The guide hand: is the correct position with the arm parallel to the floor, the elbow at a right angle, and the blade of the hand perpendicular to the basket? Or, can the arm be extended toward the basket?
Vic Hogen
There is no one correct position, Vic. How the arm and elbow behave is dependent on how high the Set Point is. Do not try to force a formula on them. Key is to have the hand/ball, eye and target aligned, either below the eyes for younger players, or above the eyes when the player becomes strong enough to shoot from there without straining. You will know if the player is ready. It will look easy and un-strained. If thereís strain (and usually a very flat shot, too), youíll know she or he is not ready yet for that higher Set Point. When your Set Point is determined, then just use the guide hand to support that position. Your body will figure it out. You do not have to tell it where the parts of the arm and hand have to be. As far as the guide hand, some coaches say to have it on the side of the ball. I like it more under and behind and a little to the side. Both can work, but I like the fact that when I set the ball my guide hand does all the work bringing the ball up to the Set Point and then the shooting arm and hand (my right) just take over and complete the shot. Itís seamless. The action is a simple change of direction. The ball is probably on line more easily with less chance for extra movement or shift of weight in the hands, too. Try it both ways and see which works for you.