In preparing for shooting camp a couple of weeks ago I came across some old notes that I had taken at a shooting clinic a few years back by basketball guru Dave Hopla (Washington Wizards).   As a player development coach I’m always in search of new ways to make a point or really drive a point home to athletes of all ages and abilities.  One very simple portion of the notes really stood out to me regarding what it takes to become a great shooter.   I decided to share the thoughts in my camp:

“How many of you would be interested if I could tell you how to become the world’s greatest shooter?  I have the answer for you….its actually a very simple concept that contains only two steps and anyone is capable.   So here it is….to become the world’s greatest shooter you to must (1) learn proper from and then (2)shoot more than anyone else in the world!  That’s it….there’s your answer!”

As you can imagine this doesn’t get a raving applause from a group of young athletes who are growing up in the “microwave culture” and have very little appreciation for “delayed gratification”.  They want the quick fix…the magic pill…the answer that gets results immediately.  But that isn’t how the game works…its a process to become a great shooter or player for that matter and if I can get them thinking in those terms then I think I’ve made some progress.

The bottom line is this…shooting the basketball effectively is about form and repetition.  Learning proper form at a young age is crucial as bad habits can be very difficult to correct as an athlete gets older.  Attention to detail with the feet, elbow, hand placement on the ball and follow thru are all key elements in proper development.  As I have always said with every repetition you are either forming good habits or bad habits and those habits determine your success.  With young basketball athletes a lack of strength is a very common reason for developing bad habits…adjust accordingly.  Use a smaller ball, shoot at a lower basket, stay closer to the basket when getting repetition (stay away from the 3pt line) etc. 

In terms of repetition it just comes down to the amount of quality time you are willing to put into the process.  There is no secert here…the more you shoot the basketball the better shooter you will become.  With that said its also important to note that not all repetition is equal.  Game shots at game spots at game speed are going to get much quicker results than what I like to refer to as “social shooting” that does not contain the same energy and focus.  As with all great accomplishments there is always a price to be paid…I think that is a decision each individual athlete must make on thier own.  As an athlete are you willing to make the “time” sacrifice, the “effort” sacrifice, the “social” scarifice.  There isn’t a great shooter out there that hasn’t made those sacrifices in the past to get where they are today because every great shooter follows the same path to success…form and repetition!   Shooters are made not born so if your one of those basketball athletes who are willing to learn proper form and then take the quality repetition to another level of commitment maybe…just maybe you could become the “worlds greatest shooter!”

Coach Golden

Tags: Basketball Camps, Basketball Skill Development, Basketball Training, Geoff Golden