What is the best way to hold the ball?
The best way to hold the ball relates to torque and momentum.
Torque or moment of force is “the magnitude of the force causing the rotation
of an object (or particle in a body) is the moment of force” (Blazevich, 2012,
p. 63). In other words, moment of force refers to applying a force at a
distance from a pivot point (moment arm) and can be calculated by torque =
force x distance (Figure, 1). In the case of a jump shot, the pivot points
are the knees, shoulders and elbows which require force to move or rotate. For
example, the biceps brachii is a muscle which produces forces at a distance
from the shoulder to flex the arm and is therefore a torque. Players should
utilise the longer moment arms (muscles) of the legs and arms to increase the
overall torque of the system. The hamstrings, quadriceps femoris group and
upper arm muscles should exert the greatest amount of force and increase
torque. The torque generated about a joint is the sum of all forces acting
across the moment arm.
To increase torque of the jump shot, players should hold the
ball on the fingertips without touching the ball on the middle of the palm.
This technique further increases the distance of the force from the pivot
point. The acceleration of an object is greater if the moment of force is
increased through this technique. Furthermore, the technique also allows
conservation of momentum as the wrist and fingers can flex and extend without
being lost through the touching of the ball to the palm.
Figure 1
(Blazevich, 2012)
Should players shoot with one hand or two?
Kinetic energy is the energy associated with motion, suggesting
that an object with a greater mass or velocity has a greater production of
energy. Therefore, kinetic energy is the energy associated with movement. In
regards to the basketball jump shot, comparing a two handed with a one handed
jump shot is relevant. Evidence has clearly shown that a two-handed jump
shot is not a highly beneficial technique in regards to optimal
techniques (Fontanella, 2008) .
The use of the one handed jump shot is more useful whereby the
guiding hand is advantageous. This is because letting the non-dominant hand go
off the ball and using it as a guiding hand generates more kinetic energy and
force with the body due to rotation. The use of the dominant hand to push the
ball generates increased kinetic energy with the aid of the
guide. Therefore, this creates a longer kinetic chain as the arm
travels over a longer distance. Consequently, the use of the one handed jump
shot with the guide hand generates more kinetic energy as opposed to the two
handed jump shot release in regards to generating the optimal technique.
Relatively, this also increases the lever arm, which additionally influences
and generates a greater amount of kinetic energy.
Overall, the two handed shot was the standard basketball shot
many years ago. However it has changed overtime due to varying reasons.
Firstly, because a one handed shot allows an individual to push the ball
directly at the net, whereas the two handed shot often led the ball askew left
or right. The elbow aim is also important. On a proper jump shot it is easier
to gather the ball if the individual is jumping properly which is difficult to
perform whilst executing a two handed shot. Likewise, it is easier to adopt a
full and consistent extension of the arm with one arm as opposed to two. Other
mechanical advantages of adopting a one handed shot include, releasing the ball
higher on ones body, as executed in the one handed shot not in the two handed
makes it more difficult for opponents to block. This is a huge advantage if
taking a contested shot. Consistency is also experienced at a higher rate in
the one handed shot. Applying an even force in a highly repeatable way is the
only way to adopt a shot such as Nash for example whom is a relatively
consistent shooter in the NBA. This ties in with the release and spin of the
ball. Having a steady, directional release combined with a pointed elbow
directing force t the basket is easier to aim with. It is relatively impossible
to consistently apply the exact same pressure onto the ball using a two handed
technique. Lastly, ensuring to have a goof consistent backspin on
the ball aids the ball to take more favourable bounces around and in the rim
and backboard. Therefore, it is clear that to successfully and consistently
make baskets, a one handed approach is more advantageous.
Push-like movement of the shooting arm.
