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How To Be A Better Basketball Shooter - My Story
Most basketball players are constantly trying to figure out how to be a better basketball shooter. Of course all coaches are hoping that their players want that.
For me, my shooting in games made a drastic change for the better after one conversation with my coach. The mental switch he prompted in me, I believe, was the reason I went from being an average shooter to a great shooter in games. Here's my story...
The Problem
After my sophomore year of college, I transferred schools. I ended up in a very successful program with a successful coach who had recruited me in high school. During the summer before I started at the new school, I was extremely motivated to improve my shot.
My new coach, Scott Rueck, had the philosophy that everyone on the court had to be able to shoot the three. I didn't want to sit the bench. I really wanted to play. But I wasn't that great of a three-point-shooter. So, I practiced all summer and all fall. By the time season rolled around, I was a good three-point shooter in practice and in my shooting workouts. But as games started, I was not shooting them well in games.
The Conversation And The Mental Switch
I'm not sure if I was aware of how bad my percentage was, but my coach was. It was a few games into the season. I had been the 6th man off the bench, but one of our guards tore her ACL so I moved into the starting 4 position, and the previous 4 moved to the 3.
Scott called me into his office to chat. At this point I wasn't necessarily wondering how to be a better basketball shooter, I just needed to know how to make shots in games.
Scott says, "So, did you know that you're shooting 16% from the three point line?" Sklz pro mini hoop adjustable basketball system shook my head. Yikes. 16%?
He continued, "So you're telling me that if you went into the gym right now and shot 100 shots, you'd only make 16?" I was like, "No way, I'd make a lot more."
"So why don't you just put it in (the hoop) in games?" he stated more than asked. "Just make it."
Now this sounds really simplistic, but a light bulb went off in me.
"You're a good shooter. Just go shoot the way you know you can. It's not that hard," he finished. What else is there to say but "ok, coach"?
It was then that I realized that it was all in my head. I was a good shooter. I could shoot a good percentage in games. Sklz pro mini hoop adjustable basketball system had to do was just shoot it the way I knew how.
It was at that point that I believed that I not only could be a good shooter, but I was a good shooter. I developed the mindset that if I missed, "Next one's always in," because I knew I could make it.
The Result
The next set of games we had was a pre-season tournament in Las Vegas. In the first game, I hit 4 threes. In the second game, I hit a couple more and shot 50% for the weekend.
I ended up shooting around 45% for the rest of my career, and thanks to my early start of 16%, set a school record with a career three-point percentage of 40.4%.
The Difference
Now, the difference in my shooting 45% and 16% wasn't my ability or my shot form. It wasn't how much I'd practiced, though I'd practiced a lot.
It was my mindset. It was my confidence knowing I was a good shooter. It was my knowledge that the next one is always in. And it spawned from my coach helping me to believe in myself and my skill.
This applies in all areas of life. We may be really good at something but have a hard time acknowledging that skill. We may acknowledge the skill, but when it comes time to use it, we shrink back and let others step forward. Or we don't perform as well as we know we can.
It's time to step forward to fulfill your potential. It's time to believe in yourself. Don't wait to believe in yourself until you've done it perfectly. No one's perfect. When we miss, it's "next one's in."
So, if you're wondering how to be a better basketball shooter, or you're trying to help your players improve their shots, or if your afraid to step out and fulfill your potential, remember: Mental confidence is key to the success. You have to practice to get the skill. But once you have the skill, you have to believe that you can do it.
Just put it in. Just make it. Just go shoot the way you know you can. It's not that hard.
I believe in you. Do you?
Most basketball players are constantly trying to figure out how to be a better basketball shooter. Of course all coaches are hoping that their players want that.
For me, my shooting in games made a drastic change for the better after one conversation with my coach. The mental switch he prompted in me, I believe, was the reason I went from being an average shooter to a great shooter in games. Here's my story...
The Problem
After my sophomore year of college, I transferred schools. I ended up in a very successful program with a successful coach who had recruited me in high school. During the summer before I started at the new school, I was extremely motivated to improve my shot.
My new coach, Scott Rueck, had the philosophy that everyone on the court had to be able to shoot the three. I didn't want to sit the bench. I really wanted to play. But I wasn't that great of a three-point-shooter. So, I practiced all summer and all fall. By the time season rolled around, I was a good three-point shooter in practice and in my shooting workouts. But as games started, I was not shooting them well in games.
The Conversation And The Mental Switch
I'm not sure if I was aware of how bad my percentage was, but my coach was. It was a few games into the season. I had been the 6th man off the bench, but one of our guards tore her ACL so I moved into the starting 4 position, and the previous 4 moved to the 3.
Scott called me into his office to chat. At this point I wasn't necessarily wondering how to be a better basketball shooter, I just needed to know how to make shots in games.
Scott says, "So, did you know that you're shooting 16% from the three point line?" Sklz pro mini hoop adjustable basketball system shook my head. Yikes. 16%?
He continued, "So you're telling me that if you went into the gym right now and shot 100 shots, you'd only make 16?" I was like, "No way, I'd make a lot more."
"So why don't you just put it in (the hoop) in games?" he stated more than asked. "Just make it."
Now this sounds really simplistic, but a light bulb went off in me.
"You're a good shooter. Just go shoot the way you know you can. It's not that hard," he finished. What else is there to say but "ok, coach"?
It was then that I realized that it was all in my head. I was a good shooter. I could shoot a good percentage in games. Sklz pro mini hoop adjustable basketball system had to do was just shoot it the way I knew how.
It was at that point that I believed that I not only could be a good shooter, but I was a good shooter. I developed the mindset that if I missed, "Next one's always in," because I knew I could make it.
The Result
The next set of games we had was a pre-season tournament in Las Vegas. In the first game, I hit 4 threes. In the second game, I hit a couple more and shot 50% for the weekend.
I ended up shooting around 45% for the rest of my career, and thanks to my early start of 16%, set a school record with a career three-point percentage of 40.4%.
The Difference
Now, the difference in my shooting 45% and 16% wasn't my ability or my shot form. It wasn't how much I'd practiced, though I'd practiced a lot.
It was my mindset. It was my confidence knowing I was a good shooter. It was my knowledge that the next one is always in. And it spawned from my coach helping me to believe in myself and my skill.
This applies in all areas of life. We may be really good at something but have a hard time acknowledging that skill. We may acknowledge the skill, but when it comes time to use it, we shrink back and let others step forward. Or we don't perform as well as we know we can.
It's time to step forward to fulfill your potential. It's time to believe in yourself. Don't wait to believe in yourself until you've done it perfectly. No one's perfect. When we miss, it's "next one's in."
So, if you're wondering how to be a better basketball shooter, or you're trying to help your players improve their shots, or if your afraid to step out and fulfill your potential, remember: Mental confidence is key to the success. You have to practice to get the skill. But once you have the skill, you have to believe that you can do it.
Just put it in. Just make it. Just go shoot the way you know you can. It's not that hard.
I believe in you. Do you?
