Can you really change your form?
About 5 years ago I started working with a girl on her skills — one of the first things we addressed was her shot form. She, as many other players, had a couple of the most common shooting technique flaws that we see. Though correctable, they would take time. So many players try to change their form, shooting with two hands is a common example, and after a few weeks claim it’s not working. They go back to what they are comfortable with — their old shot form and old bad habits. It’s not that they can’t change their shot — it’s that they don’t have the patience and discipline to see the process through.
Will it be hard? Yes! Will be take time? Yes! Will it be worth it? Yes!
This player that I worked with 5 years ago struggled with 2 common mistakes:
1) Her shot pocket was too high. She started her shot up around her shoulder height, which we have found complete disrupts the shot rhythm of 99% of players. It also significantly slows down your shot.
2) She occasionally would shoot six fingered, which means she would slightly push the ball with her guide hand – in this case her left because she was right handed. 99% of great shooters only release the ball with their shooting hand.
She put in tons of time working on her form. What does that mean? About 20,000 form shots before she started to shoot this way naturally in a game. This doesn’t mean going game speed and 100 MPH. It’s about doing it correctly to build habits.
Currently, she leads all of NCAA DII in FT% at almost 93%.
So are shooters born? No. Can you change your shot and make yourself a great shooter? Absolutely.
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