Eye level remains relatively constant throughout the final
stages of the basketball jump shot through a push-like motion. The joints of
the shooting arm in the flow of the kinetic chain moves simultaneously in a
single movement through the shoulder, elbow, wrist and fingers. Therefore
accumulating a higher force also known as torques, which in turn results in a
higher overall force being delivered in the jump shot. This force is generated
from the leg through the torso up to the arms concurrently generating force,
which is transferred onto the ball. Momentum is maintained through the
push-like motion of the jump shot as the arms and legs move fluently through
the technique. Momentum conservation prevents a loss of energy and force,
producing an optimal jump shot. The upward simultaneous motion increases
accuracy and joint rotations result in a straight-line movement at the end of
the chain. This is demonstrated in the jump shot, which is evident in the
straight-arm projection after ball release. This promotes greater accuracy
allowing the ball to be aimed at the subsequent placement of the ring with a
higher generation of force. Angle of release is necessary to consider, as the
individual is lower then the ring itself. The push-like motion is useful to
reach high and achieve a high trajectory. This is important so that the ball
can reach the ring with optimal angle of release. A higher projectile angle
prevents deflection by a defender, as the ball would pass over their reach.
Consequently the individual must perform this movement fluently to generate the
appropriate force and accuracy. If this is not performed, momentum will be lost
therefore limiting the torque of the shot.
Should the athlete impart backspin on the ball?
Players can create rotation of the ball, which
has been found to maintain ball velocity during flight after the initial
release of the shot (Knudson, 1993). Therefore, it is clear that backspin
should be applied to the ball in the basketball jump shot. The back spin is
caused due to the distribution of ass relative to the centre of rotation which
is applied to the ball through the kinetic chain. This is highly advantageous
as back spin makes the ball land softly in the rim, and often creates a
favourable shooters bounce, resulting in a successful basket, even if the shot
was not executed perfectly. In order to generate backspin, the shoulders should
be used as a hinge. The shooting arm should extend forwards toward the hoop,
ensuring to keep the elbow in towards the body. The elbow then extends and the
ball is released in a swan neck analogy, snapping the wrist, causing the ball
to roll off the pads of the fingers. This imparts the backspin which is an
attribute of all good shooters. Remember, not to shoot the ball off of the palm
of the hands, or backspin will not occur and the shot will not be successful.
Why is the optimal angle of release not 45° for a successful
jump shot?
The angle of projection is demonstrated in Figure 2. The
release angle affects the range and accuracy of the ball, which is especially
important when performing a jump shot from a distance away from the ring. There
is not one single optimal angle of release for a jump shot as the angle depends
on the player’s distance from the ring, the projection speed and the relative
height of release. The closer the player is to the ring, the higher the launch
angle needs to be (Knudson, 1993). It is believed the optimal angle of
projection for a jump shot is between 49 and 55° to allow adequate
horizontal and vertical magnitudes for the ball to reach the ring with an
optimal arc to enter the ring (Knudson, 2007; Knudson, 1993). Increasing the
angle of entry of the ball to the basket increases the width of the basket, as
demonstrated in Figure 3 and 4. For this reason, a
90° angle of release into the basket would provide the greatest
opportunity to score a goal (Figure 3). However, this angle is would only be
achievable through a slam dunk.
Also, the optimal angle of release increases with the players
distance from the ring to a value closer to 55° to increase the arc and
flight time before gravity can act on the projectile (Miller & Bartlett,
1992). This is similar to NBA player Stephen Curry’s shooting angle of
50-55° at the three point line, as shown in video 1 (ESPN Sport Science,
2013). This higher trajectory helps Curry shoot over taller defenders and
creates a larger target at the ring, increasing the available area for the ball
to pass through by 19% (Figure 2) (ESPN Sport Science, 2013). One theoretical
way to calculate the optimal angle of release is through Peter Brancazio’s
(1981) equation of “release angle = 45° + ½ angle of incline to the
basket” as shown in Figure 5 (ESPN Sport Science, 2015).
Video 1
(ESPN Sports Science, 2013)
Figure 2
(Fear of Physics, n.d.)
