The Secret To Shooting Free Throws
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- Опубліковано 8 лют 2025
- Check out SOLID SHOT HERE: solidshot.com
Coach Nick got on the court with NCAA champion/European Pro Scooter Barry to discuss some of the keys to shooting free throws. Rhythm is one of the least talked about components to the shot, and they explain how to generate and maintain it.
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ABOUT BBALLBREAKDOWN
BBallBreakdown is devoted to deep-dive analysis of NBA basketball gameplay. Giving fans a taste of a pro coach's film session, host Coach Nick breaks down fundamentals, play calling, offense, defense, shooting form, officiating, and everything else basketball. In addition, see exclusive interviews with NBA players and coaches, from active super stars to retired legends.
I've been playing basketball for 12 years, I can nail 3s, mids whatever, but not free throws...until yesterday. It took me 12 years of experimenting to find my form. I don't miss now, like, at all. I'm a guard so I tried imitating the form of elite NBA point guards because I couldn't get results with my own form at the line. This didn't work, until one day I was just shooting around taking some silly shots and I jokingly tried to imitate the form of my favourite player, Nikola Jokic. It was amazing, I made my first 18 free throws, something I could never sniff before. I don't know, something about this form was built for me, and I wanted to share this bizarre story. I learned that bad free throw shooters don't exist, they just haven't found their form yet.
Chauncey Trillups I gotta try that
Chauncey Trillups LoL I started 2 weeks ago and I have like 60/100 for free throw shots lol I can nail 3’s to I’m 11 btw
I got a good middy but no free throw and 3
Markelle Fultz' shooting sleeve self-destructs after twelve shots.
I found that the mind game is also important in shooting free throw. I have coached some horrible free throw shooters before. The first thing I tell them is to visualize how the ball is being shot, how he should move his hands, his body and the whole shooting mechanics before shooting the ball. This apparently helped in improving their free throw... of course the shooting form is important. But with shooters that have the right form but still missing during game, the problem is mental more than mechanics.
After watching this I'm now the best free throw shooter EVER. Thanks coach!!
(Great vid btw nick)
...
+eduardo serrano awesome!
Oh yeah yeah
this dude sounds like he ate Bill Simmons for breakfast
lmfao
hahaaaaaa
so it's not just me. .. good
Hahaha
You ain't right ! 😂😆😆😂
5:07 nice layup on the background court there.
Thank you so much my free throws have dropped like 10-20% this is gonna be super helpful
+dizziedylan keep me updated!
+BBALLBREAKDOWN shut d fuck up
+Joriz Sarmiento get the fuck out stop hating boi
+Boyd Robertson puta edi wow
@@bballbreakdown still using this video after 5 years
Hi coach! I just want to share my free throw techniques here. For the past 5 years I've been shooting my shots with he ball right in front of my head, and while I was a very good shooter, I struggled with free throws that way due to the inability to jump on my shot. I also didn't have enough arc on my shot and I don't follow the flight of the ball. However when I put my hand a little to the side of my face, I was able to shoot with a form similar to Klay Thompson's and it was way easier for me to get enough arc. Now I only shoot with this traditional side form with 3 pointers because I am not strong/tall enough to shoot with with my normal form behind nba 3 point lines. I also rarely miss free throws this way.
Outstanding, Great Stuff. Been teaching this way for years and glad too see a member of the one of the best basketball families demo this. Being a ProShot fan and teacher of those mechanics, this is awesome!!!
Thanks so much!!! I'm a shooting guard I could drive and shoot very well, but can't hit free throws. My coach on my school team makes me shoot a hundred a day and right after this video my average went up wonders. In these few days my average of the past 6 days is 84 percent, coming from a 64 percent. In games I'm hitting them now.
Drummond and Jordan need that sleeve ASP
tru
No rondo needs it the most
you read my thoughts...
+Seb Fi (Taco) Drummond needs it way more
Also Dwight Howard...
And this coach, is WHAT THEY NEED!!!
Started doing this a while ago and it's a lot more consistent. It kind of makes sense to teach it the other way initially, just because you can focus on the form a lot better, but at some point you have tto take the next step.
+tormentor91 I hear ya, if that works for you.
Thanks for this video. I've always been a good mid-range shooter, and hitting from the line has been a sweet spot. I've never been a good free throw shooter though. I never really noticed until watching this that I position my feet incorrectly when setting for free throws. When I get a chance I'll work on it and see if I make improvements.
