Horrible free throw shooting

[Rvrartst]

You know, saying how you did it in high school doesn't mean a thing. By the time these guys reach college level, they either can or can't shoot free throws well. Don't care how much practice time is spent on them, and in reality there isn't a lot of practice time to spend on them. You won't see a lot of players that come into college as poor free throw shooters and become good ones, and I'd bet that those who do spend many, many hours on their own working on them. And even working on them on your own doesn't guarantee success. Free throw shooting is a mental game as much or more than a physical one. You see guys with what looks like good form that brick a lot of free throws.

And while free throws should theoretically be one of the easiest shots in the game, it is a different shot than what guys practice constantly in game situations. You see a lot of good three point shooters that are mediocre at free throws, because it's not the same form, movement, or even sight window as threes in the heat of the game. I've often thought that some of these guys should shoot jump shots at the free throw line.

I've always been able to shoot free throws well. I've hit as many as 125 in a row, and I'm confident I can hit 90% or better at any time just shooting around. But put some pressure on and I'm going to miss a few. I'd often make myself hit 20 in a row before going into the house, shooting on the driveway in the evening, and man, that 19th and 20th one was likely to be my downfall. And if I'm shooting for the privilege of playing in pickup games, my percentage drops to probably 75-80%. And I've never played anything like college ball. Some can handle pressure, some can't. The good ones are those that can.

Which is a long way of saying, stop blaming free throw shooting on the coach. The players have to want to get better, ask for advice, and work on it on their own. When they've made enough on their own to get some confidence, they'll be better shooters. If they spend an hour after practice, when they are tired, trying to make 10 in a row and not stopping until they do no matter what else is calling them, they might get better. Otherwise, they are what they are. They already developed the physical habits that make them good or bad, and it takes a lot of work to change them.

[Armchair QB]

You know, saying how you did it in high school doesn't mean a thing. By the time these guys reach college level, they either can or can't shoot free throws well. Don't care how much practice time is spent on them, and in reality there isn't a lot of practice time to spend on them. You won't see a lot of players that come into college as poor free throw shooters and become good ones, and I'd bet that those who do spend many, many hours on their own working on them. And even working on them on your own doesn't guarantee success. Free throw shooting is a mental game as much or more than a physical one. You see guys with what looks like good form that brick a lot of free throws.

And while free throws should theoretically be one of the easiest shots in the game, it is a different shot than what guys practice constantly in game situations. You see a lot of good three point shooters that are mediocre at free throws, because it's not the same form, movement, or even sight window as threes in the heat of the game. I've often thought that some of these guys should shoot jump shots at the free throw line.

I've always been able to shoot free throws well. I've hit as many as 125 in a row, and I'm confident I can hit 90% or better at any time just shooting around. But put some pressure on and I'm going to miss a few. I'd often make myself hit 20 in a row before going into the house, shooting on the driveway in the evening, and man, that 19th and 20th one was likely to be my downfall. And if I'm shooting for the privilege of playing in pickup games, my percentage drops to probably 75-80%. And I've never played anything like college ball. Some can handle pressure, some can't. The good ones are those that can.

Which is a long way of saying, stop blaming free throw shooting on the coach. The players have to want to get better, ask for advice, and work on it on their own. When they've made enough on their own to get some confidence, they'll be better shooters. If they spend an hour after practice, when they are tired, trying to make 10 in a row and not stopping until they do no matter what else is calling them, they might get better. Otherwise, they are what they are. They already developed the physical habits that make them good or bad, and it takes a lot of work to change them.

You summed it up. At 1st I disagreed because I believe free throw shooting is so mechanical that with dedication, anyone (even a non athlete) can be a good free throw shooter.

But then you nailed it and said it’s really up to the individual. Take Robinson. He used to be pretty good. Then last year he developed a weird pause / hitch in his free throw shot. It kind of was gone early but I’ve noticed it’s back. It’s just silly. I’d hope a coach would say “you know that hitch in your shot is probably what’s messing you up”. Ultimately, he sees film. Robinson needs to fix it. Coaches can’t do that for him.

I suspect much of our underlying issues are just lack of dedication and practice. Which leads to misses which leads to low confidence, especially when pressure is on.

[Rvrartst]

You know, saying how you did it in high school doesn't mean a thing. By the time these guys reach college level, they either can or can't shoot free throws well. Don't care how much practice time is spent on them, and in reality there isn't a lot of practice time to spend on them. You won't see a lot of players that come into college as poor free throw shooters and become good ones, and I'd bet that those who do spend many, many hours on their own working on them. And even working on them on your own doesn't guarantee success. Free throw shooting is a mental game as much or more than a physical one. You see guys with what looks like good form that brick a lot of free throws.

And while free throws should theoretically be one of the easiest shots in the game, it is a different shot than what guys practice constantly in game situations. You see a lot of good three point shooters that are mediocre at free throws, because it's not the same form, movement, or even sight window as threes in the heat of the game. I've often thought that some of these guys should shoot jump shots at the free throw line.

I've always been able to shoot free throws well. I've hit as many as 125 in a row, and I'm confident I can hit 90% or better at any time just shooting around. But put some pressure on and I'm going to miss a few. I'd often make myself hit 20 in a row before going into the house, shooting on the driveway in the evening, and man, that 19th and 20th one was likely to be my downfall. And if I'm shooting for the privilege of playing in pickup games, my percentage drops to probably 75-80%. And I've never played anything like college ball. Some can handle pressure, some can't. The good ones are those that can.

