This was just a great explanation by Canyon on how to perform the Barry FT that I had to share. If you watch the position of the fingers, it's shot just like a traditional FT, except for the starting point.
I know how it's supposed to be done. But I was never particularly good at free-throw shooting. Or any other type of shot. I sometimes struggle to hit the floor with my hat.
Running sprints and then getting pounded and knocked to the floor before getting to shoot free throws would be a good way to simulate what happens in a game.
It is funny that more players don't master the shot. I mean you know that is the one shot you'll be taking multiple times, uncontested, same spot, etc. Collectively they could result in more wins for the team in tight games, especially the way we attack the basket.
Good post. Most players, in my view, don't really know what to concentrate on when shooting a basketball. Many are just staring at the basket. You have to be more specific and focused on exactly where you want the ball to go. Namely, just over the front of the rim. It's all about the fundamentals.
Why? If you hit the backboard right over the basket, where is the ball going except into the basket? It just has to be, to use your word, a "straight" shot. Well, so does a swish. But unlike a bank shot (i.e. help from the backboard), you don't get any help with a swish.
You want the softest shot possible. That creates the largest possible margin of error. Bank shots are not soft and have no margin for error.
Thanks. I guess that makes sense. But I have a theory that there are gremlins in some games, who cause any kind of shots that go in the basket to come back out again. I've seen it happen too many times.
One key to shooting free throws is a consistent routine starting from the first look at the rim. How you line up, how you handle the ball (do you spin it or not, for example), how many bounces, the orientation of the ball, when you take your breaths and many other things need to be the same on every shot. And lots of reps once you find what works. I am still haunted by a missed free throw in an intramural game. It had nothing to do with the final result but it bothered me. I was fouled on a shot and awarded two free throws. The other team was then assessed a two shot T. I don't know what they did to get the T but they really clobbered me on the shot. I calmly sank my two free throws and walked off the line fully expecting somebody else to shoot the T. My teammates made me shoot them and I was not focused on the first one and missed. I regained my composure and hit the second. I knew that I blew that FT from lack of focus. Rookie mistake.
One thing about free throws that is similar to golf: Total focus and total relaxation. Shooting a ball in game action is a very different mindset.
Larry Bird, one of the game's best shooters ever, said he doesn't aim for center of the basket, he aims for the back of the rim.
And Ted Williams said that when hitting a baseball he tries to hit it between the seams. Find out what works for you.
I was a pretty good shot from deep and a guy I played with some times asked me if I knew that a shot was going in when I shot it. I said that most of the time I did. I never looked to the front, middle or back of the rim.
CTG said in his press conference yesterday that Haugh is a much better free-throw shooter than he's shown. Golden thinks it's just nerves about getting such a prominent role as a freshman. I agree. We really need Haugh to hit his first free throw attempt vs. Richmond. See it go in, then believe in it.
Wth happened to Clayton? Guy missed more ft’s in one game this year than he missed the entire season last year. We’re snake bit on so many different fronts, it’s crazy.
I don't know if that was the Baylor game but if it was give him a pass. He was visibly sick during the game.
You wouldn’t last long then. If they are shooting 50% regular, I’ll guarantee a lower percentage if they have to shoot it further and higher….with literally zero margin for error. There’s a reason all great shooters shoot exactly like we see 99.9% of people shooting, it’s easier.
I was a little off. He missed 5 all year last year. He missed 3 in the first game vs Loyola this year. One against Virginia, one against FAMU, one against Wake, one against Baylor. 95% last year, down to 74% this year. Where he made all of his ft’s in almost every game he played last year, he’s only had one game this year where he made them all. He went 2-2 against merrimack. Didn’t even get to the line against FSU or Pitt. Still just feels like we’re snakebit. Seems so many guys shooting drops off when they show up here, and free throws seems like a hard one to just simply blame on coaching.
