What do you teach in terms of the mechanics of getting the ball to the set position prior to release off the hard penetration dribble?
Phillip Strenkowski
Dear Phillip,
As you are dribbling and begin to set your body and ball prior to releasing it, you have two options. If you are dribbling to the right (for a right hander), you will want to pivot on the left foot, the inside foot, and step forward and rotate the body to a generally open position. If you are moving to the left, the right foot is the pivot foot and you do not rotate in, rather you hang back because you are already open to the target. I find it is easier to shoot moving to my left (Im right handed), but that I get more power with the stepping-in motion when I go to my right, so that is an advantage, too. They both have their advantage.
The ball starts from the triple threat position. As you start the knee bend to generate power, the ball is simultaneously brought up to the Set Point so that it is ready to be released in conjunction with the leg action. A key for most shots is to shoot early in the jump, on the way up, and a quick setting of the ball is needed for this. Young kids have to have the Set Point below the eyes so they can look over the ball and see the target. When strong enough, its superior to have the Set Point above the eyes so itís not so easily blocked. Itís also easier to see and feel alignment when you can see the ball, hand and target. The goal is to catch as much of the leg drive energy as you can so that your shot is quick, high and stabilized by the big muscles.
SET POINT AS SIMPLY A CHANGE OF DIRECTION
A recent discovery of my way of shooting is that the ball does not really stop at the Set Point the way I grip it. My off hand is generally under, behind and to the side of the ball, not just on the side. With this off-hand grip, when I bring the ball to the Set Point my left hand doing all the work and the right hand is mostly passive. When I go to shoot, the right hand takes over and the left falls away. Thus the action is merely a Change of Direction. If you grip it on the side of the ball with your off hand, as many players do, then both hands have to be involved in bringing the ball to the Set Point. This can work, but I think it is less complicated when the left hand does all the lifting.
As the ball is brought up to that point by the arms and hands, the motion is timed to keep the ball moving and simply change direction from an up-and-back direction when moving to the Set Point to an up-and-forward direction for the Release. That simple, always-moving motion eliminates one more variable, a stop and start at the Set Point.
If you are hesitating in your shot before you shoot, then you are probably stopping the ball at the Set Point, thus requiring a re-star of movement in the shot. I think most players do it this way. If you shoot early and quick, there doesnít have to be any real stop at that point.
Try it both ways and see which is more fluid and flowing. I think you will see that a quick change-of-direction setting and release is a simpler motion, thus easier to do consistently and under pressure.
(Note: I feel most shots can be shot this way -- mid-range jumpers, free throws, and 3s. For inside shots, especially if youíre needing to elevate over someone to shoot, there is hesitation and a stopping of the ball at the Set Point as you elevate. But youíre in close you have a larger margin for error so it can work well. For those shots, too, you can have a much higher Set Point so you can shoot more quickly. Rasheed Wallace shoots that way with his inside shots and that is why he is so effective.)