Kristian Ferrell
The granny shot, also known as the underhand free throw, is a shooting technique in basketball. It involves shooting the ball underhand from the free-throw line. The term granny shot is often used humorously or as an insult due to its unconventional and unorthodox appearance, as it is considered to be less athletic and graceful than the traditional overhand style. Despite its limited popularity, some players have found success with the granny shot, such as NBA Hall of Famer Rick Barry, who is known for his extraordinary free-throw shooting accuracy and is one of the best free-throw shooters of all time.
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What You'll Learn
The granny shot is an underhand free throw
The granny shot's unconventional appearance has led to mixed reactions within the basketball community. Some players and fans view it as unorthodox or visually unappealing, reinforcing the preference for the overhand style. Social norms and peer pressure further discourage its use, with players worried about being perceived as silly or lacking in masculinity. These perceptions have resulted in the granny shot being underutilized, despite its potential effectiveness.
Despite the stigma, some players have experimented with the granny shot. Wilt Chamberlain, for instance, briefly switched to the underhand method during the 1961-1962 season, achieving a 61% free throw rate, the highest of his career. However, he ultimately stopped using it, citing concerns about looking silly and like a sissy. Similarly, Shaquille O'Neal, another player with a poor free-throw record, was advised by Barry to switch to the underhanded style, but he refused, stating he would rather shoot 0% than use the granny shot.
The granny shot remains a controversial and underutilized technique in basketball, with players prioritizing aesthetics and social norms over potential improvements in accuracy and performance. However, with the increasing influence of analytics in sports strategies, there may be a revival of interest in this unconventional shooting method as players and coaches seek new ways to gain a competitive edge.
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The shot is not widely used due to its unorthodox nature
The granny shot, or underhand free throw, is an unorthodox shooting technique in basketball. It involves shooting the ball underhand from the free-throw line, with the player's arms extended in front of their body. While this technique offers several advantages in terms of accuracy and effectiveness, it is not widely used due to various cultural and psychological factors.
One of the main reasons for its limited popularity is the aesthetic perception associated with the granny shot. Many players and fans view this shooting style as unorthodox, unappealing, or even embarrassing. The traditional overhand shooting technique is often favoured for its visual appeal and perceived "coolness," aligning with the sport's image of athleticism and grace. Players who deviate from this mainstream style may face social norms and peer pressure, deterring them from adopting unconventional techniques like the granny shot.
The perception of the granny shot as unconventional or unusual can also impact its adoption. Players may be concerned about maintaining their reputation or fitting in with their teammates and coaches. The term "granny shot" itself is often used humorously or as an insult, implying a lack of skill or weakness. This negative connotation can be off-putting for players who want to project an image of strength and ability.
Additionally, the granny shot requires a different set of skills and techniques from the standard jumpshot. Players would need to master an entirely new type of shot, which can be time-consuming and impractical, especially for players who already have established shooting forms. The effort required to learn and perfect the granny shot may outweigh the potential benefits, especially for players who are already proficient with traditional shooting methods.
The granny shot's association with femininity or a lack of masculinity has also contributed to its underutilisation. Some players and fans perceive it as a less "manly" way to shoot, which can influence its adoption, especially among male players concerned with projecting a masculine image. This perception has been publicly shared by notable players like Shaquille O'Neal, who stated that he would rather shoot zero percent than shoot underhand.
Despite these factors, there have been notable players who have successfully used the granny shot, such as NBA Hall of Famer Rick Barry, who is known for his extraordinary free-throw shooting accuracy, and his son Canyon Barry, who continues to use the underhand technique. While the granny shot remains unpopular, there is a potential for a revival as analytics reshape sports strategies and players become more open to exploring non-traditional methods to gain a competitive edge.
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NBA Hall of Famer Rick Barry used the granny shot
The "granny shot" is an unorthodox basketball shooting technique, also known as the "granny" or "granny-style". It involves shooting underhand free throws.
NBA Hall of Famer Rick Barry is known for using the granny shot throughout his illustrious career in the NBA, ABA, and NCAA. He is the most prominent practitioner of this style and retired from professional play as the all-time leader in free-throw shooting percentage in both the NBA and ABA. Barry swears by the accuracy of the granny shot, which earned him a career free throw average of 90%. He led the Golden State Warriors to the 1975 championship using this technique.
