The Perfect Jumpshot (book/site)

[ehh]

http://perfectjumpshot.com/

I've always been fanatical about studying jump shooting form, every time I watch a game I always dissect everything about a player's jump shot, release point, elbow location, follow through, etc.

This site is interesting to me because the author's chief argument that it is no longer necessary to have your elbow directly under the ball - which is something I have always been taught and always focused on when shooting. I'd consider it a cardinal sin to not have your eblow tucked in and under the ball (ahem, Lebron) so this pretty radical. At the same time I also noticed that great shooters like Ray Allen do not have their elbow directly under the ball, as seen in the diagrams on this site.

Now I played DII in college and shot over 40% from three for my career so I know a thing or two about shooting. But I'm always looking improve, since my career ended and I don't have time to shoot 500-700 jumpers a day my shot has obviously gotten worse. It doesn't feel as natural, effortless and fluid as it once did. I'm going to try to restructure it based on this book with my elbow not directly under the ball.

Just thought I'd share the site and see what other people's thoughts were.

[youvalss]

Re: The Perfect Jumpshot (book/site)

Nice site and theories. But I'm not sure that the way you shoot the ball is what counts. Look at Bird - he had an awful jumper but he's still considered one of the best shooters. As long as it goes in - that's what matters. You can have the perfect J (whatever you define it), but shoot at 35% from the field, so what's the use?

[Whaaaazuuuuup]

Re: The Perfect Jumpshot (book/site)

2 elements for the perfect jumpshot:

1. follow through
2. and confidence

...

[H to the G]

Re: The Perfect Jumpshot (book/site)

I'm gonna cop me one of those and send it to Willie Green.

[youvalss]

Re: The Perfect Jumpshot (book/site)

I'm gonna cop me one of those and send it to Willie Green.

LOL yeah!

Anyway, I just don't think that guys who shoot the ball well even though having an awekward J, should mess too much with their shooting form. If it's working don't fix it. I think that the moment you become too aware of how you shoot is the moment you lose confidence in your shot, which will eventually hurt your FG%.

[Bornindamecca]

Re: The Perfect Jumpshot (book/site)

Nice site and theories. But I'm not sure that the way you shoot the ball is what counts. Look at Bird - he had an awful jumper but he's still considered one of the best shooters. As long as it goes in - that's what matters. You can have the perfect J (whatever you define it), but shoot at 35% from the field, so what's the use?

[youvalss]

Re: The Perfect Jumpshot (book/site)

That's what I think dude. Anyway, even if you shoot like Bill Cartwright from 3 and it goes in at high % - that's all that matters. You can learn some basketball foundations when you learn the game. But if you shoot well and you play for years - don't even think of changing your shot. Even if your coach tells you to.

[ehh]

Re: The Perfect Jumpshot (book/site)

Bird's J def wasn't awful, he just had a snake-bite shot and rarely followed through. I mean, the site even used Bird's form as an example of a 'perfect shot'.

[Joey P]

Re: The Perfect Jumpshot (book/site)

Great site, I may pick up that book for a couple of kids in the neighborhood.

[youvalss]

Re: The Perfect Jumpshot (book/site)

Bird's J def wasn't awful, he just had a snake-bite shot and rarely followed through. I mean, the site even used Bird's form as an example of a 'perfect shot'.

The way I see it, a 'perfect shot' is a matter of opinion. There were quite a few players without a 'perfect shot' - who shot very well. I guess no one here agrees with me but that's what I think. And if you take a boy and teach him basketball and how to shoot the ball well with that 'perfect shot' - that's ok. But if after a year the boy shoots the ball differently and still shoots very well - then who can say what's right and what's wrong? I'm not saying he should shoot like Rick Barry's FT shot, but as long as he can put the ball in the basket - that's all that matters.

[ehh]

Re: The Perfect Jumpshot (book/site)

The way I see it, a 'perfect shot' is a matter of opinion. There were quite a few players without a 'perfect shot' - who shot very well. I guess no one here agrees with me but that's what I think. And if you take a boy and teach him basketball and how to shoot the ball well with that 'perfect shot' - that's ok. But if after a year the boy shoots the ball differently and still shoots very well - then who can say what's right and what's wrong? I'm not saying he should shoot like Rick Barry's FT shot, but as long as he can put the ball in the basket - that's all that matters.

I was never disputing that, the book even states that at the very beginning that there's no absolute right way to shoot. I was just saying that I disagree that Bird's form was awful.

[J.R. Locke]

Re: The Perfect Jumpshot (book/site)

No right way to shoot. I am a guy who rarely ever takes squared up jumpshots (I played PG my whole life) so all this talk is pointless.

Confidence is the key to shooting though! No doubt in my mind about that.

[thomtigard]

Re: The Perfect Jumpshot (book/site)

I couldn't agree with you more. I ordered the book and it is terrific. Thanks.

[youvalss]

Re: The Perfect Jumpshot (book/site)

I think is more about practicing than learning the "right" form. If you practice every day and shoot 1000 shots with your "awkward" jumpshot, after a while you will shoot consistently on games, no matter what you shoot like.

[ehh]

Re: The Perfect Jumpshot (book/site)

I think is more about practicing than learning the "right" form. If you practice every day and shoot 1000 shots with your "awkward" jumpshot, after a while you will shoot consistently on games, no matter what you shoot like.

But you'd still be better off with better form, especially if your shot is flat, which is the case with pretty much everyone outside of professional shooters.