The most common ways to teach shooting today are derived from concepts well over 50 years old. Basketball is an always changing sport. The game is currently played at a different style and speed than it was 20 years ago. While certain aspects in basketball never change (the give and go and the pick and roll), shooting is always evolving because players are quicker, taller and better athletes even a decade ago. Just because a player could get his shot off in the 60’s does not mean he could get that same shot off in today’s fast paced game. While most current coaches understand the importance of shooting, it continues to be the most misunderstood and poorly taught facet in all of sports.

When speaking at camps or running my own shooting camps, the first thing I do is have everyone seated at the three-point line and then I bring a camper up for demonstration purposes. “I know many of you have been taught how to shoot by your past coaches. Today we will take this player here and mold him into what a shooter should look like by what you have been taught.” The campers will shout out important aspects of what they believe a shot looks like.

The most common responses are:
• “Bend your knees.”
• “Start the ball over your head.”
• “Keep your back straight.”
• “Square your feet to the basket.”

We then transform the camper to look like the picture on the right. “Let me ask everyone a question—does this person look like he is comfortable?” Sometimes I’ll even ask the camper if he is comfortable. “And this is how your coaches want you to shoot? Being uncomfortable and tense? One more question—who shoots like this in the NBA or WNBA?”

I want the Pro Shot players to have a sleek and fine-tuned shooting form. I have studied and have spoken with many of the best shooters in this world. One thing I know is that they don’t shoot like the picture above.