Few sounds are more satisfying in the game of basketball that the swish of a net when the ball drops clean through the hoop. You need a fluid shooting technique and a lot of practice to regularly hear that noise. The "swish method" for shooting a basketball is based on a training concept by basketball coach Tom Nordland. The program combines basketball shooting fundamentals and suggests several new techniques.
The Swish Method
Nordland developed the swish method in 1989 while working at Apple Computers. Nordland claims that basketball shot percentages have been going down in professional and amateur games for 20 years. His belief is that many coaches don't teach the correct style of shooting and that many players don't practice in the right way. His Swish22 website suggests that the technique can improve scoring rates and offer a better way to coach shooting. The program is offered via DVDs and books for sale.
Up Force and Release
One of Nordland's main principles is using the "up force" in the jump shot, according to a 2003 article in the "San Francisco Chronicle" by Scott Ostler. This is the natural energy created by jumping upward, with that force channeled through your arm hoist and hand roll. The swish method also prioritizes the release, aiming for a fluent "push and flop" rather than a flick or direct throw. Nordland recommends training close to the basket to master the arm and hand movements before adding the leg spring to the shot from farther away.
Positioning
Your exact stance isn't as important as aligning the ball to the basket with your eyes, according to Nordland. Similarly, the position of your hands before you start the shot movement influences the smoothness of your shot. Arms should be relaxed and loose with your forearms at around chest level. This gives you the space to create the full movement and enough time to generate momentum. Related to this idea is the concept of "repeatability" -- that you should be able to recreate the same arc and type of shot by letting your arm and hand follow the same motion every time.
Angles
You want to create enough momentum to get the ball to the basket and drop at just the right angle. Too hard and you risk throwing a "brick" -- a flat shot that cannons off the rim or the backboard. Though a high arc allows for a more vertical drop into the basket, in practice the maximum effective angle is usually no more than 60 degrees, Angelo Armenti writes in "The Physics of Sports." Nordland too suggests aiming between 50 and 60 degrees. Or, if your arm is the hour hand, aiming at around 10:30 to 11:00 on a clock face.
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