Basketball free throw: an analogy between the shooting arm and the barrel of a rifle

You have all heard the saying “The squeaky wheel gets the oil.” When it comes to free throws in basketball, the best coach is the ‘missed shot’. When we feel bad or sick, the first and immediate answer is “what is the source of the pain”. There is an immediate thought process that focuses on the area closest to the pain and the accompanying action is to take a pain reliever, rest, or, depending on the severity, seek medical advice. The worse you feel, the more motivated you will be to “feel good” or to attend to your daily tasks without any conscious thought about physical discomfort.

This is exactly the same process that we should use to deal with a missed free throw. (I use a hyphen because it connects the word ‘free throw’). The main reason this topic needs some expansion is that through my own scientific observations I have calculated that about 75-80% of the shots are not in the “dead center” of the center of the rim. This is a large margin of error and the main problem in the world of basketball is that you never hear any instruction or training on how to throw the ball “straight”. The next time you watch a ball game on television, see how many shots made are the correct distance but are “out of line” or crooked. It is an amazing phenomenon and can be corrected with some scientific understanding and the application of relevant principles.

An important part of the problem with shooting a crooked shot begins with the grip or the way the hand is aligned on the ball. If the hand is not placed on the ball in a scientifically correct way, it will have future repercussions on the “tracking”, which is the most important part of any shot. The “tracking” is the computer’s processor that schedules the shot for success.

Just notice when you use the keyboard and type words on a page how easy it is to press a rong key or even leave something out (oops, I left out the ‘w’, it looks weird, huh?) And if you don’t mark what you typed it will have grammatical errors. There is good and there is bad. If you are writing a resume or official document, you definitely don’t want to have any mistakes. We are judged by our application. There is no difference when shooting a basketball. A slight miscalculation or one inch of lateral movement anywhere in the fingers, arm, or elbow will cause a shot to miss. Lost baskets lose games, cause loss of confidence, and a plethora of other worries.

Since shooters are made and not born, the pressure falls on the players and coaches to make this process correct. Perfection on the free throw line is achievable and sustainable, but it requires constant and total mental control of the physical capacity of the body. A good shot is not just pushing the ball in the direction of the hoop. The other day I went to watch a high school girl’s basketball game. Naturally, I observed the shooting mechanics of the participants, as I always do. I can no longer be critical because great shooting mechanics are simply absent at the high school level on a grand scale. The average free throw percentage in high school is about 65% from the free throw line. I’d say it’s a disapproving note and nothing to brag about and I bet these players shoot with their eyes OPEN.

Let’s put this process in some perspective, as it is very important. The free throw is the fundamental shot in basketball. Every other shot has a connection to the free kick and a similarity in the throwing application. (More on this in another article)

First of all, if you have fired a rifle, shotgun, or air pistol, you will have noticed that naturally you brought the stock up to your shoulder and pointed the barrel towards the target line in line with your dominant eye and you would have your trigger finger on the trigger ready to fire when you are “ready.” Also note that you don’t pull the trigger until you have the target, the sight at the end of the barrel, and your eye in the ‘line of fire’. I also call this the correct “shooting pocket” when preparing to shoot.

Compare this process to the free throw attempt. Pick up the ball (usually with the dribbling hand to partner with the guiding hand) and place the ball in your ‘pocket shot’ comfort zone, which may or may not be scientifically correct. Let’s compare.

When you pick up a rifle and are ready to fire, you don’t hold the barrel of the gun close to your hip, above your head, or in front of your stomach. Shoulder-tight the stock and align all other parameters (sight, barrel, eye, and target) before firing.

Today, many players have an incorrect grip on the ball (the index finger in the center of the ball with the fingers spread as widely as possible so that the pads only touch the ball and not the palm) start in a ‘pocket of shot ‘wrong and consequently have a faulty follow-up through. The ideal ‘shooting pocket’ is to have the ball 2 to 3 inches above the center of the forehead, where your eyes can see the center of the hoop, the inside of the shooting wrist, which is the center-aligned peephole The rim and firing arm when extended over the shot form the barrel of the rifle. This method allows complete viewing and control. But this is not for everyone because it takes strength and practice to shoot from this position. Players who are weak will have “shooting pockets” that generally start on the face and below, due to a lack of strength.

Also, the ideal tracking should be an extended and locked arm, with the fingers spread apart and parallel to the ground with only two joints bent, the wrist and the elbow. Pay particular attention to the fact that no lateral movement occurs during or after the ball is released and especially to the fingers. At the end of the shot, the index finger must be aligned with the center of the hoop, on the inside of the shooting arm and the right eye of a right-handed shooter must be aligned.

Now you have some tips to focus on while practicing shooting. Of course, there is much more involved when it comes to finger pressure and finger responsibility on the ball and which finger plays what role in the shooting process. But at least this gives a little “insight”, (pun intended) on the firing line.

Also understand that when I refer to free throws I mean the same process that occurs with every shot, especially with 3-point shots. The downside of shooting farther is that a small bug in the tracking mechanics increases the chance of missing the basket.