Figure 3
(Fontanella,
2008)
Figure 4
(ESPN
Sport Science, 2013)
Figure 5
(Brancazio, 1981)
Video 1
(ESPN Sports Science, 2013)
Figure 2
(Fear of Physics, n.d.)
Figure 3
(Fontanella,
2008)
Figure 4
(ESPN
Sport Science, 2013)
Figure 5
(Brancazio, 1981)
The angle of the shoulders, elbows and wrists at ball release
are important when executing the optimal angle of release of the basketball.
The angle of the shoulder from the horizontal should be about 51°,
180° between the hand and forearm and the angle of the forearm from the
horizontal should be about 80° at release (Okubo & Hubbard, 2015). At
full extension of the upper limb, the arm should release the ball between a 49
and 55°trajectory for optimal performance. The player’s trunk should not lean
forward or backward as this will change the angle of release with a lower
height of release and unbalanced momentum. Overall, these angles are variable
and are affected by the projectile’s speed and height of release, the player’s
height and the amount of force exerted by the player.
Why should speed be
manipulated in a jump shot?
The range of a projectile or basketball is mainly influenced by
projection speed. The faster a projectile is released, the further it will
travel. Therefore, when a jump shot is performed from close proximity to the
ring, even less speed should be exerted onto the ball. Also, release speed
increases as distance from the basket increases, regardless of release angle
(Miller & Bartlett, 1992). One study found the optimal release speeds for
short, medium and long range shots. They found 4.58m/s for short range, 6.62m/s
for medium and 9.04m/s for long are approximate optimal ranges of speeds
players should aim for (Okubo & Hubbard, 2015). This study demonstrates the
extra speed required as the player moves further from the ring. Stephen Curry
releases the ball approximately 16% faster at nine metres from the basket (35.9
km/hr) compared to at the arc (31.68 km/hr) (Figure 6) (ESPN Sport Science,
2015).
Also, greater release speed should be exerted by players who
cannot produce sufficient forces or cannot achieve a high release height due to
their short stature. Releasing the ball quickly also prevents defenders from
having time to set up and block the shot.
Stephen Curry has one of the fastest ball releases of anyone in
the NBA and releases the ball at 0.4 seconds, compared to 0.54 seconds of the
average NBA player. By the time the average NBA player has released the ball,
Curry’s shot has already travelled 3.6 metres (video 1) (ESPN Sport Science,
2013). This velocity is due to his wrist flexion of 3,000°/second (ESPN Sport
Science, 2015).
When a ball is launched with a greater speed, it is in contact
with the hand for a shorter period of time. A shorter time in the hand results
in greater angular acceleration and rotational speed (Fontanella, 2006). Therefore,
to increase speed of a jump shot, players should increase the angular velocity
of their elbow as it moves through flexion to extension with a quicker ‘snap’
of the elbow and activation of the extensor muscles (Okubo & Hubbard,
2015). Players can also create a rotation of the ball, which has been found to
maintain ball velocity during flight (Knudson, 1993). However, players should
be careful to not trade off speed for accuracy or their optimal angle of
release to achieve a successful jump shot. As speed is key,
especially when playing a game with defenders trying to steal the ball.
The angle of the shoulders, elbows and wrists at ball release
are important when executing the optimal angle of release of the basketball.
The angle of the shoulder from the horizontal should be about 51°,
180° between the hand and forearm and the angle of the forearm from the
horizontal should be about 80° at release (Okubo & Hubbard, 2015). At
full extension of the upper limb, the arm should release the ball between a 49
and 55°trajectory for optimal performance. The player’s trunk should not lean
forward or backward as this will change the angle of release with a lower
height of release and unbalanced momentum. Overall, these angles are variable
and are affected by the projectile’s speed and height of release, the player’s
height and the amount of force exerted by the player.
Why should speed be manipulated in a jump shot?
