There are basketball players who are Jordans on the floor but stink at the free throw line. Just like a golf swing, however, shooting successful free throws can be learned. The following are a few pointers that are surprisingly simple but scientifically sound.
Aim for dead center. If you’re right handed, your right foot should be aligned with the exact center mark of the free throw line. On a hardwood court, this spot is usually marked by a nail. While aligning your right foot, your other foot should trail a bit behind it.
Dribble before shooting. Bounce the basketball a few times before shooting. Even world record holders under time pressure do this because it is a way to relax and regulate your breathing. Moreover, get used to a routine and bounce the ball the same number of times each time you take a shot.
Visualize. Focus on the central front of the ring and visualize a match that’s placed there. Now imagine that it should light as you shoot the ball over it. This technique has been perfected and taught by Al Masino, a former NBA player and now owner of a basketball camp in New York.
Keep elbows close to your torso. Many players miss free throws because they spread their arms like chicken wings. ‘Keep the elbow in’ is the mantra of Dr. Tom Amberry, who, in 1993, sank 2,750 consecutive free throws with none of them hitting the backboard and just a handful hitting the rim. Those few times were when he was getting bored, he points out.
Keep your focus. On the hardcourt, there are simply too many distractions. The cheering or booing crowd is one, aggravated by those pesky hotdog balloons that fans flail right behind the basket. Then there are the other people moving around on the floor. Others are popping flashbulbs, cheerleaders, and all sorts of sounds – the game buzzer, the referee’s whistle, or your coach calling out advice from the bench.
If you don’t practice blocking these distractions out, you’ll end up with a dismal showing from the line. Focus on the basket; everything in your peripheral vision and hearing should be a mere haze.
Bend your knees as you throw. This action provides the power to the shot. Practice shooting while doing so and study how they were bent during successful throws.
Form an L. Whether you’re a left-handed or a right-handed shooter, your shooting arm should be bent to form an “L” shape as you lift the ball to position.
Guide the ball. A right-handed shooter must use his left hand for support. It should keep the ball from falling off the L and guide it on the follow-through. As the ball is released, the shooting arm should then be fully extended, with the wrist down. On the other hand, the fingers on the guide hand should be extended and should still be facing where the ball has been. If not, this means you’ve twisted the guide hand and pushed the ball off the right course.
Stand on your toes. It’s nearly impossible to make a successful free throw if you don’t take your heels off the floor. The follow-through should see you standing on your toes, as this provides power for the shot, just as the knee-bending does.
Shoot in an arc. Simply imagine the basket to be a telephone booth. You need to aim for the top of the “booth” and not its sides to follow an arc.
