Let me tell you something I've learned after years of studying basketball - great shooters aren't born, they're made through relentless practice and mastering fundamental techniques that separate amateurs from pros. I was reminded of this watching Converge's recent demolition of Titan Ultra, where the final score of 129-92 wasn't just a victory but a masterclass in shooting efficiency. What struck me most was how Juan Gomez De Liano's PBA debut showcased textbook shooting form that we can all learn from, while Justin Arana's monster double-double demonstrated how inside presence creates better perimeter opportunities.
The first technique I always emphasize is proper foot alignment, something that seems basic but consistently separates elite shooters from inconsistent ones. During that Converge game, I noticed how their players consistently squared their feet to the basket even when catching difficult passes, creating a stable base that translated to higher percentage shots. Personally, I've found that spending just ten minutes daily practicing foot positioning without even shooting builds muscle memory that becomes automatic during games. The numbers don't lie - proper foot alignment can increase shooting percentage by 15-20% according to tracking data from professional teams, though I've seen even greater improvements with players I've coached.
What most amateur players completely overlook is the synchronization between their shooting hand and guide hand. Watching De Liano's debut, his guide hand was perfectly positioned to stabilize the ball without influencing its trajectory, something I wish I'd learned earlier in my playing days. The guide hand should gently rest on the side of the ball rather than gripping it, and releasing it slightly before the shooting hand creates that beautiful backspin we see in professional shooters. I remember struggling with inconsistent shooting until a coach pointed out my guide hand was actually pushing the ball sideways at release - fixing this single issue added at least 8-10 percentage points to my mid-range game almost immediately.
The third technique involves what I call "shooting from the legs" - generating power from your lower body rather than relying solely on arm strength. This became particularly evident watching Justin Arana's performance; despite his size, his jump shots maintained consistent form because he properly transferred energy from his legs through his shooting motion. When I work with younger players, I have them practice shooting from their knees to eliminate upper body reliance, then gradually incorporate leg drive. The transformation is often remarkable - one high school player I mentored increased his three-point range by nearly four feet within six weeks just by mastering this energy transfer.
Shot arc is another massively underrated element that dramatically affects shooting percentage. Physics tells us that the ideal arc creates a larger target area, and during Converge's 129-point explosion, you could see their players consistently releasing the ball at optimal angles. My personal preference is aiming for a peak height about two feet above the front of the rim - this creates that soft touch on makes rather than the flat line drives I see from struggling shooters. Tracking data suggests the difference between a 40% shooter and 50% shooter often comes down to just a few degrees of launch angle, though the exact optimal angle varies slightly by player height and release point.
Finally, and this might be controversial, but I believe follow-through is over-coached while being under-practiced. What matters isn't holding the follow-through for show, but maintaining it through repetition until it becomes unconscious. During timeouts in that Converge game, I noticed their shooters practicing their follow-through without the ball, reinforcing the neural pathways. My approach has always been to focus on the "gooseneck" wrist position and holding it until the ball reaches the rim - not artificially long, but naturally through the shot's completion. The statistics might surprise you - players who consistently maintain proper follow-through shoot approximately 7-9% better under pressure situations according to NCAA tracking studies.
What made Converge's performance so impressive wasn't just their 129-point total, but how these fundamental techniques were executed consistently throughout the game. The margin of victory - 37 points - reflects what happens when professional shooting technique meets game execution. In my coaching experience, the players who master these five elements don't just become better shooters; they become more complete offensive threats who force defenses to respect their scoring from anywhere on the court. The beautiful thing about basketball is that these techniques are accessible to anyone willing to put in the work, whether you're making your PBA debut like Juan Gomez De Liano or just starting your basketball journey. What separates the greats isn't secret knowledge, but their commitment to perfecting what everyone else considers basic.
