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Dick Baumgartner's Basketball Shooting CampWhere Great Shooters Are Made Not Born. |
Camp Information:
- Basketball Instructional & Training DVDs & Videotapes
- 3 point shooting
- Best free throw
- Low post moves & shots
- Dribbling
- Individual boy's workout
- Individual girl's workout
- Shooting off pass
- Pull-up jump shooting
- Moves and shots
Free Throw Shooting
There are several different methods and procedures for shooting free throws. The following information is mainly on how to practice free throw shooting. It also has some information on how to shoot a free throw. You can get more information on how to shoot a free throw by ordering the free throw videotape presented in this website. The following free throw information and free throw video is for coaches, both male and female players, and parents.How to Practice Free Throw Shooting
- Shoot several in-a-row ( 10 to 12 ). This is one of the best ways to develop a good routine and rhythm.
- Move from the free throw line each time after shooting two free throws. The first part of the free throw is stepping to the line so this should be practiced.
- A player should not shoot on the same basket all the time. It is a good practice for the coach to rotate the players so they shoot on all the different baskets in the gym.
- Practice players on free throw shooting when they are real tired. Stop at different times during practice and shoot free throws.
- Coaches should work up some free throw contests ( make free throw shooting competitive and very important ).
- Players must spend enough time shooting free throws. Regardless if a coach`s free throw method and shooting techniques are very good, his or her players must spend enough time practicing free throws. Don`t cut your free throw practice time. Again, make your players very aware of the importance of free throw shooting.
It is very important to shoot 10 or 12 in-a-row to develop your rhythm and routine. It is also very important to shoot 1 or 2 free throws and then step away from the free throw line. Stepping up to the line is simulating game conditions and also practicing the first part of the free throw.
High School team led nation with 84% average
A lot of the real good free throw shooting teams that I checked out, shot free throws in the morning before school started. Of course, they also shot free throws during the regular practice. One of the high school teams that practiced in the morning led the nation with a team average of 84%. This team also used the free throw method which we like the best. This method and others are shown in the free throw videotape.
Louisville University
The above practice procedures are very good ways to practice free throw shooting. For example: I helped a past Louisville University team with their free throw shooting, I didn`t do the team individually, but I did give them the practice procedures listed above, At the time, they were shooting around 68% from the foul line. When I watched them practice free throw shooting I noticed that they only practiced where they shot 10 or 12 in-a-row and then moved off the line. They weren`t practicing the first part of the free throw which is stepping up-to-the-line. This was the reason for so many of the one-on-one`s being missed. Just by adding this practice procedure of shooting two free throws and then stepping off the line and then stepping back to- the- line the team increased their percentage considerably in a very short time.
They continued to shoot several in-a-row 10 to 12 ) which is also good. Again, shooting several in-a-row is a good way to develop the players routine and rhythm. Developing correct rhythm helps a player to release the ball at the correct time which is one of the most important parts of shooting well. Both practice procedures of stepping up-to-the-line and shooting several in-a-row are needed.
Lead the nation in free throw percentage for the last 3 years
Coach Gary Koch`s Jefferson College ( Division One Junior College) girl`s basketball team, Hillsboro, Missouri has led the nation in free throw shooting for the last 3 years in that Division. He credits a lot of the success in his teams free throw shooting to following the practice procedures and information provided by Coach Dick Baumgartner
Free Throw Routine
Developing a free throw routine is a must for consistently shooting a free throw well.
- Wait for the referee to give you the ball before stepping to the line (start of routine).
- Step to line and get your foot position.
- Bounce ball if in routine (some start free throw off bounce).
- Pick up ball and take it to beginning level before lifting ball.
- At the same time get into a beginning stance.
- Concentrate on sight point.
- Time lifting ball with whatever knee movement you use (timing procedures vary with free throw methods).
- After ball is lifted, push up with feet and follow through (maintain rhythm throughout shot).
Develop your free throw routine and rhythm through many hours of practice. Don`t think of mechanical parts during a scrimmage or game. During a game if the player thinks of mechanical parts of the shot, he or she will not shoot consistently well. A player should just sight the target and execute in a natural way what he or she has developed through the many hours of free throw practice.
Most common mistake made in developing a free throw rountine
To develop a consistent routine, a player must start with the ball positioned at the same place and level each time before lifting the ball and thrusting it to the basket. If a player varies the level he or she is changing his or her routine.
Main differences in free throw shooting
- Several different sight points (over-rim, back-o-rim, down-the-middle, etc.)
- Several different footwork procedures (shooting foot in-line with basket, feet parallel, shooting foot a little right of center, etc.)
- Several different beginning stances (more erect, semi-squat, etc.)
- Several different starting levels before lifting ball (stomach, upper stomach, neck, etc.)
Great guideline for checking free throw shooter
When checking a player`s free throw it is best to observe the player`s shot from the player`s shooting hand side. When checking from this position a coach can see if the top of the player`s body is over the bottom before he or she thrusts the ball to the basket. If the shoulders are forward or back, the player will not be balanced. With the shoulders forward the arc of the shot will be flatter. If the shoulders are back the player will lose power. Again, after the ball is lifted the top of the body should be over the bottom. This guideline should be followed regardless of what method of free throw shooting is used.