“Rest at the end, not in the middle.” ~ Kobe Bryant's English teacher

Hey Reader!

Your shot may have to get worse before it gets better.

Mind did. Much worse.

Airballs, bad misses, clanks off the side of the rim. It was ugly until it wasn’t.

I spent an hour with Kerry Foderingham, my trainer since 9th grade, filming my next YouTube video to break down how my shot has evolved since we first met.

We pulled up footage of 15-year-old me. I was a skinny kid, desperate to be a “shooter,” whose form needed serious work. To get more power and rhythm, we added a “dip”, got rid of my hitch to create a one‑motion shot, and then turned my feet to align my shooting shoulder.

At first, I took these changes to the extreme. My shot became so 1-motion I was practically flinging the ball. My turn was so exaggerated, I almost faced the sideline when I landed. (You’ll see it in the video.)

Everyone wants a pure shooter’s form; nobody talks about the brutal, awkward, embarrassing process to get there.

Even as my form got better, I still struggled. And through frustration and difficulties, I’ll give myself credit: I embraced this.

A few months into training, I hit four 3s in an AAU game, unheard of for me. Something had clicked.

At first, these “a-ha” moments were few and far between. I’d have games where I couldn’t make anything. Teammates questioned why my shot suddenly looked so strange. Coaches wanted me to change it back.

I kept my head down, blocked out the noise, and kept working. As I got further into my high school and then college career, these “a-ha” moments started showing up more. Once a month became once a week.

I went from that kid with the goofy shot to a guy who gets paid to shoot. That didn’t happen overnight, and it didn't happen because I found a secret, but because I was willing to look ugly in the process.

If you’re in that messy middle, good. You're on the right track.

Keep grinding,

Overseas Pro Player

P.S. My 9th-grade footage is painful to watch, but it's a good reminder that we all have to start somewhere.

3 Hacks From Me

Hack 1: Film yourself shooting from different angles and distances.

Then compare your shooting form to some of the best shooters you’ve watched. Be honest with yourself. If your shot looks absolutely nothing like elite shooters, that's a clear sign you need to fix something in your shot mechanics!

Hack 2: Copy the greats, then make it yours.

Watch elite shooters like Steph Curry or Caitlin Clark in slow motion. Try and copy their core shooting mechanics: the rhythm of their dip, slight turn in the feet, smooth, one-motion release. After a week or two, keep what is comfortable and feels natural to you, and drop the rest. Your form won’t look exactly like the player you copied, and that's the point.

Hack 3: Don’t Care What Anyone Says About Your Shot

As you’re changing your shot, people might judge you. This happened to me at first. My teammates and coaches were confused because everything looked a bit strange and very different. Tune this out. Remember, you are training for the future, not tomorrow's game!

*View all of our past emails at hackinghoops.kit.com/posts​

2 Questions for Growth

• What’s one part of your current shot that you know needs work, but you’ve been avoiding changing because you’re scared of looking bad in games?
• How do you measure progress during the “messy middle” when your makes are down but your mechanics are improving?

Reply to this email and let me know!

1 Video to Watch

Watch my latest video showing how my shooting form has evolved over the years and the interview with my trainer, Kerry: I've Spent 4,380 Days on One Skill...Was It Worth It?​

Check out our other free resources at HackingHoops.com.

Got Questions? Need Game Feedback? Ask a Pro.

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P.S. Check out my YouTube Channel where I share my journey and knowledge and give basketball advice to young athletes.

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Best,

Tucker