Always frustrating seeing missed free throws. I see it as the equivalent of the 3 foot putt in golf.

As I've stated before, huge Edwards fan. Love his game. At the free throw line yesterday, I could see him muttering to himself. Not sure what it was...but it didn't look good from a mental approach aspect. He missed both when we were down 10 and the game was still in the balance.

Bob Rotella has "Putting Out Of Your Mind" which I listened to last year and it truly helped my golf game. It's about the mental approach to putting. Bob served as Director of Sports Psychology for UVA. I thought his book was the best self-help item for free throws that I was aware of.

Anyone else found anything helpful on the approach to improving free throws?

(01-28-2022 09:47 AM)Halz87 Wrote:  Always frustrating seeing missed free throws. I see it as the equivalent of the 3 foot putt in golf.

As I've stated before, huge Edwards fan. Love his game. At the free throw line yesterday, I could see him muttering to himself. Not sure what it was...but it didn't look good from a mental approach aspect. He missed both when we were down 10 and the game was still in the balance.

Bob Rotella has "Putting Out Of Your Mind" which I listened to last year and it truly helped my golf game. It's about the mental approach to putting. Bob served as Director of Sports Psychology for UVA. I thought his book was the best self-help item for free throws that I was aware of.

Anyone else found anything helpful on the approach to improving free throws?

I think it's a mindset thing. These guys can make baskets. It's a part of the game that I don't believe gets worked on enough. They should be making so many free throws they don't even think about it anymore... kind of like a reflex. The moment they think about it, they're done.

(01-28-2022 09:56 AM)JMad03 Wrote:  

(01-28-2022 09:47 AM)Halz87 Wrote:  Always frustrating seeing missed free throws. I see it as the equivalent of the 3 foot putt in golf.

As I've stated before, huge Edwards fan. Love his game. At the free throw line yesterday, I could see him muttering to himself. Not sure what it was...but it didn't look good from a mental approach aspect. He missed both when we were down 10 and the game was still in the balance.

Bob Rotella has "Putting Out Of Your Mind" which I listened to last year and it truly helped my golf game. It's about the mental approach to putting. Bob served as Director of Sports Psychology for UVA. I thought his book was the best self-help item for free throws that I was aware of.

Anyone else found anything helpful on the approach to improving free throws?

I think it's a mindset thing. These guys can make baskets. It's a part of the game that I don't believe gets worked on enough. They should be making so many free throws they don't even think about it anymore... kind of like a reflex. The moment they think about it, they're done.

that's why I referenced the Rotella book. All in mentally how you approach the moment.

I'd love to know what/how Morgan Wooten taught his kids at DeMatha back in the day. Even their big men could 75% from the line.

Maybe there exists some FT shooting camp that has some guru that can work w/ Edwards on the whole FT shooting process (including the aforementioned mental aspect). I really like the kids' game, but that percentage he shoots from the line, 56%, has got to improve noticeably.

Maybe spend less time in practice shooting from behind the arc and more time spent shooting from the charity stripe.

(01-28-2022 10:40 AM)JMU85 Wrote:  Maybe spend less time in practice shooting from behind the arc and more time spent shooting from the charity stripe.

He hit 4 in a row with a d stroke the previous game in a lower stress moment. Yesterday we were down 10 and really needed those to fall. Missed both. You could see him talking to himself at the line.

I would bet he practices plenty and probably makes at least 80 percent in practice. Why I started this thread. What MENTAL tips have others heard about that helps.

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(01-28-2022 09:56 AM)JMad03 Wrote:  

(01-28-2022 09:47 AM)Halz87 Wrote:  Always frustrating seeing missed free throws. I see it as the equivalent of the 3 foot putt in golf.

As I've stated before, huge Edwards fan. Love his game. At the free throw line yesterday, I could see him muttering to himself. Not sure what it was...but it didn't look good from a mental approach aspect. He missed both when we were down 10 and the game was still in the balance.

Bob Rotella has "Putting Out Of Your Mind" which I listened to last year and it truly helped my golf game. It's about the mental approach to putting. Bob served as Director of Sports Psychology for UVA. I thought his book was the best self-help item for free throws that I was aware of.

Anyone else found anything helpful on the approach to improving free throws?

I think it's a mindset thing. These guys can make baskets. It's a part of the game that I don't believe gets worked on enough. They should be making so many free throws they don't even think about it anymore... kind of like a reflex. The moment they think about it, they're done.

When my son was playing, he shot hundreds of FT a week, didn't miss much, probably 90% +. In a game, played mostly PF so he went to the line a lot, he was around 60% on a good day and became very frustrated. His AAU shooting coach told him "stop thinking, bouncing, spinning the ball, Official bounces the ball to you, catch and shoot it. He improved to 70%. Like Golf, the free throw is 90% mental and 10% is physical.

I don’t think his ceiling is as high as others for shooting, including undefended FT shooting.
Can he get better? I hope so. Do I expect him to be a good FT shooter in his career? No

His strength is in versatility, but has to be used in spot duty because he has some flaws in his game.

If the team had a HORSE contest, he probably finishes last. That is why opponents leave him open at the 3PT line. They are begging him to shoot the ball.