April 2012 : Developing a Pure Stroke

Pure Stroke
It is very important to develop a "pure stroke". If you are ever going to be a great shooter, you must have a pure stroke. This is where all the arm parts are correctly aligned before releasing the basketball.

Form Drill
Do the form drill by starting 6 or 7 feet in front of the basket. Do this shot without jumping. Make sure that after lifting the ball that you push up and follow through on each shot. Make sure you do both of these techniques each time you shoot the ball.

Follow Through
By following though on each shot you are more apt to develop a "pure stroke". Again, a pure stroke is where the arm parts are correctly aligned when the ball is released. When following through on this drill make sure that you get your ( fingers and wrist ) into the shot. Just "push up and follow though while getting your fingers and wrist into the shot. Doing this helps in a natural way to draw all the arm parts into a straight line which you need to develop a pure stroke.

Hold Follow Through
At times it is a good practice with this form drill to hold your follow though. This technique of holding the follow through helps to align the arm parts correctly.

Checking For Pure Stroke
When a coach or parent is looking to see if a player has a pure stroke, they should check from the shooting hand side and also check the stroke when positioned in front of the player.

When positioned back of the basket you can see if all the arm parts are in line when the ball is released. If the hand rotates in or out on release there is usually a mistake in the grip.

When positioned on the players shooting hand side you can check to see if the arm is at a correct angle when the ball is released ( flat, etc. ). You can also see if the player gets his or her fingers and wrist in the shot. The release is more correct if the fingers angle down after releasing the ball.

Basketball Shooting Camps
Basketball applications are coming in nicely for attending the Dick Baumgartner Shooting Camps. We will have some great techniques, drills, and one-on-one instruction for developing accuracy, quickness and range in shooting. We will easily help players to develop a pure stroke for great shooting. Remember we also teach regardless of age regular moves and shots as well as advanced moves and shots. We are probably one of the few camps teaching the Euro-step, near arm lay-up and spin moves, etc.

Our techniques and drills are so well broken down we can teach any grade level the shots and moves that are most used in today`s game of basketball.

Plan on joining us this summer for a great basketball experience. Remember, besides the techniques, drills, and one-on-one instruction we provide 9 games and contests.

March 2012 : Common Mistake When Dribbling A Basketball

Elbow Locked Somewhat At The Hip
Dribbling is one of the least well taught basketball skills. Too many players dribble the ball wide and away from the body. Eventually this will develop a habit where the player somewhat locks his or her elbow at the hip. If a player does this it will limit what a player can do off the dribble. For example: if a player somewhat locks his or her elbow at the hip they will not be able at times (when needed) to dribble close in front of the body.

Remember your elbow needs to move freely at your side if you are to become a great dribbler. Don`t practice techniques that will lead to habits that will somewhat lock your elbow at your side.

Dribbling Wide
A player who dribbles wide will have less control in heavy traffic and will lose the ball more.
It is recommended that you watch the great dribblers in college and the pros and you will see they do not dribble wide in relationship to their feet and body. Watch where the ball hits the floor.

Basketball Camps
At our basketball camps we teach the most important techniques and drills that will help you to become a great dribbler. Remember, if you want to reach your dreams in basketball, it is essential with the way basketball is played today that you learn to dribble the basketball real well. We do a great job with our dribbling techniques and drills to help a player become a great dribbler.

As said before, dribbling is probably the least well taught basketball skill. We teach what the great NBA ball handlers like Steve Nash, etc. are doing to be great ball handlers. Join us this Summer to learn the best techniques and drills for shooting a basketball and other offensive skills. Coach Baumgartner

February 2012 : Practice Getting Open For A Shot

Getting Open
Too often players who can shoot well have a problem of getting open for a shot. Too many players tend to practice 3 pt shooting under just ideal situations. Once a player has developed his or her 3 pt. shot, he or she should practice some getting into the 3 pt shot from difficult situations.

It takes more than just standing in one spot and having someone passing you the ball to become a great shooter.

There are many drills that players can practice that will train them to become very good 3 pt. shooters. We will cover a few in this tip of the month.

Re-locate Drill
A player who knows how to score will go to that open spot to get his or her shot. Again, there are players who can shoot but don`t know how or don`t sense when to move this way or that for the open shot.

Passing to the Post and re-locating up or down is one re-locating drill. Make sure when you re-locate you are squared up to the basket with your body balanced and ready to receive the basketball. Use the footwork you have been taught or what you are the most efficient with using.

With this drill you are basically receiving the basketball from the front. Work both sides of the court.

Passing to the Pt. Guard and re-locating up or down is another way to run the re-locating drill. With this drill you are basically receiving the basketball from the side. Work both sides of the court.

Basket-out Drill
Run this drill by starting 4 or 5 feet inside the 3 pt. line. Receive the pass from pt. guard or center. Work both sides.

Start inside the 3 pt. line and then run behind the 3 pt. line. Get your body around through correct footwork so you are squared up to the basket and in a balanced position.

Really work on getting ready to shoot from off the move with your body balanced and ready to receive the ball. Go into the shot with the footwork procedure that best fits the situation. With this drill your feet can already be positioned or you can step into the shot while receiving the pass. These drills are more like game situations.

A few of the better NBA players really work on body balance, footwork, and timing which helps them to shoot well in tough situations. Nowitzki of the Mavs is a good example. His instructor that he works with puts him into a lot of tough shooting situations so he is ready for anything that comes up. From these experiences he has learned how to get into a shot from tough situations. This is one reason he is a great shooter and scorer.

The above are just two game-like shooting drills. Teams that run more game like drills in practice shoot better. Remember, it is very important to work on getting into position with good body and foot position so you are balanced and ready to receive the ball.

Of course, it is still beneficial where a player positions himself or herself on the wings and the pt. guard passes the ball to the wing player.

Basketball Camps
This summer at our camps we are going to run more game-like shooting drills. We have run game-like shooting drills in the past, but this summer we are going to do even more. We also are going to do more with quickness, range, and accuracy in shooting.

If you join us this Summer, I believe you will find that we will give you what you need to become a great shooter and scorer. We will send you home with a lot of drills, techniques, and experience to make you better. Remember we also do a lot with other offensive skills besides shooting. Coach Baumgartner