So I grabbed my ball this morning feeling kinda lazy, but determined to finally fix my busted three-pointer. Watched a bunch of Kyrie Irving highlights last night – dude makes it look so smooth, right? Figured I’d try copying his vibe.
First, Just Standing Still
Started right under the basket, no joke. Just held the ball like Kyrie does – fingers spread wide, not too tight. Felt weird at first, kinda like cradling an egg. My regular grip was all palm, but Kyrie’s all fingertips. Aimed for the back of the rim every single time.
- Tip: Fingers control the ball, not your palm. Less squeeze = softer shot.
Then, Getting My Feet Sorted
Walked back to the free throw line. Tried my usual hop-step. Bricks. EVERYWHERE. Remembered Kyrie barely hops – it’s more like a quick step into his shot. Tried turning my feet slightly towards the rim instead of square-on. Felt awkward, like dancing wrong. Shots still clanked, but one… swish. Okay, maybe?
- Tip: Tiny step forward with your shooting-side foot. Don’t overthink the jump.
The Elbow Drama
This was the killer. My elbow always flares out like a chicken wing. Kyrie’s? Straight as an arrow pointing up. Took a hundred form shots just above my head, elbow tucked in tight. My armpit hurt! Made sure my forearm was vertical when the ball left my hand. Focused only on that straight line from elbow to wrist.
- Tip: Keep your shooting elbow under the ball. If it sticks out, the shot flies sideways.
Putting It All Together (Chaos)
Moved behind the three-point line. Deep breath. Fingers spread on the ball. Tiny step forward with my right foot. Held the ball high, elbow tucked, aiming for that back rim. Shot. AIRBALL. Laughed. Tried again. Hit the side of the backboard. Felt stupid. Third try… nothing but net. Pure luck? Did it again a few steps back. Another swish. Okay, maybe not just luck!
Key was doing it slow at first. Don’t rush the motion.
What Actually Happened
Spent maybe 45 minutes just drilling this. Sore wrist now. But honestly? By the end, hit 5 threes in a row for the first time EVER. Not consistent yet, but that smooth Kyrie feeling? Felt it maybe twice. And man, when it clicks, you KNOW. It feels easy. Light. Ball just floats. Biggest win? Less wasted arm motion. More energy going straight to the shot.
Don’t expect magic overnight, but focusing on just the grip, the feet, and that darn elbow? Massive difference. Gonna do this again tomorrow. See if the feeling sticks.