Specialized Shooting Tips and Strategies
Tip #2 – Count Every Shot
“You can’t improve on anything if you don’t measure it.” I remember this being the first thing that coach Dave Hopla told me when I first started out as a shooting instructor. It’s a simple concept that every shooter should embrace. I often joke with coach Hopla how my shooting percentage is actually better than his since I make 100% of my shots. The problem is, I only count the ones that go in!
The point here is that often times when working with either large groups, small groups, or individuals, I ask the question, “what is your shooting percentage from the foul line”? Most of the time I get responses like “I shoot about 90%,” or some other percent. The problem here is the “about” part. Most athletes do NOT keep track of their shooting percentage, at least not consistently or accurately. In reference to my joking example, I will ask the shooter who says he shoots about 90% to come up and shoot 10 free throws to show us. He makes his first 3 and then misses the 4th, then the 5th. And then he tells me…”wait, let’s start over!” Sure he shoots 90% if doesn’t count all of the shots he takes.
To become a great shooter, or even to just improve on your shooting percentage, you MUST track and count your shots. All of them. Even the ones you miss, even the ones you shoot in your driveway, even the ones you shoot warming up prior to practice.
Once you start to track your shots, the “about” part will disappear and you will know exactly what your current shooting percent is. You can then begin the process to improve. If you are currently shooting 65% from the foul line, you can now set a goal to get to 75% by a specific date. This will enable you to adjust your workouts and time invested so that you can reach that goal. Once, reached, a new goal can be set.
Another psychological benefit that you will get by counting every shot you take is that your improvement will accelerate simply by making every shot count and not just casually shooting or fooling around in your driveway. If you have to count it, you will less likely just heave a shot up because it will effect your shooting %.
There are a number of easy ways to track your shooting. I have created spreadsheets as my own way to do it. If you are interested in what I use and want to use it, hit me up and I will send you the template.
Happy counting! – Coach Santoro
Up Next: Front of the Rim, Back of the Rim
Tip #1 – Every Shot Counts
That every shot counts may seem obvious when you’re talking about shots taken in a game, or even shots taken during drill work with your coach watching, what I am referring to are ALL shots taken…literally. Every shot you take is important to your progress including those you take just shooting in your driveway.
To become a great and consistent shooter, developing and honing your muscle memory and making that muscle memory permanent is critical. This requires that EVERY shot you take, no matter the importance or impact (or no impact) it may have given your environment, is executed with correct form. Be disciplined and approach all shooting activities with this in mind. It will go a long way to helping you reach your full potential.
Up Next: Count Every Shot
Introduction
As a shooting instructor for the last twenty plus years, I have put together “Shooting Tips and Strategies.” The concepts below are a combination of working with athletes helping them to modify and improve their shooting form and technique, my time spent working and training with and learning from world renown shooting instructor Coach Dave Hopla, and playing and training with my close friend Duke shooting guard Tom Emma. Some of the concepts are also taken from Tom’s handbook, “The Ultimate Shooter’s Improvement Handbook,” and modified based on my own experience. I will share individual tips over time as each one is important enough to garner individual attention.
As a side note, during my entire time working with basketball players, there are only four individuals that I have personally taught how to shoot. They are my four son’s, Robbie, Chris, Kelby, and Kyle. All of the other athletes that I have worked with learned from someone else. I, therefore, have only analyzed and modified existing shooting form and techniques.