or anyone were to mimic the form
of these outstanding players, you would see that they're using the
basic UpForce and release method.
"My own testimonial is that I was a B-E-E-F method player. I taught my
own kids the gooseneck. What a mistake! I literally glanced at one of
the first newsletters I received in the mail. I read maybe a sentence
or two. I saw some father was asking or commenting on the method of
letting the hand just drop naturally at the end of the release. That
was all I read and went to my noon time exercise at the gym. I tried
doing just what I had read and wow, I was immediately convinced this
was the way to go as a player and coach.
"I'm still working and still developing and still improving. If I had
known this method when I was younger (high school), I'm convinced I
would not simply be a former junior college player and Division II
prospect. I would have had the confidence and ability to compete at the
D-1 level. I had all the tools except the consistent jumper. I used to
work hour after hour for years on my jumper without the results I
realized in that first week alone. I bought the video and now
attempting to get the kids to retrain themselves with the method. Keep
up the good work."
-- R. Swift
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"Dear Tom, I have had great success using your method. I taught myself
first. I am not a great athlete (in a high school with 200 kids, I was
not good enough to make even the JV basketball team). I can now
consistently shoot 80% from the free throw line (up from about 30%). I
can also regularly make 5 or 6 successive 3 point shots while
practicing. I have even started making them under pressure when I play
at a local gym during lunch time.
"I have also had good success teaching it. One of my 5th grade girls
won the final day 'shoot out' against 6th and 7th graders last summer
at a camp put on by our High School Coaches. Another of the girls I
taught got first in shooting at a different camp with 60 kids.
"I have developed a 'Shooting Awareness Survey' that has the kids
answer questions about how they shoot. It is based on some of the
Awareness stuff that you are talking about. I am attaching it - feel
free to use it or give me any feedback.
"I have thought about doing some sort of clinic or giving free shooting
lessons to any of the local kids that are interested. I really would
appreciate any help or advice you can give in that area."
-- G. Crocker
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"Tom, I have been reading backwards in your previous Newsletter. I had
to STOP reading them as you were mentally overloading my head with
spectacular material. I am talking to people everywhere about you and
your Swish22 website. You should be proud of what you are doing and
accomplishing. Thanks for my mental overload (smile)."
-- P. Suessmuth, Hillsburgh, Ontario, Canada
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"Tom, Just a quick note on my son's progress since purchasing the Swish
video a few months ago. When the package arrived in the mail my son had
it open and had watched the video before I got home from work. The
video reinforced what I had been telling him all year; that his shot
had become too flat. I just didn't know how to show him to improve.
Still, I wasn't sure the message would take.
"I am happy to report that rarely a day goes by that he is not in the
driveway working on his technique. His good shots now rip the cords!
When I rebound for him, I hear him talking to himself about UpForce and
too much upper body on his errant shots. He even tells me "you threw
that one" when I launch a flat one! Last night he was on the wet
driveway in a slight drizzle shooting. He was hitting 14 or 15 perfect
shots in a row. His shot is getting more consistent all of the time.
Sometimes I watch him from afar and see him warm up from his zero point
before shooting the longer ones.
"I now eagerly await the start of fall basketball (this Saturday) to
see if it will translate to the court. Your section about fear of
failing in the August newsletter will also come in handy. He has tended
to shy away form shooting the open shots. I hope his new found
confidence will free him up to shoot - dead center SWISH!"
-- J. Quirk, III, Richardson, TX
Another from Joe:
Tom, A few weeks back you had asked for my son's description about what
he is learning from the Swish method - what's hard, easy, etc...
"The hardest thing starting out was getting a constant release motion -
getting the release to be the same each time. Also, keeping the wrist
from flipping the ball instead of just guiding it. Using the lower body
to power the shot was awkward at first because I was thinking about it
too much. But, once I got used to it, it became easier to shoot at
different distances and my range increased. Coordinating the release
with the UpForce also takes some practice, but I think that was more
too much thinking instead of reacting. I don't think it was really
hard, it was just part of changing to a different method.
