Testimonials 2

[Ed. Note:  You have seen my more recent testimonials appear on these screens/pages for all these years before they  are migrated to my website.  Here are a few more, including one that has to be seen to be believed.  I’ll conclude this section with that “special” turnabout testimonial.]

“Dear Tom,  I thought I would drop you a note letting you know what kind of progress Carlie is making. She has been working really hard preparing for her upcoming AAU season. Since we left you, her Jr. High team competed in the Louisiana State tournament where they finished 3rd among all classes. Carlie played extremely well, handling the opposing teams' intense ball pressure. 

“She didn't get very many shot attempts due to the fact that she is still not looking to shoot. I can't convince her that great shooters look to score when the opportunities present themselves and that she could benefit the team by contributing more points. She still has that assist first, point guard, attitude which is certainly a valuable attribute in terms of team play but our team tends to have trouble scoring at times. Maybe her thinking will change as she matures and continues to become more confident in her ability to score.

“Speaking of confidence, Carlie and I just returned from the gym where I witnessed the most unbelievable shooting performance i've ever seen. Every single shot was swish, after swish, after swish. She could not miss! Every shot within the 3 point arc was nothing but the bottom of the net. As she moved out to the longer distances she tended to move the ball a bit off of her right eye, but overall her release is becoming more and more automatic every day. She still struggles with finishing with a floppy wrist and her rotation is still far from perfect, but overall she has made tremendous progress. This summer, after her AAU season finishes, we hope to return to California to spend more time with you, fine tuning her shot.”

 

Sincerely,

- - Jonas G., Pineville, LA

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“Tom,  I just wanted to give you an update on my daughter Nicole.  As you may recall we flew in for your clinics in Minneapolis.

 

“So far in her summer league, the biggest difference I have seen in Nicole is her is that she now has the confidence to take the outside shot.  Last season she would hesitate before shooting or even passing up a good shot because she was afraid she would miss.  She is not the leading scorer on the team, but she is not afraid to shoot.

 

“When we are out shooting at the hoop, she is able to tell me what caused her to miss.  She is able to begin coaching herself.  She went to a basketball camp as she said the coaches said square up and keep the elbow in.  She told me Tom would be disappointed in their coaching.

 

“Again it was a pleasure to meet you and watch how you worked with the kids.  I can hardly wait until basketball season starts and I can start coaching the Swish method.”

 

- - Glen K., Stroudsburg, PA

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“Hi Tom,  Just a quick note to let you know we really appreciate you including Katy's story (testimonial) in your July Newsletter. When Katy read the testimonials you included, she almost felt out of her seat at the computer when she realized she was reading our testimonial. 

“I would like to add a follow up to Katy's situation. Recently Katy spent a week at a basketball camp that draws kids from NE Pennsylvania and beyond. The camp has been in existence for decades and it has a very good reputation. Anyway, on the last day of camp as parents arrived to pick up their girls, semi-finals and a final game were played for the Camp Championship. Katy's team was in the 10-13 yr. old age group. 

“With Katy using the Swish Method of shooting, and with a good deal of confidence, Katy took numerous shots when the opportunity presented itself and she was successful in over 50% of her shots taken. Katy's team won the camp championship and Katy was a major part of that accomplishment. At an awards ceremony at the conclusion of camp, Katy was selected to the Camp All-Star Team. An evaluation form, written up by each team's coach(college basketball players coached the teams and helped instruct at the camp), was given to each player. The evaluation form allowed the coaches to individually assess each players' skills. (Defense, passing, shooting, knowledge of the game, and court awareness were some of the categories listed). 

“Katy's coach made many positive comments regarding Katy's game, but the one that caught my eye and Katy's was the comment made in the Shooting Category. Her coach noted that Katy had ‘one of the nicest and smoothest shots I have ever seen’.  That comment made Katy's week, and her confidence level was bumped up another notch. 

“Thank you and the Swish Method once again. As I said before in earlier emails, Katy and I will continue to work and reap the benefits of the Swish Method.”

Best regards, 

-- John C., Dallas, TX

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“Tom, my team shot so well this summer league that other coaches complimented us on our shooting ability. It was hard for teams to zone us because they could never figure out who to guard. I often heard coaches refer to our team as a team full of shooters! It is beautiful to watch!”

-- M. Lanier, Glendora, CA   (I’ve coached his teams for two years now, a couple clinics each year.  He’s done the tougher job of extending and guiding the coaching after the clinics.)

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[Ed. Note:  The following is a remarkable exchange of emails.  I won’t use the boy’s name or email, but I applaud him for being able to change his mind.   Language removed ... you can get the idea.]

Orig. comment, posted on YouTube ~June 10th:  

“This @#$% is so &%$#! If you really want to learn how to shoot look Dave Hopla on youtube. He' coached Michael Jordan and now coaches Kobe Bryant, Ray Allen, Allen Iverson, and Gilbert Arenas how to shoot. This guy is the considered the best shooting coach in the world. His dvds are just $40 each. That's just $10 more than this video. Don't waste ur money on this piece of garbage.”

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Apology July 10th:

“I apologize sir for using foul language and belittling your ability as a shooting coach. I have just borrowed your swish2 dvd and tried its techniques. I was doubtful at first because everything you taught, my past coaches told me to never do. But after trying your approach to the flopping wrist I found that the shots consistently sank in more. It barely took any effort at all. I just had to point my hand at the hoop and the ball went in swish every time. Please accept my apology, I realized your shooting method was a breakthrough in basketball shooting (you should coach Lebron James). Please Coach Norland delete my comment I made on your "Swish 1 video and clips". I truly apologize for what I said in that comment and I take it all back. Please delete my comment on the "Swish 1 video and clips."

Sorry about bothering you Coach Norland.”

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July 10th:  Comment after I told him I could not find his orig. comment (I later found it):

“Ok coach Norland I'll find the comment I posted up and give it to you. "Swish 1" Basketball Shooting Clips & Video" is where I posted my comment. I'm sorry about the foul language on that comment Coach Norland, Please delete it from your "Swish 1" Basketball Shooting Clips & Video" video. Thank you Coach Norland for accepting my apology and your technique is truly a breakthrough. You should host camps in my area. No one around here shoots with your technique, I'm the only one and am known as the best shooter at a local gym. Coach Norland is the BEST shooting coach!!!!!”

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July 11th:  My request to him to get his email address:

“Can I get your full email address?  My top assistant would like to communicate with you so we can get a deeper understanding of the steps you went through to this transformation.  This is a great story!  What methods out there are really "coachable?"  It's one thing to be able to perform something well; it's another to be able to coach others in the skill.

“I’m fascinated with how people learn, and your story is a great one.  Sure, we're all resistant to change, and we might feel good belittling someone else, whether we truly understand a situation or not.  I know I've done it, usually to myself, thankfully.  (To do it via the Internet opens the door to all kinds of responses and historical permanence, and should be avoided, of course.)

“Another way to say it is, it's easy to say ‘no’ to a new idea; it takes more courage and personal strength to change one’s mind, to say ‘yes’ or ‘maybe,’ and then check something out that might challenge our beliefs.   The media has gotten into the unfortunate habit of calling this ‘flip-flopping.’   We used to call it ‘changing one’s minds,’ being willing to change a point of view after receiving new information, a good thing.

“I’m humbled by this young man’s change of mind.  I know I can be closed-minded to some things, thinking I have all the answers.  It blocks learning, blocks enjoyment, blocks  lot of things.”

--Tom Nordland