Raising Your Set Point

I need help getting my son to get the ball up when shooting instead of shooting from the hip.
Jay Foster

Thanks for the question, Jay. First, does he want to make the change? If not, he probably wont listen to you or to me or to anyone. If he wants to, then it is simply a process of awareness. Show him the different possibilities for a higher Set Point. If he is quite young, then he will have to keep the Set Point below the eyes, but it can be just below the eyes, much higher than the hip.

If he is 14 or 15 or older, a general age where he is probably strong enough, then a Set Point above the eyes (where he looks under the ball to see the basket) is appropriate. A higher S/P is preferable as it is less likely to be blocked, and I find itís easier to get aligned with eye, hand/ball and target when itís above the eyes. See if he agrees with that assessment. If not, explain it to him.

Once he knows the two possibilities, old S/P versus new S/P, then it is a Learning Process. Ask him to shoot and report which S/P he used. You might want to move in very close and do it very deliberately so he experiences his new S/P and stroke more. With patience and awareness, he will gradually CHOOSE the higher S/P because it works and offers a superior way to set the ball.