The range of a projectile or basketball is mainly influenced by
projection speed. The faster a projectile is released, the further it will
travel. Therefore, when a jump shot is performed from close proximity to the
ring, even less speed should be exerted onto the ball. Also, release speed
increases as distance from the basket increases, regardless of release angle
(Miller & Bartlett, 1992). One study found the optimal release speeds for
short, medium and long range shots. They found 4.58m/s for short range, 6.62m/s
for medium and 9.04m/s for long are approximate optimal ranges of speeds
players should aim for (Okubo & Hubbard, 2015). This study demonstrates the
extra speed required as the player moves further from the ring. Stephen Curry
releases the ball approximately 16% faster at nine metres from the basket (35.9
km/hr) compared to at the arc (31.68 km/hr) (Figure 6) (ESPN Sport Science,
2015).
Also, greater release speed should be exerted by players who
cannot produce sufficient forces or cannot achieve a high release height due to
their short stature. Releasing the ball quickly also prevents defenders from
having time to set up and block the shot.
Stephen Curry has one of the fastest ball releases of anyone in
the NBA and releases the ball at 0.4 seconds, compared to 0.54 seconds of the
average NBA player. By the time the average NBA player has released the ball,
Curry’s shot has already travelled 3.6 metres (video 1) (ESPN Sport Science,
2013). This velocity is due to his wrist flexion of 3,000°/second (ESPN Sport
Science, 2015).
When a ball is launched with a greater speed, it is in contact
with the hand for a shorter period of time. A shorter time in the hand results
in greater angular acceleration and rotational speed (Fontanella, 2006). Therefore,
to increase speed of a jump shot, players should increase the angular velocity
of their elbow as it moves through flexion to extension with a quicker ‘snap’
of the elbow and activation of the extensor muscles (Okubo & Hubbard,
2015). Players can also create a rotation of the ball, which has been found to
maintain ball velocity during flight (Knudson, 1993). However, players should
be careful to not trade off speed for accuracy or their optimal angle of
release to achieve a successful jump shot. As speed is key,
especially when playing a game with defenders trying to steal the ball.
Figure 6
(ESPN
Sport Science, 2015).
Figure 6
(ESPN Sport Science, 2015).
(ESPN Sport Science, 2015).
Why is the impulse of the jump shot low?
Momentum can also be adjusted by exerting a force over a longer
period of time. This is known as impulse, the product of force acting on a body
and the time which force is exerted on the body or object (Knudson, 2007). The
greater the impulse is, the greater the change in momentum and is known as the
impulse-momentum relationship. This is not applicable to the jump shot as the
player should be aiming to jump as quickly as possible, with as much force as
possible whilst moving through the kinetic chain quickly to release the ball
with high velocity. If the player was to exert force over a long period, a
defender has a greater chance of blocking the shot. Therefore, the impulse is
low and there is a weak impulse-momentum relationship.
The relative height of projection is also integral to a
successful jump shot. It is the vertical distance between the point of
projection of an object and the point where it lands (Fontanella, 2008). In the
basketball jump shot scenario, the ring is higher than the point of release.
Therefore, the projection point is lower than the ring and the relative height
is negative. The optimal angle of release increases as the relative height
becomes more negative. By projecting the ball from a level below where it will
land (in this case, to pass through the ring), the player needs to increase the
vertical velocity and angle of release to greater than 45° to give the
ball extra flight time.
This information is useful to shorter players who should
increase their angle of release to be equal to taller players who already
possess a higher relative height of projection and should also attempt to jump
higher. The jump is an important part of increasing the relative height of
release, regardless of the player’s height as the ball can then be released at
a location closer to the height of the basket. The knees should be flexed near
90° to increase the potential energy of the jump shot and force production
of the jump. As aforementioned, the equal and opposite reaction of the jump and
the ground increases the vertical height of the jump shot and the relative
height of release. A successful jump shot with a high vertical jump also
prevents interference from a defender.
