It is INCREDIBLY difficult to change the shooting form...
By the time someone gets to college. This is for a number of reasons but the 2 biggest are that they've (hopefully) gotten tens of thousands of reps in shooting a certain way, so knocking that all down to rebuild can take much longer than you're able to wait
The second is that you have very limited time with your players off-season, and you certainly don't want to change your shot in-season
So the best way to make someone shoot a better percentage at the college level is to make more subtle changes to make their current form more repeatable. As someone said down the thread consistency is better than form at this stage.
If I'm teaching college kids I don't really care about the turn, I don't really care about the middle finger flick. I care a little more about getting your elbow under the ball.
But some things you didn't mention that are bigger teaching points with older players (i.e. college level):
Spreading your hand out across the ball for better control
1-2 rhythm when catching for a shot (catch on 2 feet if theyre an advanced shooter)
Landing in the same place you jumped from (drawing a box around their feet and have them make 100 shots from the box, any makes landing outside the box don't count)
You can do a lot of things differently that you developed in childhood, but if you do those things above you'll turn yourself into a serviceable shooter
Thread Replies (27)
My thoughts on our shooters....
-- HokieHill
Jan 28, 2026 at 09:44 AM ET
HokieHill
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01/28/26 09:44 AM ET
It is INCREDIBLY difficult to change the shooting form...
◄
-- GCHokie34
Jan 28, 2026 at 11:40 AM ET
GCHokie34
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01/28/26 11:40 AM ET
Amazes me that players make it to college level with hideous form…
-- VTKev80
Jan 28, 2026 at 12:35 PM ET
VTKev80
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01/28/26 12:35 PM ET
"He shot with his right hand with the ball to the left side of his head"
-- Windows NT
Jan 28, 2026 at 12:44 PM ET
Windows NT
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01/28/26 12:44 PM ET
One nitpick - I may disagree about the jumping in the box...
-- HokieHill
Jan 28, 2026 at 11:59 AM ET
HokieHill
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01/28/26 11:59 AM ET
Again...we aren't talking about turning someone into Steph Curry
-- GCHokie34
Jan 28, 2026 at 12:07 PM ET
GCHokie34
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01/28/26 12:07 PM ET
I thought the other day, Neo should take the fadeaway out of his arsenal.
-- Femoyer Hokie
Jan 28, 2026 at 12:37 PM ET
Femoyer Hokie
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01/28/26 12:37 PM ET
BTW - enjoying discussion - appreciate your responses....
-- HokieHill
Jan 28, 2026 at 12:13 PM ET
HokieHill
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01/28/26 12:13 PM ET
Agree, and I would add finishing with a consistent release point**
-- Hoke
Jan 28, 2026 at 11:47 AM ET
Hoke
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01/28/26 11:47 AM ET
I agree - they are what they are - but
-- HokieHill
Jan 28, 2026 at 11:46 AM ET
HokieHill
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01/28/26 11:46 AM ET
In a perfect world with unlimited time, sure...
-- GCHokie34
Jan 28, 2026 at 11:52 AM ET
GCHokie34
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01/28/26 11:52 AM ET
I agree with you - I'm not communicating well....
-- HokieHill
Jan 28, 2026 at 12:20 PM ET
HokieHill
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01/28/26 12:20 PM ET
#5 is the issue for both Shutt and Neo. Shots are pancake flat. Of . .
-- MidloHokie
Jan 28, 2026 at 11:37 AM ET
MidloHokie
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01/28/26 11:37 AM ET
Need to hire you for the physical techniques and me for mental techniques &
-- Stech
Jan 28, 2026 at 10:25 AM ET
Stech
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01/28/26 10:25 AM ET
Yep - MY calls it a rut...
-- HokieHill
Jan 28, 2026 at 10:30 AM ET
HokieHill
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01/28/26 10:30 AM ET
Hate ain’t great, it just helps to debilitate!! Dumbest thing ever for it!!
-- Stech
Jan 28, 2026 at 10:47 AM ET
Stech
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01/28/26 10:47 AM ET
Good points. Should be made with each guy at each practice. **
-- George Baylor
Jan 28, 2026 at 10:02 AM ET
George Baylor
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01/28/26 10:02 AM ET
athletes don't think about techniques when shooting
-- Windows NT
Jan 28, 2026 at 09:52 AM ET
Windows NT
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01/28/26 09:52 AM ET
This seems part of Neo's issue. Sometimes he almost appears . .
-- MidloHokie
Jan 28, 2026 at 11:39 AM ET
MidloHokie
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01/28/26 11:39 AM ET
imo neo has a nice shooting stroke
-- Windows NT
Jan 28, 2026 at 11:44 AM ET
Windows NT
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01/28/26 11:44 AM ET
Zactly. Pull the trigger!!! I think his brain is getting the way :)**
-- MidloHokie
Jan 28, 2026 at 12:18 PM ET
MidloHokie
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01/28/26 12:18 PM ET
Young players should be taught proper form to build good muscle memory
-- HokieHill
Jan 28, 2026 at 09:59 AM ET
HokieHill
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01/28/26 09:59 AM ET
but you're saying all should have the same technique. which is incorrect**
-- Windows NT
Jan 28, 2026 at 10:00 AM ET
Windows NT
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01/28/26 10:00 AM ET
Consistent technique or form is more important than perfect technique.
-- wwhokie1
Jan 28, 2026 at 10:32 AM ET
wwhokie1
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01/28/26 10:32 AM ET
like any sport esp golf, consistency is the key
-- Windows NT
Jan 28, 2026 at 10:33 AM ET
Windows NT
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01/28/26 10:33 AM ET
I'm not - but the 5 things I mention are part of every good shooters form
-- HokieHill
Jan 28, 2026 at 10:27 AM ET
HokieHill
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01/28/26 10:27 AM ET