"The easiest part for me was getting the ball into a higher arching
path. Once I got my legs powering the shot, it just happened. I also
think opening up my stance a little bit and getting better aligned with
the basket made a lot of sense and was easy.
"Since I have been trying to use the Swish method I think I have become
more consistent. More shots seem to go in because the higher arching
shot seems to be more forgiving. Even when shots are off target a
little they seem to bounce softer and sometimes go in. I have noticed
it is harder for defenders to block my shot too. My teammates are
starting to look for me to get more shots as a higher percentage of
shots go in.
"Another benefit for me has been on defense. Now that I kind of know
what to look for, I can tell who are the likely to be the really good
shooters that need to be guarded closely. The other guys may make a
few, but usually miss more than they make."
-- Joey (the son)
Note from Joey's dad:
"Joey is one of the quiet types, but you can usually drag it out of him
if you keep asking him questions. At a game this past weekend, one of
his teammates was telling him that his shot was too high. I listened
from a few feet away as he told him why it was high and the benefits of
it being high. I have to tell you he would never have said anything
like that a few weeks ago. He probably would have listened to his
teammate and started shooting flatter!!!!
-- J. Quirk, III, Richardson, TX
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"Dear Tom, Have received the swish video and accompanying workbook in
good order. I've already watched the video twice. I find it very
interesting. I'm going to be watching it many more times.
"The first basketball session (recreational games-first team to reach
15 points win with shots counting as 2 or 3 points accordingly) I had
after watching the first viewing, the improvement of my shooting was
remarkable. After missing a few shots, I was able to "feel" what was
"not right" and once adjusted, I could literally "feel" what was right
and seemed like I could score at will the rest of the night, no matter
what the defense tried. I am already thought of as a "very good"
shooter among my friends (though I only rate myself as above average
... that's why I bought your video!) but that night, everyone was
amazed. It wasn't that I was just shooting at a high percentage but
seemed like every 15 point game we played came down to that one last
game winning, usually 3 point, shot (or game loosing miss), and I made
everyone of those. Towards the end of the night, everyone knew I was
going to get that last shot but it didn't matter, all I needed was a
split second to get the shot off ... and they all hit nothing but the
bottom of the net!!
"Strangely and sadly, the second basketball session I had after that (a
week later), I had difficulty finding that "right feeling" on a
consistent basis and shot an average percentage that night.
"I guess its still early. Will continue to try.
"I will say this at this moment though : there were many times in the
past where I had tried something different in an attempt to improve my
shooting, but this is the first time where it isn't a mental exercise
(e.g. thinking in the head : "OK, keep elbows in" or "minimize hand
movement" or "flick wrist"). Instead, I find it more like
"experimenting" or going on a discovery journey ... trying to find that
"right feeling" by simply doing. I'm enjoying it. Hope more consistent
results will follow."
-- Thanks, Loke Yew, Malaysia
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"Tom, I just wanted to say that after watching the video twice, I have
been to the gym 3 or 4 times to try to apply some of the techniques you
talk about as essential to good shooting (upforce, relaxed hands,
plenty of arc). I found that they made a lot of sense, and it showed.
For my natural (right) hand, I don't have anything to use as a
comparison, because I didn't bother to write any numbers down, but my
jump shot feels better and is more accurate (more swishes than I can
ever remember). For my left hand - which I had hardly ever shot a ball
with - after a bit of practice (but mostly just concentrating on the
thingsemphasised in your video), I hit 15 of 20 free throws.
"It was useful to have something to think about when my jumper went off
a bit - instead of focussing on rigid fundamentals that probably just
added stress and reduced the power generated from my legs (like a
completely cocked wrist and full follow through), accuracy returned
almost immediately when I concentrated on upforce and relaxed hands.
"Not only this, I managed to offer some tips to a friend about
necessities for good shooting, and he (even though a bit of a skeptic),
took on board some of the ideas and improved his jumper a lot in just a
couple of hours."
