What is “SHARP” Shooter Academy?
SHARP Shooter Academy is an opportunity for players of all ages who to work on developing a "SHARP Shooter Mentality " by providing them with the knowledge and fundamental skills that will take their ability to shoot to the next level.
SHOOTING FINGER:
Every good shooter has a “shooting finger”. This is the last finger that should touch the ball upon release, and should be the same finger EVERY SHOT! One of the main objectives is to keep that finger straight and point it at the basket. On the release, the shooting finger starts above the rim and cascades down through the rim. Hold follow-through until the ball goes through the net, pinching your index finger to your thumb and “flaring” out the other three fingers.
HIPS:
Squaring your feet and shoulders to the basket has evolved based on data. Today, great shooters align their shooting hip, shoulder and elbow to the basket, similar to many shooting and throwing motions. Think of how you throw darts. This alignment is called the “Shot Line”. When you have a quality “Shot Line” to the basket, it increases the efficiency and range from which a shot can be taken accurately.
ARCH:
In order to have a chance to go in, the ball must go up! One of the most overlooked aspects of shooting is arch, especially when shooting further away from the basket. The flatter your shot, the smaller the surface the ball has to fit through the rim. By focusing on getting the ball elevated in the air, you are “dropping” it in through the basket, and not just shooting at the rim.
RHYTHM:
Dipping the ball prior to shooting gives a player additional power and great rhythm. Similar to a backswing in golf, shooting too slow, too fast, or out of rhythm can alter the trajectory of the shot. When catching the pass you want to dip the ball down to your waist area. Old practices say that this “slows” your shot down, but if you do the dip in a quick motion, which is developed through proper practice and repetition, this can add to the range of your shot. All great shooters dip the ball and shoot within rhythm.
PRACTICE AND PROGRESSION:
To quote the great Allen Iverson, “We talkin’ about practice?” Yes, in order to become a great shooter, it all comes down to practice and progression. Starting from the bottom up and progressing from there will allow players to develop a solid foundation for shooting. By practicing the aforementioned skills, shooters can progress into SHARP Shooters! If you can’t shoot from four feet, how can you shoot from 24 feet?