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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."
-- Romeo 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."
-- Gary 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)."
-- Pat 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!"
-- Joe 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!!!!
-- Joe 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, Rob 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, Jeff 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!"
-- Gavin 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 Matthew 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, Pat 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."
-- Mike 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.
Rex Harris
Greenwood Middle School, Greenwood, Indiana
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