BOOK SAMPLING

YOU’RE EMBARKING ON THE MOST INNOVATIVE AND CONTROVERSIAL APPROACH TO SHOOTING A BASKETBALL SINCE THE ONE-HANDED JUMP SHOT

**Debunking Basketball Shooting Myths And Legends**

Shooting Myth; some players just can’t shoot.

While it’s true some players are better shooters than others, ALL players can shoot 50% or better from the field. Shot selection and shot timing (when to shoot) are integral to every shooters scoring percentage. If you find specific shots that simply do not FEEL natural, then don’t shoot ’em.

Even high percentage scorers have favorite shooting positions on the court and find a way to shoot these favorite shots as often as possible, that’s why they’re high percentage scorers.

There are six shots every basketball player should be able to shoot at a 90% clip, shoot these six shots as often as possible.

What six shots? Patience Grasshopper, patience.

Shooting Myth; square yourself (shoulders, feet, hips) to the basket.

Do you know why basketball coaches, basketball players, basketball announcers and basketball analysts all talk about the importance of squaring up to the basket before shooting? Someone told them it was necessary. So what do they all do? They blindly repeat everything they’ve been told.

Why do baseball coaches tell batters they must step into the pitch? Someone told them it was necessary. In 1993 Paul Molitor won the World Series MVP Award and tied a World Series record by batting .500 (12-24) in the six-game series. Paul Molitor never stepped into one single pitch. Does stepping into a pitch work? Yes. Does not stepping into a pitch work? Obviously. There’s more than one way to skin a cat.

What you learn about shooting mechanics in this book should be called ‘Popular Mechanics,’ but that name’s already taken. Drat! Hmmmm, how about ‘Popular Shooting Mechanics?’

Some of the greatest shooters in basketball history had the most horrendous looking shots. Some of the greatest shooters in basketball history had the sweetest looking shots. Were the shooting percentages of the pretty shooters higher than the ugly shooters? No. Good solid shooting mechanics can be defined as muscle memory. Muscle memory creates consistency. If you consistently hit your target using the world’s ugliest shot who cares if your shot is ugly? It’s still muscle memory. Granted your shot will come around faster if you use solid shooting mechanics, but having your shoulders, your toes, your hips or your nose square to the basket have nothing at all to do with solid shooting form and this book proves it!

Thinking about squaring your shoulders to the basket before shooting, or while shooting, gets in the way of what you should be doing while taking a shot.

OK. What should I be doing when going up for a shot?

Tweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet. Coach calls a time out and draws up a play to get you open at your favorite spot on the floor. As both teams take the floor every player on the court knows the play is designed to get you the ball. Only your team knows how that’s gonna’ happen.

Tweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet. The ball’s inbounded – you run by one pick, cut by another and just like that you’re at your favorite spot. In one motion you receive a pass and you’re up in the air wide open and - and - and – and what are you thinking?

Right now! What are you thinking ?

IF YOU’RE THINKING ANYTHING, ANYTHING AT ALL - IT’S WRONG!!!

OK. Then what should I be doing when going up for a shot?
Well, that’s what this book is all about; what you should be doing when going up for a shot, or standing on the free throw line and shooting.

I’ll tell you right now what you should avoid doing while shooting… You should avoid thinking about squaring your shoulders; avoid thinking about your follow through; avoid thinking about your opponent; avoid thinking about how your feet are positioned; avoid thinking about the score; avoid thinking about your hand positioning; avoid thinking about backspin.

YOU SHOULD AVOID THINKING.

Thinking is the worst thing you can do while shooting. This book will spell out specifically what to do while shooting, but we have to take it one step at a time. Once you understand, it’s easy. I promise.
 

Shooting Myth; adjust your shooting form if you missed your last shot.

If you try adjusting your shooting form or shooting mechanics while taking your shot what does that mean? It means you’re thinking. Thinking is the worst thing you can do while shooting. If you find yourself missing consistently you need only adjust your focus. That statement will be repeated in this book time and time again. At the next mention you will fully comprehend it’s meaning.
 

