A Shooting Exercise to Learn the Law about, "An Object in Motion..."

I had a revelation about 8-10 months ago when I was out shooting for fun at a neighbors basket. The thought came into my head that An Object in Motion tends to basketball in motion until acted upon by an unbalanced force. This old law of physics I learned in high school came out of the blue these decades later. When I Googled the phrase An object in motion... I discovered its called Newtons First Law of Motion. The basketball corollary Id like to add is, A BASKETBALL IN MOTION AND IN LINE WITH A BASKET tends to stay in motion and in line until acted upon by an unbalanced force.

The point is that the longer the ball is in motion and in line, the more accurate will be your shooting. The concepts of momentum and inertia come into play here, too. One way to experience this law is to shoot early in the jumping motion (or down-up motion of a free throw or set shot). Most great shooters Ive seen shoot on the way up, very early in the body/leg motion. If you hesitate, then you have to re-start the motion from where you stopped (the Set Point usually), and accuracy is lessened.

PLAY WITH THIS AT A WALL OR WITH A FRIEND

Ideally at a wall thats free from wires, overhangs, doors, windows, etc., shoot in different ways and see what works best. Pick a spot on the wall so you can get a feel for accuracy. Also, have the Set Point in line with the eye, basketball below the eyes for younger players, or above the eyes for stronger players and lets assume youre shooting on the way up.

Now bring the ball up in different ways to the Set Point and shoot. Bring it up off line from the right, like up in line with the ear or shoulder, then get it to the Set Point and shoot. Notice how you have to create accurate direction from the Set Point and beyond. Now bring it up the left side to the S/P and shoot, noticing the same thing. Now bring it up in line with the shooting eye for as long as possible and shoot. Notice if your accuracy is greater, if it isnt easier to hit the target line.

NOW HESITATE TO SHOOT...

Now, instead of shooting on the way up, bring the ball to the S/P and HESITATE before shooting and see what happens. Even if you bring the ball up in alignment with eye and basket, notice that you have to CREATE accuracy FROM the Set Point. The momentum, the inertia, gained from shooting in one motion, from the legs, is lost. You have to start over, and its easier to push or pull or throw the ball off line.

ITS NATURAL TO WANT TO DIP THE BALL

If you catch the ball in the general area of the shooting pocket (Set Point), its a natural thing, in my opinion, to want to dip the ball down and back up. This is the instinctive way our bodies have to get the object in motion and in line. Shoot some shots from the S/P without dipping and see how your accuracy and consistency are. Ill bet youll feel kind of lost as far as direction. Sure, you can do this perfectly some of the time, but its very easy to lose the target. Then shoot again on the way up and see what that feels like and what the result is.

These exercises will teach you the things that matter, and alignment early and long and catching and using the leg muscles early will give you superior accuracy and consistency in my book.

Tom Nordland is a shooting expert and coach from California via Minnesota. His videos, coaching and writings are inspiring a Renaissance (a rebirth, a revival) in shooting around the world as players and coaches are taught the things that really matter in shooting. A great shooter as a youth, Tom was given a gift of seeing shooting like few have ever seen it. He sees the essence of great shooting and how to get there. The good news is that its very simple. The few great shooters of today and yesterday mastered simple things, not complicated motions. Improved shooting is now possible for everybody in the game, and mastery is available to those who sincerely dedicate themselves to it. Visit Toms website (http://www.swish22.com) to read of his background and his articles and newsletters, and to view the remarkable endorsements and amazing testimonials for this approach to shooting.