Learn from the best FT shooter of all-time = Rick Barry

[beau_boy04]

Nba Record by Rick Barry
NBA highest free-throw percentage 1973, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980

Highest FT% of all-time = 90%

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bqa-Hw0 ... ed&search=

Later on his career he started using an outdated underhand style.... oh well whatever works right?

[3P]

Why on earth is Shaq so determined to shoot over-hand. Underhand might make him look bad but 70-80% would stop the mockery imeditly.

[Patr1ck]

I think if Shaq shot freethrows similar to how he shoots his close range shots he could be shooting 60 percent plus.

That Rick Barry style is awesome because the shot is so soft and it increases the margin for error.

[cyanide]

For the old guy, he appears to be in great shape and he's very skilled obviously. Cool video.

[3P]

That Rick Barry style is awesome because the shot is so soft and it increases the margin for error.

Do you mean Decrease?

Also doesn't Shaq have a hook shot from the foul line that he hits 60% in a game? That means unguared it should be atleast 80%, but he won't shoot a hook if he won't go underhand.

Also bea_boy, Mark Price has the highest FT%, not Barry.

[Patr1ck]

I worded that wrong. What I meant is with the soft shot you can make more of an error and still make the shot than when you are shooting overhand.

[Matt]

which means your margin for error is greater.....

anyways, i'd rather shoot worse than try underhanded

[Bruce]

hehe, rick barry really sounds like a pushy SOB.

[Indy]

I worded that wrong. What I meant is with the soft shot you can make more of an error and still make the shot than when you are shooting overhand.

You worded it correctly.

Personally, I shoot free-throws better if I shoot them the same way I take a jumpshot. It worked for Rick, but it just doesn't work for everyone. I don't know why people think shooting underhand would work for Shaq, I think it would fail miserably.

[Patr1ck]

Personally, I shoot free-throws better if I shoot them the same way I take a jumpshot.

Thats exactly how it should be done, too.

This could just be me, but I don't need any signature style like dribbling the ball 3 times or anything like that. One day my dad told me about a 70~ year old man who hit like 2 or 3000 freethrows or something in a certain time period. He said the guy pictured a tunnel or tube that the ball would go through. The tube started at the beginning of the shot release and went directly through the net and bounced on the ground and came directly back to you. Picturing this tunnel everytime I shoot has increased my jumpshot effectiveness, not just at the freethrow line.

[mvpshaq32]

I think it would be even harder to shoot underhand. I can only imagine it going in like a bank shot. Most big men are naturally bad at shooting free throws besides Yao and Dirk etc... Myself, when I take a shot, I just know if the shot is going in or not. I tried to picture a tunnel before, but I kept getting distracted and throw off-balanced shots.
Duncan and Shaq have the most awkward free throw shooting styles in my opinion.

[Bruce]

The man who holds the best career FT% in the NBA, and the man who holds the most consecutive fts made in the guiness book don't use the underhand shot. It probably has do do more with consistency and technique, but it is not restricted to only one type of shot.