Underhand Free Throws

[Johnny Bball]

The first time I touched a basketball probably was grade 4 or 5 at a school intramural event day ( maybe 9 years old). One of the events was 10 FTA. Being small/short I shot granny. I made 7 of 10 to win it and its was very likely my first time shooting FTs. I never again could have made 7 of 10 shooting normally when I got older, even with practice. Its just a naturally easier way to shoot IMO.

[og15]

I have to say that one of the few things I enjoyed about 3x3 was seeing Canyon Barry shoot his free throws underhand. The old family recipe brought back some good nostalgic memories.

So why don’t we see other NBA players do this? I think some bad free throw shooters toyed with it (Shaq? Wilt maybe?) toyed with it, but decided to go back to clanking them with a traditional style.

Do players avoid this technique simply from fear of looking bad? Does anyone out there do this in their own game, or play against others that do? Is it openly mocked, even when it goes in?

For most it's just better to have less sets of biomechanics to master.

Underhanded FT's have significantly less biomechanics. You're basically not using your elbows at all.

I think what was meant there is that a player would have to have biomechanics for their regular shot and then another for their FT's.

I don't think it would be a problem, but it would be having to have another set of biomechanics to master.

...but yes, the argument for underhanded is that there is less going on in the shot, so there are fewer parts to get wrong.

[Sealab2024]

I used to be pretty much automatic from the free-throw line back when I played basketball. I tried integrating the underhanded free-throw technique for a little bit, and found that I was similarly accurate with both methods. My perspective is that people expecting it to improve the free-throw percentages of poor free-throwers seems to be pretty baseless. It might be worth trying as a full shake-up, but in reality, Rick Barry was likely just an exceptionally efficient free-throw shooter that found a mechanic that worked for him.

It's similar to how people go "Why don't bigs develop a sky hook? Kareem became the greatest scorer in NBA History (at the time) because of it!" In reality, Kareem was just an unstoppable scorer within twelve feet and developed a unique scoring technique that was able to enhance his already elite talent.

The method that I'm actually most interested in for improving free-throw accuracy for those who struggle at the line is the strategy of intentionally banking free-throws. I actually think that might be a worthwhile avenue that terrible free-throw shooters should experiment with developing, given how much more leniency using the backboard would offer them.

Underhanded creates a significantly more forgiving optimal angle. The rim is widest from directly above and shooting underhanded creates a much better way to shoot in which the ball is coming down at a straighter angle. There's legit physics behind this.

[Sealab2024]

For most it's just better to have less sets of biomechanics to master.

Underhanded FT's have significantly less biomechanics. You're basically not using your elbows at all.

I think what was meant there is that a player would have to have biomechanics for their regular shot and then another for their FT's.

I don't think it would be a problem, but it would be having to have another set of biomechanics to master.

...but yes, the argument for underhanded is that there is less going on in the shot, so there are fewer parts to get wrong.

Gotcha, that makes sense.

[og15]

The first time I touched a basketball probably was grade 4 or 5 at a school intramural event day ( maybe 9 years old). One of the events was 10 FTA. Being small/short I shot granny. I made 7 of 10 to win it and its was very likely my first time shooting FTs. I never again could have made 7 of 10 shooting normally when I got older, even with practice. Its just a naturally easier way to shoot IMO.

Wow, really? That's tough for sure, I'm assuming part of your point is also that shooting is not a skill of yours and that it might help poor shooters.

How come you never tried underhanded again?

[dhsilv2]

I have to say that one of the few things I enjoyed about 3x3 was seeing Canyon Barry shoot his free throws underhand. The old family recipe brought back some good nostalgic memories.

So why don’t we see other NBA players do this? I think some bad free throw shooters toyed with it (Shaq? Wilt maybe?) toyed with it, but decided to go back to clanking them with a traditional style.

Do players avoid this technique simply from fear of looking bad? Does anyone out there do this in their own game, or play against others that do? Is it openly mocked, even when it goes in?

For most it's just better to have less sets of biomechanics to master.

Underhanded FT's have significantly less biomechanics. You're basically not using your elbows at all.

it's a whole new shot from your jumper. That's the added biomechanics. You're right, if you wanted to just focus on one thing, that might be the way. And I'm not saying people can't learn multiple mechanics either.

[dhsilv2]

For most it's just better to have less sets of biomechanics to master.

Underhanded FT's have significantly less biomechanics. You're basically not using your elbows at all.

I think what was meant there is that a player would have to have biomechanics for their regular shot and then another for their FT's.

I don't think it would be a problem, but it would be having to have another set of biomechanics to master.

...but yes, the argument for underhanded is that there is less going on in the shot, so there are fewer parts to get wrong.

well you basically said my response before I said it...but you're a jerk and said it better lol

[dhsilv2]

The first time I touched a basketball probably was grade 4 or 5 at a school intramural event day ( maybe 9 years old). One of the events was 10 FTA. Being small/short I shot granny. I made 7 of 10 to win it and its was very likely my first time shooting FTs. I never again could have made 7 of 10 shooting normally when I got older, even with practice. Its just a naturally easier way to shoot IMO.

You know...it's also kinda how you first think to bowl a ball in bowling. It's also more natural.

[Fencer reregistered]

I have to say that one of the few things I enjoyed about 3x3 was seeing Canyon Barry shoot his free throws underhand. The old family recipe brought back some good nostalgic memories.

So why don’t we see other NBA players do this? I think some bad free throw shooters toyed with it (Shaq? Wilt maybe?), but decided to go back to clanking them with a traditional style.

Do players avoid this technique simply from fear of looking bad? Does anyone out there do this in their own game, or play against others that do? Is it openly mocked, even when it goes in?

Didn't George Mikan shoot underhand?

[Johnny Bball]

The first time I touched a basketball probably was grade 4 or 5 at a school intramural event day ( maybe 9 years old). One of the events was 10 FTA. Being small/short I shot granny. I made 7 of 10 to win it and its was very likely my first time shooting FTs. I never again could have made 7 of 10 shooting normally when I got older, even with practice. Its just a naturally easier way to shoot IMO.

Wow, really? That's tough for sure, I'm assuming part of your point is also that shooting is not a skill of yours and that it might help poor shooters.

How come you never tried underhanded again?

Until I read this forum in the last few years I didn't even realize it was a thing. Its not like in the 80's I was able to watch Rick Barry or talk about it.