Great shooters rely on solid mechanics. Every part of their bodies works together to become the foundation of their shots. For Stephen, every good shot begins in the lower body. Begin by
pointing your toes in the same direction, first squaring them with the rim and then working through practice to find the most natural stance for your body. Your legs, not your arms, give you power and consistency, so load your lower body by pushing the arches of your feet into the floor. Keeping your knees behind your toes, concentrate on letting power and energy flow from your feet up through your hips and glutes. Square your toes, knees, and shoulders, and remember to flex your legs on every shot. Hand positioning is key to becoming a consistent shooter: it affects the feel, proper spin, connection, and control through your release. To find proper hand position, place the index finger of your dominant hand on the air valve of the ball. Take a few form shots to get used to the centered feel of this position. Always hold the ball with your finger pads, being sure to leave some breathing&nbs room between the ball and your palm. As you line up your shot, aim your eyes at the two or three rim hooks that are facing you, and think about dropping the ball just over the front of the rim. Don’t release too low! A higher release point makes it harder for a defender to interfere with your shot. As you release the ball, keep your elbow and wrist in line with the basket, extending your arm fully so that at the point of release your elbow ends above your eye. A real game’s complex moving parts might make it difficult to recall these steps, but remember that improvement comes with sustained practice. Stephen spent an entire summer restructuring the mechanical foundation of his shot in high school, and he hasn’t stopped perfecting it since!
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