Bad Free Throw shooters - why not try to bank every shot?

[Alonzo_Morning]

When you use glass from straight on you have more margin for error and you don't even have to spin the ball nicely for the rebound of the glass to go in.

Why don't more bad ft shooters try this?

[Wagonband]

What are you talking about? Straight on bank shots have to be some of the most difficult basketball shots. That's why you mostly see in game people using bank shots from the side under an angle.

[Alonzo_Morning]

What are you talking about? Straight on bank shots have to be some of the most difficult basketball shots. That's why you mostly see in game people using bank shots from the side under an angle.

People use the glass with side on shots because exactly what you said - you are on an angle. Not because they are easier, they are harder to sink without using glass

Having 15 seconds to lineup a shot straight on is not difficult

[Golden Knight]

WHAT?!

They are bad freethrow shooters because in the first place they can't aim properly, have bad eye-hand coordination etc

If they can't aim properly for a "normal" freethrow there's no way they are hitting that specific spot on the backboard better than their normal FT.

Im pretty sure that "shooter's bounce" favors a normal freethrow than a banked one.

[Cappy_Smurf]

Granny is more effective.

[LookToShoot]

They could try shooting their free throws like Nick Van Exel and take a few steps back.

[Alonzo_Morning]

WHAT?!

They are bad freethrow shooters because in the first place they can't aim properly, have bad eye-hand coordination etc

If they can't aim properly for a "normal" freethrow there's no way they are hitting that specific spot on the backboard better than their normal FT.

Im pretty sure that "shooter's bounce" favors a normal freethrow than a banked one.

There's quite a few spots on the glass from straight on front you can hit and it will still go in. You can even slam a ball into the glass and it will go in, where as it will never do that trying to drop it in from a height

More margin of error than trying to land a ball in a hole if you are not good at that

[Knickerbocker91]

For me, I will never understand why some players are so bad at free throw shooting. I get that somebody that size shooting a basketball is like a 5'9 guy shooting a tennis ball, but come on, it's your job, figure it out. Hire a shooting coach, take 30min out of your day to work on it...or maybe they just don't care enough?

[FNQ]

Way harder to do that, especially when you've been trying to make it directly in all your life.

If anything, go the Rick Barry route. The problem is these guys are usually too strong to have legitimate touch with an overhand throw, and the underhand version creates more arc. I would only advise it for players who do not shoot outside of a couple of feet though, otherwise it can mess with their jumpers.

[FNQ]

For me, I will never understand why some players are so bad at free throw shooting. I get that somebody that size shooting a basketball is like a 5'9 guy shooting a tennis ball, but come on, it's your job, figure it out. Hire a shooting coach, take 30min out of your day to work on it...or maybe they just don't care enough?

I was privileged enough to see a number of Warriors' practices in their heyday, and you know who could stripe FTs in practice with little variance? Andris Biedrins.

Watch on YouTube

This is a man who, while his career% was slightly above 50%, shot 23.8% from the FT line for the last 5 years of his career. So its not about practice, its about mental blocks, the yips, getting inside your head when you feel everyone's expecting you to miss.

They obviously care, but in some cases, it can be a lost cause.

[makubesu]

For me, I will never understand why some players are so bad at free throw shooting. I get that somebody that size shooting a basketball is like a 5'9 guy shooting a tennis ball, but come on, it's your job, figure it out. Hire a shooting coach, take 30min out of your day to work on it...or maybe they just don't care enough?

I was privileged enough to see a number of Warriors' practices in their heyday, and you know who could stripe FTs in practice with little variance? Andris Biedrins.

Watch on YouTube

This is a man who, while his career% was slightly above 50%, shot 23.8% from the FT line for the last 5 years of his career. So its not about practice, its about mental blocks, the yips, getting inside your head when you feel everyone's expecting you to miss.

They obviously care, but in some cases, it can be a lost cause.

