3 ms·

FWIW, you actually can jump for a free throw but it's sort of tradition that people don't. The people who suck at freethrows normally have comically large hand

by randall 14y ago

FWIW, you actually can jump for a free throw but it's sort of tradition that people don't. The people who suck at freethrows normally have comically large hands which makes shooting from any sort of distance difficult. (Shaq, Dwight Howard, et. al.)

cujo 14y ago
I'd really like to see some science behind this hand size -> bad free throw shooter statement. This is spouted all the time, and everyone likes to point out Dwight and Shaq. People seem to forget that Kareem, Yao Ming, and Shawn Bradley all shot pretty well from the foul line and were all significantly taller (and I'm guessing at least comparable hand size). Now I'll admit that it is easy to cherry pick players on both sides of the argument, and players at the center position historically have lower free throw averages, but my instinct says that it has less to do with hand size and more to do with their shooting style/habits/practice. Watch videos of Dwight shoot free throws. His shot is far from what anyone would call smooth. Now go watch Yao Ming shoot free throws. Smooth as butta. When Dwight's shot looks like that and he's still chucking up bricks, I'll give more credence to the size argument.
eropple 14y ago
I don't know about hand size having anything to do with it, but I do know that Wilt Chamberlain used to dunk his free throws in college before a rule change disallowed it.
alanfang 14y ago
Not jumping for free throws isn't just a tradition. Jump shots sacrifice accuracy to make it more difficult for defensive players to block your shot. There's no risk of your shot being blocked for a free throw so players don't jump.
- philwelch 14y ago
  If there's no risk of your shot being blocked for a free throw there's no reason to shoot overhand, either.
  - eropple 14y ago
    It's an easier motion for most people who've become accustomed to shooting that way, though.
philwelch 14y ago
Which is why instead of having a dunk and an ineffective overhand free throw, they'd be better off having a dunk and a less ineffective underhand free throw. But guys like Shaq and Dwight Howard are too "macho" for that, so they cost their team points.

by randall 14y ago

cujo 14y ago

I'd really like to see some science behind this hand size -> bad free throw shooter statement. This is spouted all the time, and everyone likes to point out Dwight and Shaq. People seem to forget that Kareem, Yao Ming, and Shawn Bradley all shot pretty well from the foul line and were all significantly taller (and I'm guessing at least comparable hand size). Now I'll admit that it is easy to cherry pick players on both sides of the argument, and players at the center position historically have lower free throw averages, but my instinct says that it has less to do with hand size and more to do with their shooting style/habits/practice. Watch videos of Dwight shoot free throws. His shot is far from what anyone would call smooth. Now go watch Yao Ming shoot free throws. Smooth as butta. When Dwight's shot looks like that and he's still chucking up bricks, I'll give more credence to the size argument.

eropple 14y ago

I don't know about hand size having anything to do with it, but I do know that Wilt Chamberlain used to dunk his free throws in college before a rule change disallowed it.

alanfang 14y ago

Not jumping for free throws isn't just a tradition. Jump shots sacrifice accuracy to make it more difficult for defensive players to block your shot. There's no risk of your shot being blocked for a free throw so players don't jump.

philwelch 14y ago
If there's no risk of your shot being blocked for a free throw there's no reason to shoot overhand, either.
- eropple 14y ago
  It's an easier motion for most people who've become accustomed to shooting that way, though.

philwelch 14y ago

Which is why instead of having a dunk and an ineffective overhand free throw, they'd be better off having a dunk and a less ineffective underhand free throw. But guys like Shaq and Dwight Howard are too "macho" for that, so they cost their team points.