Therefore, a player should flex their knees and then quickly
extend the knees to increase force production of the legs and force directed
toward the ground. This extra flexion will assist the body to overcome inertia
to increase the height of the jump and decrease the angle and speed required to
successfully shoot a goal in a jump shot. However, a player cannot change their
height and should instead work on increasing their angle of release and jump
height.
How can momentum be manipulated for the optimal jump shot?
Momentum is a product of mass and velocity, seen as momentum =
mass x velocity (Knudson, 2007). The player as a whole has more momentum than
the ball as it has a higher mass, requiring greater force to change its state
of momentum. Momentum can carry the player upwards as they move through the
jump. The basketball has angular momentum as it moves through an arc toward the
ring with rotation. Also, the arms and legs possess angular momentum as they
move through an angle of movement (Blazevich, 2013).
To address momentum in the arms in a jump shot, players can
accelerate the proximal parts of the arm (shoulder) and then stop them. This
produces a transfer of momentum along the arm resulting in high velocity at the
end point of the hand. This momentum and velocity can then be applied to the
ball for the jump shot.
By catching the ball and stepping forward into a stable base of
support with feet facing the ring and centre of mass evenly distributed,
momentum is already being carried forward to be imparted onto the ball. To
change the momentum of the body in an upwards direction force must be applied
to the body. Newton’s Third Law of equal and opposite reaction results in a
change of momentum in the jump through a downward force to the ground. Also,
the player can apply more momentum to the ball by releasing it with greater
velocity.
Lastly, to increase hang time for the jump shot, players can
bring their legs up under their body after they leave the ground in the jump,
then rapidly extend their legs downwards. This conserves momentum and moves the
body further vertically. Stephen Curry releases the ball as he is rising at 0.6
seconds before the apex of his jump, resulting in his upward momentum
transferring to the ball, a technique which amateur players can also use (ESPN
Sport Science, 2013).
How does Newton’s First Law and external factors impact a jump
shot?
Newton’s First Law of Motion, also known as the Law of Inertia,
states that an object will remain at rest or continue to move with constant
velocity as long as the net force equals zero (Blazevich, 2013). When
considering the basketball jump shot, it could be assumed that once the ball
leaves the shooters hands there are no factors to obstruct the path of the
ball, however this is not so (Benjamin, 2014). Gravity applies an action
to the ball which essentially pulls it down to earth therefore the shooter must
acknowledge and judge the force of gravity acting upon the weight of the ball
and determine the most appropriate line of trajectory (Benjamin, 2014).
Air resistance also comes into play during the basketball jump shot in the form
of a drag like movement (Benjamin, 2014). This is most evident in outdoor
playing environments. Therefore when taking a basketball jump shot, players
must consider gravity and air resistance when determining the line of
trajectory of their shot.
Effects of force, mass and acceleration on the success of a jump
shot.
Newton’s Second Law of Motion states that the acceleration of an
object is proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional
to the mass of the object (Blazevich, 2013). When cross referencing this law
with the biomechanics of the basketball jump shot, initial force is generated
through the push like movement of the kinetic chain during the contraction of
the muscles and bending of the ankles, knees and elbows of the kinetic chain
during the jump. This force production then travels upwards through the body in
sequence to exert acceleration onto the ball to reach the ring. The amount of
force exerted through the push like movement will be proportional to the
acceleration of the ball. Acceleration can also overcome the inertia of the
ball in motion. However, a basketball has low inertia due to its low mass and
requires low force to change its state of motion (Blazevich, 2013). Therefore,
it is important to exert an appropriate amount of force in relation to the
player’s distance from the ring and time constraints in order to overcome the
inertia of the object to attain optimal acceleration to the ring. This
showcases aspects of Newton’s First Law of Motion. Regarding Newton’s
second law of motion, the greater the mass of the object being accelerated (in
this case the basketball), the more force is required to accelerate the
object (Benjamin, 2014). In equation form this can be demonstrated as
Force= mass x acceleration. As a basketball has a mass, this law is evident
whenever a player either passes or shoots the ball and they must apply the
appropriate force. When either too much or too little force is applied during
the jump shot, the ball will not travel where it was intended to
go (Benjamin, 2014). Therefore, when taking a jump shot players must
consider how much force to apply to the ball in relation to its mass.