Also, in the game you're out of rhythm, and worn down from banging against guys and running around. It's much harder under those conditions.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

[Xherdan 23]

For me, I will never understand why some players are so bad at free throw shooting. I get that somebody that size shooting a basketball is like a 5'9 guy shooting a tennis ball, but come on, it's your job, figure it out. Hire a shooting coach, take 30min out of your day to work on it...or maybe they just don't care enough?

It used to be the go to excuse: "His hands are too big", "He's too tall so he doesn't have the angle".
Now, not everyone can be Dirk, but you can certainly show Ibaka or Bosh improvement from their rookie years.
Hell, look at Brook Lopez or Boogie Cousins and how they're shooting threes after not having any range coming in to the league.

Kawhi Leonard shot 20% from three his freshman year in college and 29% his second year, if anyone should give up because their hands are too big to shoot it's him, but he didn't and he's now a 40% 3pt shooter for his NBA career.

We always knew Shaq and Dwight were lazy but now when every player is a good shooter regardless of size you can really tell how much they tried to improve in that area.

[Knickerbocker91]

For me, I will never understand why some players are so bad at free throw shooting. I get that somebody that size shooting a basketball is like a 5'9 guy shooting a tennis ball, but come on, it's your job, figure it out. Hire a shooting coach, take 30min out of your day to work on it...or maybe they just don't care enough?

I was privileged enough to see a number of Warriors' practices in their heyday, and you know who could stripe FTs in practice with little variance? Andris Biedrins.

Watch on YouTube

This is a man who, while his career% was slightly above 50%, shot 23.8% from the FT line for the last 5 years of his career. So its not about practice, its about mental blocks, the yips, getting inside your head when you feel everyone's expecting you to miss.

They obviously care, but in some cases, it can be a lost cause.

I get what you're saying, and maybe it's very difficult for some people to not let all that negative stuff get inside their head.

I just believe that putting in the work, becoming so confident with your craft, all that noise won't have that big of an impact. If it was clutch shots under that much pressure, yeah, most players don't have the balls. But we're talking about free throw shooting here, it's a non-movement shot, where it's all about hand eye coordination.

[The Duke]

Rony Seikaly ... love that guys FT shooting form

[Knickerbocker91]

For me, I will never understand why some players are so bad at free throw shooting. I get that somebody that size shooting a basketball is like a 5'9 guy shooting a tennis ball, but come on, it's your job, figure it out. Hire a shooting coach, take 30min out of your day to work on it...or maybe they just don't care enough?

It used to be the go to excuse: "His hands are too big", "He's too tall so he doesn't have the angle".
Now, not everyone can be Dirk, but you can certainly show Ibaka or Bosh improvement from their rookie years.
Hell, look at Brook Lopez or Boogie Cousins and how they're shooting threes after not having any range coming in to the league.

Kawhi Leonard shot 20% from three his freshman year in college and 29% his second year, if anyone should give up because their hands are too big to shoot it's him, but he didn't and he's now a 40% 3pt shooter for his NBA career.

We always knew Shaq and Dwight were lazy but now when every player is a good shooter regardless of size you can really tell how much they tried to improve in that area.

Exactly. There is no excuse and I hate how people allow players to just suck at FT shooting.

It's not like the players are asked to become elite catch and shoot players...or become efficient from 3pt. They are EXPECTED to make stationary free throw shots, with absolutely no defense. Putting the blame on having big hands or being too tall or not mentally fit enough, all of that is weak. You're paid millions to figure it out.

[FNQ]

For me, I will never understand why some players are so bad at free throw shooting. I get that somebody that size shooting a basketball is like a 5'9 guy shooting a tennis ball, but come on, it's your job, figure it out. Hire a shooting coach, take 30min out of your day to work on it...or maybe they just don't care enough?

