Many people know how to shoot a basketball, but when some players step up to shoot a free throw they might not have the best form. The top teams in the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) have a percentage of about 75% from the line. Numerous missed shots are due mainly to poor form, which can be easily fixed. The best time to learn how to have this good form is during one’s early basketball years. This is so one can develop muscle memory. A free throw occurs in a basketball game when a player is fouled in certain situations. When a player is fouled, they may shoot one to three free throws depending on the occasion. The free throw line is fifteen feet away from the basket from junior high school up to professional basketball.
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There are many things to work on to improve one’s form. Arguably the most important of these is to make sure the shooter “follows through.” A common analogy for this is for the shooter to put his hand in the cookie jar after letting go of the ball. This means that once the ball is out of the shooter’s hands, he should continue to move his arm forward to guide the ball into the basket. Another effective way to increase one’s free throw percentage is to be consistent. The best way to do this is not to jump. Bending your legs is acceptable, but a player should be able to have enough power not to need to jump. The second way to be consistent is to continue to practice. A player who practices the same shot every time he steps up to the line will build muscle memory and increase his accuracy. The last, but certainly not least, important thing a shooter must remember while shooting a free throw is to be set and lined up to the basket. He should spread his feet about shoulder length apart to make sure that he is well-balanced. Lining himself up with the basket increases his chances of making the shot. This is because if he overshoots there is still a chance the ball will bank off the backboard and fall into the basket. If he tends to miss the basket to the right, he should move himself a few inches to the left
There are many things to work on to improve one’s form. Arguably the most important of these is to make sure the shooter “follows through.” A common analogy for this is for the shooter to put his hand in the cookie jar after letting go of the ball. This means that once the ball is out of the shooter’s hands, he should continue to move his arm forward to guide the ball into the basket. Another effective way to increase one’s free throw percentage is to be consistent. The best way to do this is not to jump. Bending your legs is acceptable, but a player should be able to have enough power not to need to jump. The second way to be consistent is to continue to practice. A player who practices the same shot every time he steps up to the line will build muscle memory and increase his accuracy. The last, but certainly not least, important thing a shooter must remember while shooting a free throw is to be set and lined up to the basket. He should spread his feet about shoulder length apart to make sure that he is well-balanced. Lining himself up with the basket increases his chances of making the shot. This is because if he overshoots there is still a chance the ball will bank off the backboard and fall into the basket. If he tends to miss the basket to the right, he should move himself a few inches to the left