Dead-Eye Free Throw Shooting
By: SB
Free Throw Specialist
70% of basketball games are won at the free throw line.
HOW FAR IS THE FREE THROW LINE?
For high school, college, and professional basketball the free throw line is 15 feet from the backboard. For younger kids the free throw line often becomes the dotted semi-circle just below the free throw line.
HOW TO SHOOT BETTER AT THE FREE THROW LINE?
The importance of being a reliable free throw shooter can not be underestimated. A confident free throw shooter can aggressively attack the defense knowing if he or she is fouled in the act of shooting its two points (three if it’s an “And 1”). More importantly it is the good free throw shooters the coach trusts at the end of a game.
practice makes improvement
While it is hard to emulate an in-game pressure situation, with tired legs and rowdy fans, practice and repetition will give you the confidence you need to step up to the free throw line and deliver the dagger. Practice DOES NOT make perfect, but practice does make improvement.
Have a Free Throw LIne Routine
Every time you’re on the free throw line your routine should be the same. Does it matter what that routine is? No. What matters is that it is the same routine you practice. Watch NBA players and you will see while their routines differ, their pre-shot routine remains the same. Be consistent.
Check your Feet
My junior year in college I did not shoot free throws nearly as well as I was capable of. To lead the conference in three point shooting, but struggle at the free throw line didn’t make much sense. Some of the best advice I received was to “check my feet.”
Feet Pointed Toward Basket
I went from feet slightly turned left (for right handed shooter) at the line, to feet straight forward pointing at the basket. The result was a twenty percent increase in free throw shooting and top ten all time for the school.
Staggered Feet
Another common option at the free throw line is to have your feet pointed toward the basket, but slightly staggered at the line.
Angled Feet
Lastly, instead of your feet being pointed toward the basket, they can be slightly angled to the left for right hand shooters and right for left hand shooters.
Again, for me, feet pointed toward the basket worked best at the free throw line. Practice and find what works best for you. Most importantly do what feels natural.
Check you feet!
Breathe
Relax.Breathe. There is a lot going on around you. Your legs may feel wobbly from pushing the ball up the court. Your head may still be ringing from a hard foul. Taking a breathe right before shooting relaxed both my mind and body and provided the cue it was time to knock down the freebie.
FOCUS ON YOUR TARGET
Any time you shoot have a target and be consistent with that target.
I was always more comfortable focusing on the front of the rim. Others prefer focusing on the back of the rim. Whatever works for you, lock in and repeat.
SHOOT IT LIKE YOU MEAN IT
It’s a fact you aren’t going to make every shot you take. However, anytime you shoot, you should be surprised the shot didn’t go in. Especially a free throw. It’s free! You aren’t moving and there isn’t a hand in your face.
You’ve put in the practice, you’ve put in the time. Now shoot it like you mean it!