Free Throw Shooting Drill: Eyes Open – Eyes Closed
By Hal Wissel
Research has shown that a combination of free-throw practice with eyes closed and free-throw practice with eyes open improves shooting more than free-throw practice with eyes open alone. Shooting with your eyes closed removes vision as your dominant sense, heightening your other senses, particularly the kinesthetic sense (feel of body movement) and touch. Visualize a successful shot and focus on the basket immediately before closing your eyes. Shoot a free throw with your eyes closed. Have a partner rebound the ball. Tell your partner whether the shot went in or not. If you felt your shot missed tell your partner how it missed. Be specific, for example, short, long, right, left. Your partner will then give you feedback on your shot, including the reaction of the ball on the rim. Use this feedback and your kinesthetic and tactile senses to adjust your shot as necessary.
Start the drill by shooting 5 free throws with your eyes open. Have a partner rebound each shot and keep track of how many shots you make out of 5 and how many consecutive shots you make. After shooting 5 free throws with your eyes open, shoot 5 free throws with your eyes closed. Have a partner rebound the ball and give you feedback on each shot, including the reaction of the ball on the rim. Use this feedback and your kinesthetic and tactile senses to adjust your shot as necessary. Complete the drill by shooting 5 free throws with your eyes open. Have a partner rebound each shot and keep track of how many shots you make out of 5 and how many consecutive shots you make.
Free Throw Shooting Drill: Eyes Open – Eyes Closed