+theheebs100 keep me updated!
Any improvement?
life has been busy. moved to other side of the world, got married, started a new job. think I will have a chance to play some this weekend though
happy for you man
Is that zlatan with a 360 lay up at 5:08
sure is XD
I play basketball a lot and I can see how this sleeve can be very helpful
+Lin He awesome.
5:22 "three dribbles"
does 2 dribbles
no secret coach. it just 300 free throws everyday consistently. same form. 5 days a week.
Damn , beautiful courts. Wish we had something like this in Guatemala :(
I think the aspect of psychology was not covered well. Pro Shot Shooting recommended to think about the mechanics all the time. They cover the mechanics in depth as well. Pro Shot Shooting really is the way to go. Every other shooting advice like this seems to lack compared to them.
the only place i've played basketball is in 2k... dont know what am doing here
still subscribed though
Lol
Beware of playing real Bball, you might injure yourself
This channel is actually amazing
+Conor Fisher thanks!!
I noticed that when I stand on my tip toes a little bit my free throws are much more accurate.
+Khali Williams actually that is what I meant by tip toe. it actually is the balls of my feet and not my tip toes. since I'm from Detroit I noticed that Drummond stands totally flatfoot during his shots. I'm willing to bet that if he lifted to the balls of his feet he would see at least a 20% uptick. I know when I finally noticed the difference the shot percentage was drastically changed. and I'm not even a serious player. I was just out shooting around one day and had a free throw shooting contest (no money involved).
it seems like Jordan and Drummond don't even try to tweak their mechanics.
hyperarch
JaMario Fantasia what are you talking about
+ThePrufessa yeah thats definitely a solid observation, shooting flat footed is really calling for inconsistency.
Look it up. That's what Khali Williams is talking about.
Great video coach nick!
can you please do some more history of the nba videos? maybe 1974 celtics - suns triple overtime game?
+Senna Parish thanks! And I've got this game all set... Stay tuned!
Joakin Noah should Watch this video
anyone else watching the kids in the background?
yes lmao
I was lookin' at them chairs bruh
QQ
That's the guy from i love basketball
Yuh
Great video coach
+Boris Gjotev thanks!
+BBALLBREAKDOWN and i put these little details in my free throw,thansk
The secret is to shoot free throws like Rick Barry! He shot 89% free throws using underhand
Nahhhh steph curry
Good video.
I'm already a pretty good free throw shooter, but I want to get better. Hopefully this video can help!
+SplashBrosv2 I was a really good ft shooter and I did it 2 motion. When I adjusted to 1 Motion, I still make them but it's SO much easier!
Sweet kicks coach!
+TheAFKGamer 👍🏀👊
Wouldn't granny style free throws be one of the best methods
lol. At first I didn't get it, then remembered that his dad shot free throws like that.
Natnael Tilaye it is tho, why was rick Barry the third over free throw shooter
The only issue is that it would be hard for your team to grab the rebound on it as it either goes out or lightly off the rim to the guy on the low post (which is an opponent)
Only Rick Barry could pull that off
Hi Coach Nick and Scooter, do you also endorse the "Steve Nash" free throw warmup shot without the ball as taught by Fake Fundamentals Brian McCormick? Very interesting insight into the differences between the first and the second free throw.
+Stever Liu I like that too!
You don't have to start really low by your feet necessarily. Look up Ellena delle donne's free throw. She brings it up, pauses and then shoots with 93% highest out of all pros!
Can he do the Rick Barry overhand free-throw lol
new look bulls breakdown please!
good vid
Watch and learn shaq
Lebron Need to watch this bballbreakdown video (I'm a Lbj fan)
Lebron is 6'8 and benches well over 300 pounds. That is why his percentage is not high, not becuase he doesn't practice.
+LongJohn Silverthorne nooooooo I didn't know he just has magical basketball powers. it was obviously a joke
+LongJohn Silverthorne stop making excuses.... also he doesnt weigh 300 let alone "well over"... at most hes probly 245 since he lost weight from his heat days
+LongJohn Silverthorne It doesn't matter how strong you are. You really think the human body can't adapt to that? If he leaned back a bit he would relax his shoulder and have less power on his shot. That's the problem right? he's too strong apparently?
