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Reader Question about Arc

Hey guys,

I’d like to share a response to an email question I got from a subscriber. He was wondering, “how do I achieve a “perfect, high” arc?”. Here was what I gave him:

Hi D****,

Thanks for the question.

First of all, please be aware that there is no perfect arc. Sometimes our shots are flat, or not high, and sometimes they may be very high. There is no perfect arc; it changes due to many things. However, a higher arc brings out a greater chance of a make because of the large landing angle to the basket.

With that said, please look into your release. Go closer to the basket to practice pushing the ball without the use of your wrist and finger muscles. You can tell they are not active if your wrist flops a few times after the release, naturally. That’s a must! The reason being is that eliminating use of these muscles allows you to shoot mostly with your leg drive, which I’ll talk about later.

Later, use this same pushing release further and further from the rim. Eventually, for all shots (even 3 pt shots). You might be saying to yourself, ” But I’m not getting enough power with this release?”. That’s the whole point: you’ve now got to power the rest of your shot using your legs. This is what’s going to give your shooting much better range and a naturally higher arc. Again, check if your release is still a pushing motion (wrist and hand completely relaxed, elbow completely extended: that’s how you can check if you are actually truely pushing).

If you find that you can’t do this: check two other things:

1. If You are setting the ball early

2. If You are turning your body at least 45 degrees

Number 1 is super important because it allows you to completely use all your leg drive for power. If you are not setting the ball early enough (that is, not setting the ball BEFORE jumping up or coming up out of the bend stance), then you are missing potential power, and will therefore have to use more upper body power to compensate (or else you will shoot a short shot). Setting early allows you to use a true pushing release for all shots of all distances because it enables you to power the rest of the shot with your leg drive, which will, again, give you the higher shots.

Try these out and let me know how that goes. Thanks

Michael

http://www.theshooterstouch.com

Tags: arc, shooting

18

01 2012

by admin
posted in BLOGS
No Comments

Keys to CONTROLLING Shots

Okay, you’ve learned to push the ball, and you’ve learned to power your shots mainly by your leg drive or upforce (if you haven’t, read my previous blogs, okay?). How can we now control the distance or flight of the ball more effectively for EVERY shot we take?

First, we must realize that flipping the wrist harder or softer is obviously not ideal, as we are placing the control in our faster firing muscles. Again, controlling distance from your release is a no-go because the finger and wrist muscles are not suited in providing power and accuracy at the same time. If you have wrist and finger muscles active in your shot (even just slightly), go ahead and read my first blog. You should be pushing the ball completely.

However, pushing the ball harder or softer, I’ve come to learn, is not ideal either. In fact, varying the arch of your shots makes this task easier.

If you were to shoot a shot from the three point line and then from the free throw line with the same release, the best and most efficient way to control the distance is by shooting the free throw shot with a higher arch, while shooting the three point show with a lower arch, naturally. This allows you to control distance without actually changing your release or speed of your release. It is SO much more simple, this way! It’s like an archer who changes the trajectory of his strike to fit the distance, you see! Similarly, you vary the angle of your arm to fit the distance.

Or, from a given power generated by your legs (Upforce), you can also vary the arc! From a lot amount of leg drive generated, shoot with a higher arc, or you will hit backiron all the time. From a little amount of leg drive generated, shoot with a flatter arc, or you will airball all the time.

We demonstrate: