Basketball Free Throw

SPS 1102 Project

Biomechanics behind the basketball free throw

Basketball Free Throw

• Movement studied was the over-hand free throw

• Easiest scoring opportunity in a basketball game.

Basketball Free Throw

Subjects information

Young male. He plays basketball at a social level

regularly

Basketball Free Throw

Set-up for analysis

To view the skill in question we used:

– camera, on fast shutter speed

– tripod

Basketball Free Throw

Critical Features

• Keep movement in plane in which final motion is desired.

• Use long levers

• Avoid initial movement that is not in desired direction

• Maintain a good base of support

• Speed, angle, and height of release

• Correct use of segments

Basketball Free Throw

Evaluation of Critical Features

Good, no excessive unnecessary movements (back or down). Good, full extension of arm. Good, feet just over shoulder length apart. Dominant foot slightly

forward to maintain balance after the shot. Adequate speed. Use of fingertips to project the ball, spin imparted

through flexion of wrist. Initial angle large enough to ensure that there was margin for error. Segments all flowed. No resistance was created through fusion of

segments. The wrist came through well at the end.

Basketball Free Throw

Coaching cues:

Face the basket. Lift arms as high as possible. Feet shoulder width apart. Make sure that the ball is held on your fingertips,

never the palm of your hand. Feel your wrist flexing at the end of the movement.

Basketball Free Throw

Continued evaluation

• Re-evaluate subject

• Watch for old errors as well as new ones