It used to be the go to excuse: "His hands are too big", "He's too tall so he doesn't have the angle".
Now, not everyone can be Dirk, but you can certainly show Ibaka or Bosh improvement from their rookie years.
Hell, look at Brook Lopez or Boogie Cousins and how they're shooting threes after not having any range coming in to the league.

Kawhi Leonard shot 20% from three his freshman year in college and 29% his second year, if anyone should give up because their hands are too big to shoot it's him, but he didn't and he's now a 40% 3pt shooter for his NBA career.

We always knew Shaq and Dwight were lazy but now when every player is a good shooter regardless of size you can really tell how much they tried to improve in that area.

Exactly. There is no excuse and I hate how people allow players to just suck at FT shooting.

It's not like the players are asked to become elite catch and shoot players...or become efficient from 3pt. They are EXPECTED to make stationary free throw shots, with absolutely no defense. Putting the blame on having big hands or being too tall or not mentally fit enough, all of that is weak. You're paid millions to figure it out.

Dwight shoots 80% from the line in practice.. DeAndre Jordan was taking 100 FTs every day in practice.

I mean, why stop at FTs? Why hasnt Shaun Livingston ever developed a 3pt ball? Why cant everyone shoot 3s too? At a certain point, you just aren't able to do it. I'm 5'10, I had to be a guard my entire life. But I couldnt be a PG because no matter how much I practiced, I couldnt handle the ball well enough to do so. I put in the work, listened to Gary Payton and Jason Williams' tips (ruined many gloves by cutting the fingertips out, per White Chocolate).. and I could do pretty well in the gym by myself. But come game time, I may as well have been Biyombo out there.

But don't leave me open. No, don't do that. I'm not like Biyombo there

[Knickerbocker91]

It used to be the go to excuse: "His hands are too big", "He's too tall so he doesn't have the angle".
Now, not everyone can be Dirk, but you can certainly show Ibaka or Bosh improvement from their rookie years.
Hell, look at Brook Lopez or Boogie Cousins and how they're shooting threes after not having any range coming in to the league.

Kawhi Leonard shot 20% from three his freshman year in college and 29% his second year, if anyone should give up because their hands are too big to shoot it's him, but he didn't and he's now a 40% 3pt shooter for his NBA career.

We always knew Shaq and Dwight were lazy but now when every player is a good shooter regardless of size you can really tell how much they tried to improve in that area.

Exactly. There is no excuse and I hate how people allow players to just suck at FT shooting.

It's not like the players are asked to become elite catch and shoot players...or become efficient from 3pt. They are EXPECTED to make stationary free throw shots, with absolutely no defense. Putting the blame on having big hands or being too tall or not mentally fit enough, all of that is weak. You're paid millions to figure it out.

Dwight shoots 80% from the line in practice.. DeAndre Jordan was taking 100 FTs every day in practice.

I mean, why stop at FTs? Why hasnt Shaun Livingston ever developed a 3pt ball? Why cant everyone shoot 3s too? At a certain point, you just aren't able to do it. I'm 5'10, I had to be a guard my entire life. But I couldnt be a PG because no matter how much I practiced, I couldnt handle the ball well enough to do so. I put in the work, listened to Gary Payton and Jason Williams' tips (ruined many gloves by cutting the fingertips out, per White Chocolate).. and I could do pretty well in the gym by myself. But come game time, I may as well have been Biyombo out there.

But don't leave me open. No, don't do that. I'm not like Biyombo there

I just don't believe in the whole "not able to do it"

The players that want to be great, figure it out. No other way around it, you either make the changes in your game to become better at all facets or you fade away in mediocrity.

[the sea duck]

I like the idea for poor free throw shooters. It's awkward, but there's definitely a larger margin for error. The ball needs to be just as straight, but the height and distance can be more variable and still go in.

[The_Hater]

When you use glass from straight on you have more margin for error and you don't even have to spin the ball nicely for the rebound of the glass to go in.

Why don't more bad ft shooters try this?

Never played hoops huh?

[Papi_swav]

Or just underhand it