-- Cheers, R. Callan, Australia
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"Tom, I just received your video and I like the things you bring to
this topic. I am the basketball coach at Central Methodist College in
Fayette, Missouri and I have a number of basketball camps during the
summer. I will let my campers know about this video. You have
simplified the shot and made it easy to understand and enjoyable to
watch. I will show this during the camp sessions, though I only have
one remaining this summer. Obviously there are a lot of videos out in
the market, however, I feel you have brought another dimension to the
table. I appreciate your approach and quality of this item. I hope many
of the campers and my own players will benefit from this tape."
-- Sincerely, J. Sherman, Missouri
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"From only reading the booklet that came with the video and doing a
little practice, I am swishing 10 and 12 foot shots 50% of the time,
and for the FIRST time I won a game of 21 (shooting from the free throw
line) against my son. You may not think this is fantastic, but consider
this: I am 41 years oldand NEVER played a game of Basketball in my life
nor have I been involved with the sport at all until this year when I
took on the coaching job of my sons U14 team! I did a refereeing course
so I could learn the rules and then bought books and started to learn
about basketball. The 2 or 3 hours practice I have done since receiving
the swish video has been the MOST productive since I got involved in
all this. My confidence is sky high So I am REALLY looking forward to
watching the Video and improving more!"
-- G. Molloy, Australia
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"Hi, Tom! For the past 6 or 7 years I have tried taught kids to shoot
on the way up, and to generate lift in the shot with the legs. I just
read your approach, and I am so thankful that someone who is as
well-versed in shooting teaches the same things. I am trying to improve
my coaching of shooting, and I find the things you say to be on target.
I am going to be coaching at the Tennessee Lady Vols camps later this
week, and when I get back, I am going to purchase your shooting video.
I can't wait to teach the techniques to my players. To me, the worst
invention in basketball (for shooting) was the 3-point line. I want my
players to be able to hit the 15-footer. With your help, we'll do it.
Thanks for the common sense approach to shooting. I look forward to
getting the video!"
-- T. Dartt, North Olmsted, Ohio
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"Just wanted to thank you again for putting on a great clinic for the
girls (Rachel, Muffie, Kelly) and me. I had read your newsletters and
it was obvious from those that you knew what you were talking about
regarding shooting. However, not only do you know shooting, you know
how to teach kids. Your ability to keep two girls who just turned 11
interested for four+ hours in improving their shooting was impressive,
to say the least. The clinic was worth every penny.
Please be sure to e-mail me next time you are coming this way -- by
then I'm figuring a refresher will be all we will need."
-- D. Harris, Seattle
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"I really did enjoy your shooting clinic. It makes me think about my
mechanics and the points you talked about whenever I am not making my
shots regularly. My dad taught me to shoot the same way you teach. He
later found your website and said that he liked what you had on there.
I think he said he read the minimum of the top of the backboard for
your arch. When he found out you were coming to Texas, he said he was
going to take me to your clinic.
"I now really notice everyone's shot and tell my dad what they might be
doing wrong like not enough legs, not enough arch, or their shooting
hand isn't relaxed. (The bounce in the wrist.) I think it's cool to
watch the pros shooting style also. My dad would tell me to watch
Mullin of the Pacers in the playoffs, but he didn't play much. I also
watched a guy in college named "Pepe Sanchez". We would tape lots of
games and watch the players' form in slow motion."
-- S. Escamilla, Texas
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"Tom, Before I get to my real question I want to let you know how well
my camp went when I used your Swish Method.
"I am a 23 y/o head coach at the 5A level in Kansas and was asked to
conduct a basketball camp for 3-6 graders within the community. I had
recently watched your video and decided to use your method at camp.