How are equal and opposite reactions incorporated into the jump
shot? What do they produce?
Newton’s Third Law of motion states that for every action there
is an equal and opposite reaction (Blazevich, 2013). With regards to the
basketball jump shot, this law can be most obviously applied during the actual
jump stage of the total sequence where the body applies a force to the ground
and the ground pushes back an equal, opposite reaction forcing the player to
propel in an upwards direction. This ultimately reduces the required projectile
angle to successfully complete a jump shot. The vertical jump motion showcases
Newton’s Third Law regarding equal and opposite reactions. The equal and
opposite reactions themselves occur when the player jumps to reach their
optimal height before actually taking the shot and releasing the ball in the
direction of the basket. It is the ground reaction force that enables the foot
to propel and stay above the ground and without this the foot would remain in
contact with the ground (Blazevich, 2013). Through this process the upwards
reaction force produced by the group is directed through the bodies centre of
mass (Blazevich, 2013). Equal and opposite reactions are also evident in the
body limbs during a jump shot. When the shot is taken the arms move in a
forwards direction which correspondingly creates a flexing motion in the legs pushing
them in a backwards motion ready to propel the body in the vertical
jump (Knudson, 1993). Therefore, players must ensure they apply an
appropriate force to the ground during the vertical jump to ensure the ground
reaction force produces and equal, yet opposite reaction consequently
propelling the player upwards.
How does acceleration affect the jump shot?
Acceleration refers to the increase in the speed or velocity of
an object and is a key concept in basketball. When the initial shot is taken the
object being the ball is moving with great speed as it has an applied force,
however as the ball progresses through the air it slows due to loss of momentum
and the deceleration caused by gravity. During the jump shot, acceleration is
evident at the elbow, wrist and fingers. As of result of the acceleration
generated at these sites, momentum is also generated through the muscle forces
acting on the object. It is the acceleration generated that creates the
momentum for the ball to travel through the air and reach the
basket (Better Basketball, 2014). Therefore, players must consider the
appropriate force needed to be applied to produce and maintain sufficient
momentum to ensure the ball reaches the basket (Okazaki, Rodacki, &
Satern, 2015).
Why is the ‘fade away’ jump shot not advisable?
Momentum also explains why a fade away jump shot is a poor
technique. The player will have unbalanced momentum and will miss shoot with an
incorrect angle and lower height of release. The player is moving with horizontal
velocity with decreased vertical height of release. Also, the momentum created
by the jump will be directed in a backwards direction, causing the player to
transfer less momentum to a high, vertical jump. The player would also need to
shoot with greater force or velocity to make up for the loss of momentum.
What would happen if the player moved through the movements of the
jump shot and paused before shooting?
The Law of Conservation of Momentum is also related to the jump
shot, which states, “The total (angular) momentum of a system remains constant
unless external forces influence the system” (Blazevich, 2013, p. 91). A player
should try to fluently move through the motions of the jump shot. There should
be no break in the movements between the legs, torso and arms to conserve the
momentum being produced through the jump and limb movement. If a player paused
in the chain of movements for the jump shot, force and momentum would not be
conserved, resulting in incorrect angle of release or a jump which does not
reach maximum height.
Jump Justification
Second Law of Motion states that the acceleration of an object
is proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to the
mass of the object. When cross referencing this law with the biomechanics of
the basketball jump shot, initial force is generated through the push like
movement of the kinetic chain during the contraction of the muscles and bending
of the ankles, knees and elbows of the kinetic chain during the jump. This
force production then travels upwards through the body in sequence to exert
acceleration onto the ball to reach the ring. The amount of force exerted
through the push like movement will be proportional to the acceleration of the
ball. Acceleration can also overcome the inertia of the ball in motion.
