Correcting Shots that Circle Out Due to Lowering Ball or Swiveling Ball
By Dr. Hal Wissel
Correcting shots that circle out due to lowering ball or swiveling ball are listed below, along with suggested trigger words to correct them. Trigger words are positive words, preferably one syllable words, that you associate with the correct mechanics of your shot and reinforce rhythm and confidence.
Error: Your shot circles out due to lowering ball. Some players like to lower the ball for rhythm. Learn to use the down and up action of your knees for rhythm. Lowering the ball will have the natural tendency of causing your shooting hand to go the side of the ball with the result being sidespin unless you time the point of release when your hand is facing the rim.
Correction: To prevent lowering ball set your shooting hand behind the ball so it faces the front of the basket. Start your shot high above your shooting side shoulder between your head and ear. This will lead to a shorter shooting stroke and a quicker release with less chance for error and less chance of your shot being blocked. Shoot with your arm wrist and fingers going straight toward the basket. Suggested trigger words are “Front and Straight!” or “High and Straight!” or “Up and In!”
Some players prefer to lower the ball for rhythm. To prevent the natural tendency of your shooting hand going the side of the ball when you lower it keep your shooting hand on top of the ball so when you raise it to shoot your hand will face the front of the rim. Suggested trigger words are “Top and Straight!”
Shot Circles Out Due to Lowering Ball
Error: Your shot circles out due to swiveling ball. Some players have the bad habit of swiveling the ball to the opposite hip (left to right for right handed player). This leads to the natural tendency to cause your shooting hand to go the side of the ball with the result being sidespin.
Correction: To prevent swiveling the ball set your shooting hand behind the ball so it faces the front of the basket. Start your shot high above your shooting side shoulder between your head and ear. This will lead to a shorter shooting stroke and a quicker release with less chance for error and less chance of your shot being blocked. Shoot with your arm wrist and fingers going straight toward the basket. Suggested trigger words for swiveling the ball to your opposite hip are “High and Straight!” or “Right and Straight!” for a right-handed player.
Correcting Shot that Circles Out Due to Swiveling Ball
Edited from:
Wissel, H. (2011). BASKETBALL: Steps to Success. Third Edition. Human Kinetics, Champaign, IL.
Wissel, Hal. (2005). Basketball Shooting: Confidence, Rhythm and Mechanics DVD. Basketball World, Suffield, CT.
Wissel, Hal. (2009). Basketball Shooting: Make Your Shot Automatic DVD. Basketball World, Suffield, CT.