Despite its proven effectiveness, the granny shot is rarely used by players. This may be due to the perception that it is not a "manly" way to shoot, as NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal has stated. Barry himself was initially self-conscious about using the granny shot, as he felt that it was associated with girls and would make him look silly. However, he eventually came to believe in its effectiveness and has encouraged others to try it as well.
Barry's youngest son, Canyon, is the only one of his four sons to continue the tradition of shooting underhand free throws. Canyon refined the technique to account for changing times and longer, baggier basketball uniforms. He has faced some criticism and jeers from audiences for his choice of shooting style but has learned to take them in stride.
In recent years, there have been some players who have started to bring back the granny shot, such as Onuaku, a 6-foot-9 20-year-old from Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Barry has studied Onuaku's technique and appreciates his commitment to improving, despite possible derision from others.
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The granny shot dates back to basketball's inception in the 19th century
The granny shot, or underhand free throw, is a shooting technique in basketball. It involves shooting the ball underhanded, like a grandmother would (hence the name). The arms hang straight down, which is more natural, and the muscles don't tense up. This results in a larger margin of safety because the ball lands softer when it hits the rim, giving it a better chance of bouncing into the basket.
The granny shot dates back to the inception of basketball in the 19th century. However, its usage has declined over the years, with players rarely using it in modern times. This is despite the fact that it has been proven to be effective by NBA Hall of Famer Rick Barry, who used the technique to achieve a career free throw average of 90%.
One reason for the decline in popularity of the granny shot may be the perception that it makes players look "silly" or "like a sissy". Basketball great Wilt Chamberlain, who briefly used the granny shot during the 1961-1962 season with great success, later stopped using it because he felt it made him look silly. Similarly, Rick Barry was initially self-conscious about using the underhand shot because he associated it with girls, but his father encouraged him to use it anyway because "they can't make fun of you if you're making them".
The granny shot is also very different from the typical jump shot, so players would have to master an entirely new type of shot that doesn't translate to any other setting. This makes it impractical for players to introduce later in their careers, as it could hurt their performance in other areas of the game.
Despite these challenges, some players have found success with the granny shot, and it remains an effective technique for improving free throw accuracy.
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The shot is also known as an underhand free throw
The granny shot is also known as an underhand free throw. This is because the player holds the basketball with both hands in front of their body, with arms extended, and then raises the ball, keeping their arms extended, before releasing it before it comes up to chest level. This technique is the opposite of the overhand shooting style, which is more popular due to its perceived elegance and emphasis on athleticism.
The term "granny shot" is often used humorously or as an insult, implying that the shooter has little basketball skill or is weak, like a grandmother. Despite its negative connotations, the granny shot has been a part of basketball since its inception in the late 19th century, and players who value precision over style have quietly kept it in use.
NBA Hall of Famer Rick Barry is the most prominent practitioner of the granny shot, and he retired with a lifetime free throw percentage of 90%, at one point the highest in NBA history. Barry's success with the granny shot during the 1970s challenged conventional norms and made a compelling case for its adoption, forcing players and coaches to reconsider their biases against unconventional techniques.
However, the granny shot is still not widely used due to cultural and psychological factors. Many players and fans view it as unorthodox or visually unappealing, and social norms and peer pressure often discourage players from adopting techniques that deviate from the mainstream. For example, basketball great Wilt Chamberlain briefly switched to the granny shot during the 1961-1962 season and made 61% of his free throws, the highest of his career. However, he decided to stop because he felt it made him look silly and like a sissy, and his free-throw game never recovered.
Despite the potential for improved performance, players often prioritize fitting in and maintaining their reputation over adopting unconventional techniques like the granny shot.
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Frequently asked questions
The Granny Shot, also known as the underhand free throw, is an unorthodox shooting technique in basketball. It involves shooting the ball underhand from the free-throw line, with the player holding the ball with both hands in front of their body and releasing it before it reaches chest level.
The term "Granny Shot" is often used humorously or as an insult due to its unconventional and unappealing appearance. The shot implies that someone with little basketball skill, such as a grandmother, is taking the shot.
The Granny Shot gained popularity and became famous due to NBA Hall of Famer Rick Barry, who used this technique during his professional career. Rick Barry is renowned for his free-throw shooting accuracy, achieving a career free throw average of 90%.