However, a basketball has low inertia due to its low mass and requires low
force to change its state of motion. Therefore, it is important to exert an
appropriate amount of force in relation to the player’s distance from the ring
and time constraints in order to overcome the inertia of the object to attain
optimal acceleration to the ring This showcases aspects of Newton’s First Law
of Motion. Additionally, Newton’s Third Law of motion states that for
every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. With regards to the
basketball jump shot, this law can be most obviously applied during the actual
jump stage of the total sequence where the body applies a force to the ground
and the ground pushes back an equal, opposite reaction forcing the player to
propel in an upwards direction. This ultimately reduce the required projectile
angle to successful complete a jump shot.
What is the importance of kinetic energy in regards to the jump
technique?
The optimal technique associated with the basketball jump shot
requires a high amount of kinetic energy to be generated in the shortest amount
of time. This is made possible through generating the majority of the power
from ones legs to get into the air, yet, this should be generated through a
shallow bend of the knees as a deep bend would generate a slow release. This
would also minimise the chance of the individual being blocked by an opponent
as the jump increases the successfulness of the shot. Relatively, the rest of
the power should be generated from the upper half of the body and arms in
relation with the accuracy needed. Through the use of this technique it will
generate a fast shot whilst also generating a great amount of potential kinetic
energy. As the potential energy generated here increases, the
overall energy generated within the kinetic chain subsequently increases the
force production passed onto the ball. The equal and opposite reaction is also
seen to play a major role in the jump of the jump shot. As if you apply enough
force into the ground in a shallow jump it will propel the individual into the
air, leaving what may seem like an abundance of time to execute the second half
of the shot using the upper body. Therefore, one must ensure to
adopt a shallow jump, which provides a substantial amount of force to generate
a high jump, to create the illusion that the individual has all the time in the
world to execute the shot.
Why is the impulse of the jump shot low?
Momentum can also be adjusted by exerting a force over a longer
period of time. This is known as impulse, the product of force acting on a body
and the time which force is exerted on the body or object (Knudson, 2007). The
greater the impulse is, the greater the change in momentum and is known as the
impulse-momentum relationship. This is not applicable to the jump shot as the
player should be aiming to jump as quickly as possible, with as much force as
possible whilst moving through the kinetic chain quickly to release the ball
with high velocity. If the player was to exert force over a long period, a
defender has a greater chance of blocking the shot. Therefore, the impulse is
low and there is a weak impulse-momentum relationship.
What is the importance of height of ball release in the jump shot?
The relative height of projection is also integral to a
successful jump shot. It is the vertical distance between the point of
projection of an object and the point where it lands (Fontanella, 2008). In the
basketball jump shot scenario, the ring is higher than the point of release.
Therefore, the projection point is lower than the ring and the relative height
is negative. The optimal angle of release increases as the relative height
becomes more negative. By projecting the ball from a level below where it will
land (in this case, to pass through the ring), the player needs to increase the
vertical velocity and angle of release to greater than 45° to give the
ball extra flight time.
This information is useful to shorter players who should
increase their angle of release to be equal to taller players who already
possess a higher relative height of projection and should also attempt to jump
higher. The jump is an important part of increasing the relative height of
release, regardless of the player’s height as the ball can then be released at
a location closer to the height of the basket. The knees should be flexed near
90° to increase the potential energy of the jump shot and force production
of the jump. As aforementioned, the equal and opposite reaction of the jump and
the ground increases the vertical height of the jump shot and the relative
height of release. A successful jump shot with a high vertical jump also
prevents interference from a defender.
Therefore, a player should flex their knees and then quickly
extend the knees to increase force production of the legs and force directed
toward the ground. This extra flexion will assist the body to overcome inertia
to increase the height of the jump and decrease the angle and speed required to
successfully shoot a goal in a jump shot. However, a player cannot change their
height and should instead work on increasing their angle of release and jump
height.
