Okay guys, so this summer I decided to step my game up to another level. But I don't know where to start. My jump shot is horrible, Handles are descent, Speed is a average, and I'm not really that strong, about 5 feet 10 inches tall. So I was wondering, anyone have any tips to increase my vertical? Increase my speed? Increase my handles? Increase my shooting? Your help will be greatly appreciated!
Go to the gym and work out on the "stairmaster" for speed. For increased vertical do vertimax or air alert.
DARN IT! You beat me to it, sir. Well done. Do POWER SQUATS. These helped my vertical tremendously in high school to develop a powerful core. My legs also got lots of strength. I also was able to box out and outrebound lots of taller dudes. Spoiler <object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Nd4NHO-4xZU&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Nd4NHO-4xZU&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object> The lady here does switch, switch, then side, but I would do only switching feet on the landing and about 10 per set the first day... add more in the next days, etc. You'll feel your legs burn. Put your hands behind your head and lock them. Concentrate on the jump and land. Land safely on the balls of your feet. Also, run laps around a track, but run the straightaway as a sprint. Gather your breathing on the turns, then sprint the opposite straightaway. This will help your stamina and will let you sprint up and down the court and keep up with your opponent. Lastly, stand under the rim. Jump as high as you can and touch the highest part of the backboard and come back down, but concentrate on your landing. Make this your priority in this exercise. Many players continue to injure themselves because they don't know how to land property. Make sure to land softly on the balls of your feet, putting the strength of the landing on your tendons and joints, not on your heel as this might hurt it. There are a few more exercises you can do to increase speed, but without good lungs and good breathing, you won't be able to play an entire game.
<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PmYVwdo1VsU&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PmYVwdo1VsU&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object> I heard Rasheed gives free basketball tips.
Doing squats increased my vertical by about 3 inches also calf raises. As far as shot depends on if it is your form or your aim. Most of your jumper comes from strength in legs, the more strength in legs the less upper body you have to use. Also strength in legs will increase movement and speed. As far as handles, go to a track and dribble while you run, first left hand then right hand only. After 2 laps of each are completed work on dribbling left to right while running. Lastly try dribbling with both hands while jogging
Unless you plan on becoming an NBA player, to be a solid pickup game guy, nothing is more important than shooting. So I'd focus on that, especially since you noted you were horrible at it anyway. Plus, its best in life to pick one task and focus on it, rather than try to improve everywhere across the board at once. If you can score, you can play. Shooting is almost 100% about repetition. Don't get me wrong. Solid form is important, but you see people at all levels of the game with bad form who are good shooters. If you want to be Reggie Miller, Ray Allen consistent, then you need to perfect your form first. The easiest way these days to do that, is probably to simply find some youtube videos of those guys shooting, or other great shooters shooting (Steve Kerr, Steve Nash, Brent Barry, etc.), look at their style, their hand positioning, the release, their follow-through, and spend some time mimicking that until you find a comfortable version of your own. If you at least have a style/form that is comfortable and you don't want to change, then the best advice is to shoot, shoot and shoot. You should go out and shoot 100 shots from at least 10 places on the court every day. You will get better and your body will memorize the stroke so that when you do play, it is like second nature. Mix in playing games, etc. and you should be better offensively by next fall. Then you can focus on another skill - ballhandling, for instance.
At my advanced age, I'm already losing some speed and quickness, and athleticism. It's the only thing I have. I sure as hell don't have a jumper.
Try using a tennis ball to dribble. For your shot, have someone hold out a broom and shoot over it. For dramatic effect, put a blindfold like Jean Claude in bloodsport. And always remember, it's a team game.
Former All-state player here, and I'm about your height. I shot lights out through my playing career (50/90 as a PG/SG). Read what the textbook shooting form is (remember, it involves your entire body). Watch videos of Jordan's shooting form. Practice that form every day while practicing shooting. Make it a conscious effort to have perfect form even if you miss 10 shots in a row. Perfecting your form and having it adopted into muscle memory will pay huge dividends. Work on jump shots from about 18 ft and in. You can develop a 3pt shot later. After you are consistent, making shots with the basic shooting motion, incorporate shooting drills that mimic game-like situations: catch-and-shoot while coming off a screen, two-dribbles then pull-up, pump fake one-dribble shoot, dribble around the screen square up and shoot, etc. I would work on your shooting first, then develop a left-hand (assuming you are right-handed). If you can shoot, dribble with your left, and finish with your left, you can be effective in a lot of pickup games. What type of body do you have, and what's your weight?
If going to pickups games, they revolve around 3pt shooting unless you are playing at a more competitive court. Develop a sick shot by shooting everyday for as long as you can and you will always get picked up. If trying out for a team, you'll also want some sick handles--practice dribbling with a tennis ball. Once you have those down you'll tear up most courts even if you aren't all that athletic.
Work out your core and focus on shoulders and triceps. When the ball feels like it is a tennisball, you'll get a way more consistent form and shot. Worked really well for me. But don't be a dumbass like me and ignore working out your legs and then tear your ACL.
yep, as I noted above. Shoot, shoot, shoot. Practice does make perfect. Now, working out, building muscles, etc. all help. To become a better shooter doesn't just mean repetition over and over, but that's a lot of it. Read this article. It discusses how much of what is viewed as talent, isn't some inherent trait or gift, it's just a focus on that skill set and practice.
