SOME SHOOTING IDEAS YOU'VE PROBABLY NEVER HEARD BEFORE

Over the years, I’ve heard — and given — all kinds of advice about shooting.

During free throws, for example, some coaches tell their players: “Focus on this thought.” Others say: “Don’t think, just shoot quickly.”

Both can work. But here’s what I’ve learned: every player has to discover their own way to focus.

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Feel Your Shot

When I work with good shooters, one thing stands out. They can feel their shot the moment it leaves their hand. They don’t need to watch the ball. They already know if it’s good or not.

That’s something you can train. I tell my players:

• Take shots in a row.

• Focus only on the release.

• Close your eyes if you can, and try to feel it.

Once they catch that feeling, something changes. They stop overthinking. Their body — arms, legs, rhythm — takes care of the rest.

It’s a lot like meditation. In meditation, you repeat a mantra. As a shooter, your mantra becomes: trust the feeling.

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Emotions: The Real Opponent

Instincts usually know what to do. Players know where the open shot is, and they know how it should look. But then emotions creep in — pressure, doubt, hesitation.

I remind my players: the most important part of shooting isn’t mechanics. It’s learning to control your emotions.

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How I Challenge Players in Practice

Practice is tricky because it’s never quite like a real game. That’s why I try to make it harder, not easier. For example:

• Don’t just shoot for volume — shoot to make.

• Forget the misses. They don’t matter.

• Count only swishes.

• Try shooting with your eyes closed to sharpen your senses.

• Take off-balance shots, shots with a hand in your face, even while falling — things you’ll see in real games.

This way, players learn to rely on more than just mechanics.

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Little Games That Build Big Confidence

I often turn drills into challenges:

• How many can you hit in a row?

• How many after changing direction with the dribble each time?

• How consistent are you with one-dribble, two-dribble pull-ups?

These small games train the mind as much as the shot.

Because in the end, it’s not about the defense.

It’s about the duel between your brain and the ball.