Basketball Throw

[USAFADad22]

Does anyone have any suggestions for improving on the basketball throw?

1) If you know how to find someone who can train my daughter on the throw, that would be best. Ideally, we'd work with someone in person. But we'd also be willing to work over Zoom.

2) Any suggestions on how to improve on your own in case we can't find a trainer?

She's seen big improvement on every other event. With the throw, however, she's been doing the same thing over and over with little to show for it.

I apologize if this is a repeat post, but a search did not bring up anything.

Thank you!

 

[Delta Romeo]

I hope you aren't looking for a last-minute miracle because it takes time.

1) Try YouTube for tips and tricks.
2) Practice. Practice. Practice.

Good luck to your daughter.

 

[MidCakePa]

Indeed as @Delta Romeo advises, search YT for some good videos specific to the CFA. The secret, she’ll see, is to activate the core. She must leverage her hips and abs and back into a twisting motion that launches the ball rather than merely flinging it. She should start with light throws to accustom herself to the motion, as it requires balance as well as strength. Practice, practice, practice.

 

[Capt MJ]

Search for “Stew Smith CFA basketball throw.” Stew is a former Navy SEAL and USNA staff officer, now a fitness professional, whose YouTube videos and website are good resources.

 

[OfficerToBe750]

Agree with others - search online and you will find helpful videos. Another option you can try, especially with today's phone cameras, is recording their throw in slow motion. We did that with our DS and it allowed him to identify some areas for improvement ie when the ball was releasing.

After hours of practicing the basketball throw in the street - it's the one thing our neighbors always remember when they ask how our now cadet son is doing at the academy -

Good luck!

 

[Academician]

Use a wall (or other structure) as a backstop to practice the "Stew Smith" technique (i.e., Captain MJ's reference) as it will allow the rebound to come right back to your daughter. The hold/grip, motion and release may take some time to perfect, but most of my students prefer this method over conventional throwing techniques. Good luck with the preparations!

 

[USMAZoo98]

Understand the techniques explained by Stew Smith and/or Mountain Tactical. Once your daughter gets an idea of how to perform, it really comes down to repetition and practice. The only was to improve her technique is to endlessly practice. My son would go out every single day and throw a few times. It is also helpful to video her early in this process and then periodically throughout the training. When she does a really good throw you can go back and review the video to understand what she did well and try to replicate that.

 

[USAFA10s]

The BBall throw is tough for those of us who happen to have tiny hands (me included). The hardest part was just figuring out how to hold the stupid ball!

What worked for me (I think I threw over 60ft) was to review the technique with some videos, but then practice with a much smaller ball (very light medicine ball, kids basketball even a softball initially) at first. This allows you to get the form down without worrying about trying to hold the ball. Once you have the form and are successfully launching a small ball, move up in size (i.e. from a softball to a kids basketball) and repeat using larger balls until you get to the full size men's basketball.

 

[Mdm26]

Practicing with a weighted full size basketball worked for my son. Just a little extra weight, not like a medicine ball. We found it on Amazon.
Then practice practice practice. He would throw at a brick wall at a local school when no one was available to work with him. It’s all about proper form. He threw 84 ft. Not a quarterback, never played baseball ( to my great disappointment) and stands a very imposing 5’8.

 

[T-37IP]

DS practiced with a water polo ball, it's a little smaller, and a little heavier. He worked his way up to the full-sized b-ball. As an aside, in 20 years in the Air Force, I never had to throw a basketball

 

[Serenity2517]

Search for “Stew Smith CFA basketball throw.” Stew is a former Navy SEAL and USNA staff officer, now a fitness professional, whose YouTube videos and website are good resources.

Agree 100%. Our petite DD improved drastically by utilizing the techniques in SS videos, and found herself well exceeding the norms. The issue was not her strength but her techniques. FYI- she is a C4C now!!