Although I had averaged 24 points in high school and set three point
records in college, I didn't know how to teach shooting. The first day
of camp we found our set points and got everything lined up. Then we
talked about legs and arch. Then it was time to shoot at the hoop. The
results were amazing. These little girls who had never hit the bottom
of the net were swishing numerous shots in a row. It took them a while
to remember where everything was and how it should work together, but
once they did it, they usually made it. We continued working on our
shooting throughout the three week camp, and at the end of the camp the
director told me that the girls were shooting better than any other
group he could remember. I wanted to take all the credit, of course,
but I know it was your method that truly made them better shooters.
Thank you."
-- Coach M. Madole, Kansas
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"Tom, Some of the girls have really taken to it. When we do our warm up
shooting drills at the beginning of practice we all say "yes" or "no"
on the release and I have the girls (and their partners) rate their arc
on a scale of 1-10. I've found that this really helps them evaluate and
remain aware.
"I was working with the JV on foul shooting the other day. Two of the
girls were jumping while shooting free throws. I reminded them about
consistency and adding variables to the shot that they didn't need. It
took them a couple minutes of shooting to adjust for the upforce they
had lost by not jumping anymore, but when they figured it out they're
shots were more consistent and had better touch (plus they weren't
crossing the foul line for a violation every couple of shots).
"Another girl on that same day had her set point way too high. This has
been a problem for her and it led to her generating power from her
shoulder and not the up force. Her shot had always looked mechanical,
with no flow between the lower body and the upper body. I suggested she
move her set point down -- off her cheek, that's all. She immediately
hit her next 24 of 25 foul shots, including the first 16 in a row. The
change in set point resulted in a much smoother, relaxed shot. The
mechanical look of it was gone because she was able to connect her
upforce to her stroke.
"The clinic has given all of us a common reference point to work from.
It has been very helpful in making change. Because of the common
reference point and terminology my coaching is more efficient. I don't
have to spend as much time with one player during our limited time. I
can get to everyone. The most common things I say are:
"Was that a 'yes' or a 'no'?"
"Check your stance."
"How was the arc, 1 to 10?"
These are reminders that allow them to self coach."
-- Thanks, P. Jones, high school coach, Santa Cruz, Calif.
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"We had some very poor shooters at our clinic, but it was exciting to
see how every boy and girl improved in just a short amount of time. Tom
took them step-by-step through the proper shooting form. You could see
the kids get excited when they saw improvement in their shots. It will
be exciting to see the improvement in our 8th grade boys basketball
team this year as our team concentrates on the easy SWISH method of
shooting."
-- M. McQueen
Assist. 8th Grade Boys Basketball Coach, Indiana
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"I was stunned at how simple the shot process was, and how easy it is
to learn and teach! From observing and listening to Tom, I had the
realization that some of the most often prescribed teaching techniques
actually work against a good shot.”
-- R J Crawford
Apple Valley, Minnesota
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"I spent two complete days with Tom at a shooting clinic in So. Calif.
The results in the kids shooting were nothing short of amazing, and
those results were exciting to them. Tom is enthusiastic about what he
does and patiently reinforces his concepts in such a way that they can
continue practicing and refining their newfound shot long after he is
gone. He is a great teacher of the "lost art" of shooting. He makes
things so easy that almost anyone is able to pick up the concept and
improve their shooting immediately. Even those who seemed skeptical
quickly realized his teaching was revolutionary to what they "knew"
about shooting. I only wish I had this type of teaching when I was
younger. It was a pleasure to participate in seeing Tom work with these
kids."
-- J. Scattareggia, Los Angeles
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"During the month of July 2000,I personally watched coach Nordland work
with both my school team and other schools during five clinic sessions.
What I observed was a group of young people that were mesmerized with
his ideas and philosophy of shooting. Both the high school and middle
school athletes watched with focused attention to his details and
stories of success.
"During my 31 years of coaching, I have observed hundreds of shooting
presentations but none that I felt actually improved accuracy in a
short period of time. Progressing through the 3 1/2 hours, you could
see results that were short of amazing. I would recommend his coaching
to all levels of players who want to see proven results.
R. Harris
Greenwood Middle School, Greenwood, Indiana
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