Shooting Myth; concentrate on your shot.

Wrong. Concentrate only on your target.

What target?

Again, that’s what this book is all about, but we have to take it one step at a time.

Once you understand, it’s easy. I promise.
 

Shooting Myth; aim for the back of the rim. Aim for the space just beyond the front of the rim. Aim for the tape on the back of the rim. Aim for that imaginary spot smack dab in the center of the rim. Aim for the front of the rim.

All of these ideas are better than having no target at all. But all these targets are too large or too ethereal.  It’s like telling a baseball player “keep your eye on the ball.” Granted that’s better than not looking at the ball, but it’s too general a statement (and too general a target). Looking for the seams on the baseball shrinks the target, your focus of attention. When the mind has a ‘specific’ target the brain/body connection, or eye/hand coordination, improves.

OK, so what’s a good target?

Well, that’s what this book is all about, but we have to take it one step at a time.

Once you understand, it’s easy. I promise.

The point here is; shooting mechanics have gone through too many myopic changes over the years and grown too complicated. One legendary coach after another has labored to refine and tweak how to teach a shooting form.

Why?

I’ll tell you why, because consistent shooting mechanics will improve a shooters performance, and the most important aspect of basketball is scoring. But no matter how good your shot is mechanically, mechanics do not eliminate game distractions. Game distractions are the number one culprit to poor scoring percentages. Game distractions can be eliminated, but not by shooting mechanics.

How can I eliminate distractions experienced during a game?

Again, that’s what this book is all about, but we have to take it one step at a time.

Once you understand, it’s easy. I promise.
 

Shooting Myth; you must have perfect backspin on the ball.

Sometimes your shot will have backspin and sometimes it won’t, but you should never know if it does or not [this sentence will be amended later in the book]. You should have your eyes focused on your target.

Again Coach, what target?

Well, that’s what this book is all about, but we have to take it one step at a time.

Once you understand, it’s easy. I promise.
 

Shooting Myth; your shot needs to have a nice high soft arch - in case you miss, your shot will be easy to rebound.

Of all the shooting myths this might be the craziest. Why in the world would you ever want to be thinking about missing while you're shooting? Read this book. Learn how to score and

enjoy being a shooter and what that brings to your game and your team.
 

OK, I get it. Basketball is a mental game. But that means I’m supposed to be thinking.

Thinking about what, thinking when? How am I supposed to think and what am I supposed to think? Didn’t you just say I’m not supposed to be thinking?
 

Good questions that will be answered to your complete satisfaction. This book’s about brain training. We, you and I, are training your brain to shoot and should you learn a few other things along the way, well so much the better.
 

Shooting Myth; imagine your shot going in before you shoot.

At the free throw line you have time to do that and even conjure other things. However, when you miss your mind perceives this as an exercise in futility and stops believing in wishful thinking.

Shooting Myth; You’re either right eyed or left eyed. Wrong. You have stereo vision. All you need to do is look.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Chapter 1  Lay Up 8

Chapter 2  Shooting Mechanics 10

Chapter 3  Warming Up 14

Chapter 4  The ‘Mental Aspect’ Of Shooting A Basketball 16
Chapter 5  Set Shot 22

Chapter 6  Coaches Step By Step Free Throw Training 24

Chapter 7  Jump Shot 27

Chapter 8  Bank Shots 30

Chapter 9  Catch And Shoot 34

Chapter 10 Three Point Shot 37

Chapter 11 Under Hand Lay Up 39

Chapter 12 The Dunk 41

Chapter 13 Driving Layup 43

Chapter 14 Pull Up Jumper 44

Chapter 15 Runners 46
Chapter 16 Hook Shot 48

Chapter 17 Jump Hook 50

Chapter 18 Your Opposite Hand 52

Chapter 19 Tip In 54

Chapter 20 Fake And Shoot 55

Chapter 21 Peripheral Vision / Court Vision 58

Chapter 22 Rebounding 64

Chapter 23 Basketball Skills 67

<> Stuff I believe all Basketball Players and Coaches should know