Which is a long way of saying, stop blaming free throw shooting on the coach. The players have to want to get better, ask for advice, and work on it on their own. When they've made enough on their own to get some confidence, they'll be better shooters. If they spend an hour after practice, when they are tired, trying to make 10 in a row and not stopping until they do no matter what else is calling them, they might get better. Otherwise, they are what they are. They already developed the physical habits that make them good or bad, and it takes a lot of work to change them.

You summed it up. At 1st I disagreed because I believe free throw shooting is so mechanical that with dedication, anyone (even a non athlete) can be a good free throw shooter.

But then you nailed it and said it’s really up to the individual. Take Robinson. He used to be pretty good. Then last year he developed a weird pause / hitch in his free throw shot. It kind of was gone early but I’ve noticed it’s back. It’s just silly. I’d hope a coach would say “you know that hitch in your shot is probably what’s messing you up”. Ultimately, he sees film. Robinson needs to fix it. Coaches can’t do that for him.

I suspect much of our underlying issues are just lack of dedication and practice. Which leads to misses which leads to low confidence, especially when pressure is on.

I agree that free throw shooting is mechanics. But if you don't have the confidence, your mechanics don't matter. When the pressure is on your muscles tighten and you start aiming instead of simply trusting your muscle memory. You can only fix that with lots of practice while putting some kind of pressure on yourself...and when you see the results, like making that last free throw out of ten when you've just spent two hours in practice and already got to nine in a row a couple times and missed and want to go get some ice cream, you begin to think "hey, I can do this." You see guys step up and apparently calmly sink two in a high pressure situation and you know it's because THEY know they'll make them and have dealt with the pressure before with confidence.

I don't work on my free throws anymore. Heck, I'm in my 70s (still playing pickup games at the athletic club), and it ain't that important to me. I just shoot for fun in the driveway because it IS still fun. But I find the whole subject of shooting so interesting that I've given it a lot of thought. A guy at the club that's older than me came close to winning a couple of national shooting contests not long ago. Has what anybody would say is terrible form; he's right-handed, but leans to the right and shoots from over his right shoulder, and his guide hand leaves the ball early so the shot is essentially one handed. But he's done it so long and so well that he KNOWS the shot is going in, and so he does it in pressure situations. With better form, he almost certainly would have won those contests. But he's made several hundred in a row several times. I guess it's important to him, so he continues to work on it every day for hours.

Maybe us old guys have an advantage...we can't jump anymore, so all our shots are closer to free throws!

[Rojo Johnson]

i would think that is something players would work on as individuals

Bingo. In the ”old days” they used to shoot them early in the morning before classes. Surely, that script can be repeated if they all are serious about winning. Maybe they can teach the Big Fella to shoot some hook shots from the line? He’d have a better chance of making them doing it that way. He is one of the worst I’ve ever seen. It’s hard to understand how someone could be that bad.

There are FT coaches. Maybe Gates has employed one or more? If not, what would it hurt? Clearly, his message is not resonating with all those alligator arms he’s recruited.

[Kenny Boy]

i would think that is something players would work on as individuals

Bingo. In the ”old days” they used to shoot them early in the morning before classes. Surely, that script can be repeated if they all are serious about winning. Maybe they can teach the Big Fella to shoot some hook shots from the line? He’d have a better chance of making them doing it that way. He is one of the worst I’ve ever seen. It’s hard to understand how someone could be that bad.

There are FT coaches. Maybe Gates has employed one or more? If not, what would it hurt? Clearly, his message is not resonating with all those alligator arms he’s recruited.

"It’s hard to understand how someone could be that bad."

Right? If you're either a big guy or a one who drives to the hoop and get's fouled a lot, you would think free throws would be a huge priority. Free points.

Shaquille O'Neal and Wilt Chamberlain were the classic examples. Shaq's career average in the NBA was 52.7%...48.4 in NBA finals. Wilt was 51.1%. That's just sad.

[icon]

One of my favorite free throw shooters of all time was Rick Barry, who shot them underhanded at a 90% career clip in the NBA. And he was 6-7. What is Boateng's excuse?

Another of my favorites was Hal Greer, who shot jump shots from the free throw line.

[HoopsGuruII]

My favorite was Sean East II who was 119 of 139 for 85.6% in the 2023-24 season. He took the ball around his back before bringing it up for the release!

[knttiger]

I'll take Bates and Sundvold.

We don't have a team-full of good shooters. We have Crews and Stone who look the part of skilled shooters. Ant, Pierce, and TO are next on that list, and then Mitchell. Surprising thing is Mitchell led all ft shooters again Saturday, and with his form that shouldn't happen. Mack could help that percentage, but isn't on the court enough to factor into the equation, and is only hitting on 65% from the line.

Phillips is 40%, and I have no clue how that is possible. Northweather should be good, but isn't.

Last year we had a couple of great shooters, led at the line by Bates. Someone on this team has to be able to knock down free throws to ice games and stop runs. Missing the front-end of 1 and 1s is the same as throwing the ball away- it's a missed opportunity to score, and it is killing this team.

Now, if they fix this problem, can we do something about guarding wide-open 3 point shooters on the wing.

[dhsux]

If a physique like Robby Avila can hit %80....anybody can.

Yes, that's a backhanded compliment.