+Beast Buns he put on his Instagram a couple months ago he weighs 260. No way he weighs at most 245 have you seen his body?
Hey Coach! sorry for posting the question here but please allow me. :)
How does NBA manage the game time? with news of Tim Duncan retiring, videos of D. Fisher's 0.4 seconds game winning shot surfaces as well. So in situations where only milliseconds remaining in game time, how is this critical aspect of the game addressed? thanks a lot!
+Lyan Villacorta if there are less than 0.3 secs on clock, you cannot do anything but tip the ball
but how about Derek Fisher? adding 0.1 seems nothing marginally from tipping the ball with 0.3 secs vs. Receiving the ball, half-turning, and lifting the ball, and ultimately shooting it.
still don't get why guys like Drummond,howard etc can't learn to make their free throws,considering how long they've been playing the game and the resources available to them.I guess I've underestimated the mental part of it,but just weird how these guys get paid a lot of money but don't show improvement year to year.
It's not that. The reason they're bad is because they're just too strong. Many big men can't shoot because they over do it. They can't make that precision accuracy, but there is definitely some work ethic issues.
Dwight has improved his shooting amazingly this offseason, he should make around 70%.
Adrian Grant Dwight has always been good in practice but chokes up in game time pressure
Ziamangry those guys are lazy,i remember Lebron when he has a bad free throw night,he always works on it that night and shoots better the next game.
Chaos or Anarchy
He's worked on his form, mindset and free throw routine.
Someone tell DJ about this channel
2019 anyone?
This is just an add for that sleeve thing
+Jordy Lont nope. Tons of important information here.
+BBALLBREAKDOWN sellout
stop that. How you call someone sell out that deliveres amazing informations, tons of analysis and stuff others don't even think about for free? name one place where you can find better data for less money. Exactly, this is already free, so you won't. Have you ever thought about how much time it takes to make these videos?! and you call someone a sellout that dosen´t even have a product name or link in the video.
keep it up Coach!
Pretty sweet.
well i need that!
i shoot a 2 motion shot so forcing myself to not jump during a 1 motion free throw feels weird, like its not fluid. i used to be an 80% ft shooter but then i realized that my FT form had a lower set point than my normal jumpshot because i was making myself shoot quicker so im trying to change it but its weird
5:50 hey coach hate to break it to you but curry flops his wrist like that.. not quite as exaggerated tho
He has ugly form
if it's that important to sync your legs up with your shooting arm when shooting free throws, you would think some of these companies would also invent a knee sleeve with lights on it to go with that special shooting sleeve.
also, since scooter is a barry, i expected him at some point in the video to explain how to shoot underhanded like rick barry.
+ReCharredSigh that is interesting. I think it can measure vertical distance moved, which would get the knee bend. I'll pass this along.
Coach, what impact do you think the size of your hand has on shooting free throws or just shooting in general? I find that when i practice the ball tends to slide off different positions on my finger tips... creating a great deal of inconsistency. I feel like if i had Kawai Leonard hands it would make shooting/life so much easier. Thoughts?
Secondly, what kind of finger formation would you advise? Ive watched a ton of videos, all kind of suggesting a "Y" formation, using your index and middle finger to control the path of the ball as you're flicking your wrist. But then others have found success with a "W" type formation, using more the ring and middle finger to direct while the index becomes more of a supporting finger.
Sorry we're getting into the finite details here. Forgive me if this is a irrelevant!
+Ali Golding I don't think it matters. With good practice, your hand can figure out how to get a consistent release regardless of size.
+Ali Golding I believe the index finger is most important. I've also heard all sorts of things about hand placement on the ball itself. If you use the index finger, then it makes sense to me to have that finger aligned to middle of the ball. For fun, try this: tuck your ring and pinkie fingers in and just shoot with thumb, index and middle finger. See if that even changes anything...
Awesome!! Thanks for the response :) Will give that a try and see if I can gain any strides in the consistency department (y)
Love the videos and analysis by the way. Looking forward to another NBA season - Keep it up!
Shoutout from Cape Town, South Africa !
can someone give me some tips or link a video for free throws because I have always been a great mid range shooter but I miss every single free throw although my coach says that I did everything right
also I am a 12 year old kid and I jump a little bit on free throws
man i was just thinking about the idea of developing a shooting sleeve like this lmao man just ruined my dreams lol
Does this also help with regular shots, like 3pt shot?
