Q & A on applying mental skills

So many times we talk about the mental game in concept, about focus or positive self talk but not in context. I want to share 2 questions I received via email from someone who has read my articles at http://www.hoopskills.com/basketballarticles.html “Performing Under Pressure” and “Winning.” I am posting those two questions and my responses, with the permission of the player, to show the applied use of the mental game in a real life situation. See below for our correspondence:

“I have read your articles on http://www.hoopskills.com/ and they have seemed to be helpful. I need to ask you a workaround for a situation I always have while playing a game.”

Situation 1: While driving in with the ball, I always think that I won’t be able to take my body on the defensive player, which results in me shooting almost a hand distance from the defensive player. Some of my shots do convert but, I do not get a 100% conversion. Can you give some suggestions for this?

I wrote: You are talking about being able to take a bump on the body or some contact as you drive or shoot the layup, so I am guessing that when you say a “hands distance from the defender” you are talking about rather than taking the contact you are creating some space and that makes you alter your shot? If so, I don’t know anyone, even pros who convert 100% of those difficult shots so don’t focus on that. The upside of that type of  play is that you should be able to draw a foul and  go to the line and make your points that way. My suggestions for this situation are as follows:

1- Start thinking you CAN take your body on the defender and go for it, think “you can’t stop me” and give it your best shot.  When you think you CAN it helps you stay loose and that helps your shot be smoother even though you are getting bumped. When you think you can’t it causes tension, you won’t jump as high and your shot will be off. Think you can and believe in yourself, you will convert on a higher % of your shots.

2- Have the attitude that it doesn’t matter if you make all of them because no one does. Remember you can draw the foul and get your points that way. The other thing this does is the next time you drive the defender may have to play off of you a bit as to not get another foul. This will make your drive and shot easier.

3- Start practicing taking the contact and getting use to it, when you can become comfortable with that uncomfortable situation you will perform better! As you have confidence in your ability to take the contact and that it doesn’t matter, you will convert more of the time!

4- Visualize that situation and you making the shot, this is a very useful skill and will help with your confidence. You can see it either like you are watching the game (3rd person) or out of your eyes, the way it looks as you are playing (1st person). See it in color, hear the sounds, what does it smell like, the more you can make it like the real situation the more it will help.

I wrote: Again I am not a technique coach but it seems your release is not the same when you jump as when you shoot a set shot. Here are my suggestions:

1- I am sure you have a favorite player or know one who has a great jump shot, Ray Allen, Stephan Curry, Lebron, Kobe etc. Watch them and see how they do it. Notice where their hand and arm position is when they jump and when they release the ball. Watch their follow through etc. Then close your eyes and visualize you doing that same thing perfectly over and over. But don’t just close your eyes, hold your hand up like you are shooting and go through the motion, go for what it is suppose to “feel” like and “look” like.

APPLY IT!   LIVE IT!  DO IT!