Ayrton Oneill
Thumb flicking is a common issue for basketball players, particularly younger players, and it can affect the flight of the ball, causing you to miss left or right. To fix this, you need to develop new muscle memory by practising the correct technique thousands of times. One way to do this is by placing a quarter between your thumb and pointer finger on your guide hand, standing close to the basket, and taking regular shots while holding the quarter. You should also film yourself shooting to make sure your guide hand is quiet.
How to fix thumb flick in basketball
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cause | Moving the guide hand affects the flight of the ball, causing you to miss left or right. It can also create side spin instead of soft and smooth backspin. |
| Solution | Develop new muscle memory by practicing the correct technique thousands of times. |
| Guide hand position | The thumb on the guide hand should point back towards your head. |
| Additional tips | Film yourself shooting to check your form. Use an app like CoachesEye to analyze your shot in slow motion. |
| Practice drills | Try shooting with a quarter between your thumb and pointer finger of your guide hand. |
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What You'll Learn
Develop new muscle memory by practising the correct technique
Developing new muscle memory is key to fixing a thumb flick in basketball. Thumb flicking is a common issue, where players flick the ball with their thumb, which affects the flight of the ball and causes misses. To break this habit, you need to focus on practising the correct technique and repeating it thousands of times to create new muscle memory. This process can be challenging and requires intense focus throughout.
- Ensure your guide hand (the hand you use to guide the ball) stays quiet and does not move during the shot.
- Check that the thumb of your guide hand is pointing back towards your head. This ensures that your guide hand is in the correct position and is not influencing the flight of the ball.
- Take your time and focus on making each shot perfect.
- Film yourself shooting to analyse your hand movement. Use an app like CoachesEye, which allows you to review your shots in slow motion and ensure your guide hand is quiet.
- If your guide hand is still moving, go back to the beginning and repeat the process.
In addition to the above, one technique you can use to help keep your guide hand quiet is to place a quarter between your thumb and pointer finger of that hand. Then, practise shooting close to the basket while holding the quarter in place. This will help you focus on keeping your guide hand still and prevent thumb flicking.
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Check your thumb is pointing back towards your head
One of the most common shooting flaws in basketball is moving the guide hand, particularly when players flick the basketball with their thumb. This can cause the ball to miss left or right and create side spin instead of soft and smooth backspin. To fix this, you need to develop new muscle memory by practising the correct technique thousands of times.
To ensure your thumb is pointing back towards your head, try squeezing your thumb against your index finger on your guide hand. This will prevent you from shooting the ball with your thumb. Keep your guide hand still and ensure it is not touching the ball. You can also use a shooting strap to keep your thumb and guide hand still.
It is important to stay focused during these repetitions as it can be a tough habit to break. Persistence is key, and you may find that your shot gets worse before it gets better. However, with enough practice, you will be able to break the bad habit and improve your shooting accuracy.
Additionally, you can try shooting with one hand by taking your guide hand off the ball by about half an inch. This will help ensure your thumb is in the correct position and not flicking the ball.
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Film and analyse your shots in slow motion
Filming your shots in basketball and reviewing them in slow motion is an excellent way to identify and correct mistakes in your technique. Filming allows you to see your shot from different angles and perspectives, which can help you notice things that you might not otherwise be aware of during a game or practice.
When watching the film, you can analyse your form, technique, and the mechanics of your shot. For example, you can check your finger and hand placement, feet position, and the rhythm and timing of your shot. You can also pay attention to the angle of your arms, elbows, and wrists, and how these body parts move during the shot.
For instance, a common mistake that is often only noticeable in slow motion is the directional wrist snap. This mistake is often caused by two things: the shooting elbow being too far out or the last release point. By reviewing your shots in slow motion, you can identify this mistake and make the necessary corrections.
Additionally, filming your shots can help you track your progress and improvements over time. You can compare your "before" and "after" shots to see the adjustments you've made and the results they've yielded. This can be a great way to stay motivated and continue refining your technique.
Remember that the more you film and analyse your shots, the better you will become at identifying areas for improvement. So, don't be afraid to film yourself regularly and review your shots in slow motion to take your basketball skills to the next level.
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Hold a quarter between your thumb and pointer finger
Holding a quarter between your thumb and pointer finger is a great way to improve your thumb flick in basketball. This simple trick helps you focus on using your guide hand correctly and prevents you from pushing or flicking the ball with your thumb.
To do this drill, start by placing a quarter between your thumb and pointer finger of your guide hand. Then, get close to the basket and practice shooting regular shots while holding the quarter. This drill helps you develop the proper form and finger placement for shooting. Your guide hand should be used to balance the ball, not to push or flick it. Make sure your guide hand is positioned loosely but fully on the side of the basketball, with no gaps between your hand and the ball.
As you release the ball, focus on letting it roll off your middle and pointer fingers, which will give you better control and accuracy. This finger placement is crucial for proper shooting form. In addition, ensure that your wrist is bent backward, allowing you to snap your wrist without wasting movement.
You can also try the three-finger shooting drill to improve your finger placement. Start by holding the ball with just your thumb, middle finger, and pointer finger. Focus on releasing the ball off these fingers, and then gradually incorporate your other fingers for support. This drill will help you build the muscle memory needed for a consistent shot.
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Shoot with perfect form—no guide hand movement
To shoot with perfect form, you must ensure that your guide hand does not move. The guide hand should support the ball until the shooting hand can fully get underneath the ball and support it by itself. This occurs around the set point, and the guide hand should start to come off the basketball at this point. The guide hand should not be used to grip or grab the basketball, nor to assist in powering the ball towards the basket. It is simply a mechanism to help control and hold the ball, as well as keeping your shot straight.
To achieve this, the guide hand should be positioned loosely but fully on the side of the basketball. The fingers should be pointing up, and there should be no gaps between the guide hand and the ball. The thumb on your guide hand should be pointing back towards your head. This ensures that your guide hand stays quiet and does not interfere with your shot.
To get the correct grip, place your shooting hand wide on the basketball with your thumb comfortably spread out. Place your index finger on the air valve of the ball, then place the ball on your hip so that your guide hand is free. With your guide hand, measure the distance from the tip of your index finger to the tip of your thumb. Then compare that distance to the tip of your index finger and the tip of your pinkie. You should then place the middle of your hand under the centre of the ball.
To break the habit of moving your guide hand, you must develop new muscle memory by practising the correct technique thousands of times. This can be a difficult habit to break, so it is important to stay focused during your repetitions.
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Frequently asked questions
A thumb flick is a common shooting flaw where players flick the ball with their thumb, which affects the flight of the ball and causes them to miss left or right.
To fix a thumb flick, you must develop new muscle memory by practising the correct shooting form. Ensure your thumb on the guide hand is pointing back towards your head and that it stays quiet during the shot.
You can film yourself shooting to analyse your hand movement. There are also apps such as CoachesEye that let you review your shot in slow motion.
It takes a few thousand correct repetitions to develop new muscle memory and break old habits.
One drill to help fix a thumb flick is to place a quarter between your thumb and pointer finger of your guide hand. Stand close to the basket and practise shooting normally while holding the quarter in place.
