Yep. There you go. Most good free throw shooters does this (but there are some who shoots in broken segments and still a pretty good FT shooter). Arms should just, in a way, "guide" the ball instead of "throwing" the ball. With Dwight (and Shaq), he use solely his arms for pushing, aiming, and guiding the ball. In-practice, they probably shoot consecutive FTs, so it's easier once you get the rhythm. In-game, he runs, posts, gets hacked, and shoot 1 or 2 FTs. And yeah, his FT motion during his rookie season seems good. Wonder what happened.
Dwight at practice: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grmo6huOcJ4 Dwight in-game: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s50K65PNeBU&noredirect=1
Would it be any worse than the ridicule that he currently gets every time a team uses hack-a-Howard and he bricks a bunch of free throws? If it works Howard would get the last laugh.
That's why you practice more and try to correct your motion during practice so your memory muscles can recall it during game time.
Which is why you should shoot FTs at a higher percentage. It's FREE! Nobody can prevent you from taking it except yourself. The ridicule he got from his despicable FTs for 10 whole years should be enough already. It's a long, long overdue for Howard to get his last laugh already. 10 years isn't a laughing matter. He needs to put more work into it. If he needs to hire a trainer, a psychiatrist or anybody for that matter, then hire them. It's worse b
It's sad how Stephen Curry launching a 3pt shot from 28 ft. has about the same likelihood of going in as Dwight Howard shooting a free throw.
He can have all of what you call the memory muscle in the world but it wouldn't help him at all. There are a few things wrong with his shot but the absolute number one problem is that he is short arming it. Since he never fully releases his shooting arm he never has the exact same stopping point (release point) of the shot, he's making to many variables in the shot, the fewer the better. That's why all of his shots are different, everything he shots is all by touch and feel. He needs to have the mechanics and the touch and feel together to improve.
I think it is just mental... I think he needs to accept that he will miss the free throws and should not care much about it... this will make him a better shooter... I think he is just trying too hard...He should change his mind set that getting fouled is not about shooting free throws, it is about getting opponents in foul trouble... this will open up more shoots to his guards...
For your 2nd option, you're hoping it goes something like this: <iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/ohHoK4-LeuY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
One thing I don't understand about Dwight and the Rockets is that they have a hall of fame former player and Rockets great CALVIN MURPHY, one of the best free throw shooters of all time, around the team on a daily basis. He had a record for number of free throws made while he played. And in interviews he has said he is very interested in working with Howard and the Rockets but no one in the front office has contacted him about it. It would be different if Murphy wasn't interested or not in Houston year round like Hakeem, but he's doing the home games and is willing and very interested! He is just waiting to be asked! I ask, why not get the Murph to help?! To me, it's mind blowing as to why we are not using our resources! I know Dwight hits like 85% during practice and it's probably just a mental thing during the games but it can't hurt to have a free throw coach especially when the rest of the team seems to be shooting merely average. We lead the league with 37+ attempts per game, only hitting 69%. That's around 12 FREE points missed every game. And it's not like Howard or even Omer are the only one missing consistently. We currently average 106 points per game. That's with our three point shooting starting as crap and us missing out on around 12 free throws a game. If we start shooting threes our normal rate and start hitting 72-75% free throws as a team we can easily average 110+ppg and absolutely bury teams with our offense and improved defense.
The problem with Howard is that he is still trying to guide the ball. He has to trust in the "touch" and "feel" of his release. In his current motion, Howard should pause before he releases the ball, and instead flick his wrist upward.
shooting underhand is a pretty smart idea actually...he might as well. it might be embarrasing but who cares. his points per game would sky rocket. easily 20+ a night.