+Greatness Demands Everything the rhythm we talked about absolutely is crucial to 3 point shots.
Not me watching a basketball video for virtual school when I don't even know how to dribble
Skips to the end to see if hes in.
I have a great idea
What about a World Cup of basketball free throws
Like a penalty shoot out with 5 players each
Take a penalty shoot out style game
Many teams play in an event in the same day
Multiple teams play each other on the same day
Internationals or club sides
Held over a day or two days in a group stage trophy with the best teams qualifying for a play off round then a final
It would be cool😎👍
can we buy these
where is that gym at????
what are those points on his arm sleeve?
please send one to Andre Drummond. for the whole state of michigan
Someone should link Deandre Jordan and Drummond
well NBA players won't need to worry because NBA took away hack a shaq
No, they didnt. Teams are still gonna be able to do it for the First 10 minutes of each quarter
Skip to 5:06 look at the background. Guy makes a contested spinning layup... Don't ask me how I noticed that.
Should have had his dad there. He knows the REAL solid shot from the free throw line! But I guess Solid Shot and Dot Shot would be competitors...
Just focus on making.the shot. Don't worry about the form.
Rick Barry is goat no cap
I saw that guy selling that thing at Summer League
+Ghost Vortekz 👊🏀👍👍
They at Jordan rec
Im waitin for the day coach goes "You In?" and one of his guest say "Nah b"
How much
The most important thing with free throws is to stay calm
I heard this segment on the radio that claimed shooting free throws underhanded was more effective?!?
+Life is a Dream I agree! I've got Rick Barry on my podcast coming up!
Elena Delle Donne is the best free throw shooter in basketball and she has a long pause while holding the "L".
I would love to just watch a 7 minute video of this guy shooting fts over and over again.
Someone please figure out how many is too many shots. when do u start to not be effective out there. Sometimes I feel that less can be more with that flo state psych stuff
NBA doesn't need this anymore. They just set new rules to favor the bad free throw shooters.
I used to make free throws easy then I grew two inches and now I struggle a lot of my mechanics are just the same as before but they just don’t go in
Wow been watching your videos for years, can't believe I haven't been subscribed. lol oops
2:55 seems device liked the bad shooting form
3:08 one kid gets exposed
Do this with an underhanded free throw shooter.
hey coach can you do a vid on milfs
Just curious: Why no likes/dislikes/comments on the Aaron Gordon video? Was it sponsored content (ZTE)? Did viewers object to that?
Although parts of the interview did kinda seem a bit pre-screened/scripted, I thought it was a solid interview... and it really wasn't trying to sell me anything... 🤔
+Eric Place I don't understand. There are 450 likes and 180 comments on the video. Did u miss those?
+BBALLBREAKDOWN interesting: they didn't show up on mobile the first couple times I loaded the video. Now they're there though! I'm gonna go add a like to the pile ✌🏼
+Eric Place 👊👍🏀
I think -- hear me out -- I think this is a "video response" to the new NBA ruling about the Hack-A-Shaq, and a silent, strong message to the NBA players who have very low free throw %. Kinda like a sandpaper reminder that, it's their flaw for not making free throws, and this is a tutorial for them to learn from so that they can work on it.
+Loyal2law haha, okay! Sounds good to me.
Someone please show this to Andre Drummond
Will only buy it If that thing can bring deandre Jordan's ft % to 70+
Larry Bird stops his motion unlike scooter.
he sounds just like Bones :)
Coach Nick the type of guy guy to wear curry 2 lows to play
He is trying WAY too hard to get people to buy the arm brace
Give one of those arm things to deandre Jordan
Bryson Tiller in the beginning
Joti
He sounds exactly like Brent
Anyone else just watching the guys playing the background?
there is no secret lmao just fuckin practice and make the same movement so its built into your Movement memory
when i shoot i jump forward
Someone show Kris Dunn.
coach Nick, did you ask him why he doesn't do underhanded free throws like his dad?
+brian espina I didn't and I will!
not sure to make a free throw. Some guys have no training they just make it all the time versus a person who trains all the time. The best way is to record and video the awkward shooters who shoots funny but stills make up versus following mechanics. ie dwight howard will be a better shooter if you see why he makes it. He may twitch his arm but he makes. Do not try to ix it if not broken , replicate what works