How can momentum be manipulated for the optimal jump shot?
Momentum is a product of mass and velocity, seen as momentum =
mass x velocity (Knudson, 2007). The player as a whole has more momentum than
the ball as it has a higher mass, requiring greater force to change its state
of momentum. Momentum can carry the player upwards as they move through the
jump. The basketball has angular momentum as it moves through an arc toward the
ring with rotation. Also, the arms and legs possess angular momentum as they
move through an angle of movement (Blazevich, 2013).
To address momentum in the arms in a jump shot, players can
accelerate the proximal parts of the arm (shoulder) and then stop them. This
produces a transfer of momentum along the arm resulting in high velocity at the
end point of the hand. This momentum and velocity can then be applied to the
ball for the jump shot.
By catching the ball and stepping forward into a stable base of
support with feet facing the ring and centre of mass evenly distributed,
momentum is already being carried forward to be imparted onto the ball. To
change the momentum of the body in an upwards direction force must be applied
to the body. Newton’s Third Law of equal and opposite reaction results in a
change of momentum in the jump through a downward force to the ground. Also,
the player can apply more momentum to the ball by releasing it with greater
velocity.
Lastly, to increase hang time for the jump shot, players can
bring their legs up under their body after they leave the ground in the jump,
then rapidly extend their legs downwards. This conserves momentum and moves the
body further vertically. Stephen Curry releases the ball as he is rising at 0.6
seconds before the apex of his jump, resulting in his upward momentum
transferring to the ball, a technique which amateur players can also use (ESPN
Sport Science, 2013).
How does Newton’s First Law and external factors impact a jump
shot?
Newton’s First Law of Motion, also known as the Law of Inertia,
states that an object will remain at rest or continue to move with constant
velocity as long as the net force equals zero (Blazevich, 2013). When
considering the basketball jump shot, it could be assumed that once the ball
leaves the shooters hands there are no factors to obstruct the path of the
ball, however this is not so (Benjamin, 2014). Gravity applies an action
to the ball which essentially pulls it down to earth therefore the shooter must
acknowledge and judge the force of gravity acting upon the weight of the ball
and determine the most appropriate line of trajectory (Benjamin, 2014).
Air resistance also comes into play during the basketball jump shot in the form
of a drag like movement (Benjamin, 2014). This is most evident in outdoor
playing environments. Therefore when taking a basketball jump shot, players
must consider gravity and air resistance when determining the line of
trajectory of their shot.
Effects of force, mass and acceleration on the success of a jump
shot.
Newton’s Second Law of Motion states that the acceleration of an
object is proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional
to the mass of the object (Blazevich, 2013). When cross referencing this law
with the biomechanics of the basketball jump shot, initial force is generated
through the push like movement of the kinetic chain during the contraction of
the muscles and bending of the ankles, knees and elbows of the kinetic chain
during the jump. This force production then travels upwards through the body in
sequence to exert acceleration onto the ball to reach the ring. The amount of
force exerted through the push like movement will be proportional to the
acceleration of the ball. Acceleration can also overcome the inertia of the
ball in motion. However, a basketball has low inertia due to its low mass and
requires low force to change its state of motion (Blazevich, 2013). Therefore,
it is important to exert an appropriate amount of force in relation to the
player’s distance from the ring and time constraints in order to overcome the
inertia of the object to attain optimal acceleration to the ring. This
showcases aspects of Newton’s First Law of Motion. Regarding Newton’s
second law of motion, the greater the mass of the object being accelerated (in
this case the basketball), the more force is required to accelerate the
object (Benjamin, 2014). In equation form this can be demonstrated as
Force= mass x acceleration. As a basketball has a mass, this law is evident
whenever a player either passes or shoots the ball and they must apply the
appropriate force. When either too much or too little force is applied during
the jump shot, the ball will not travel where it was intended to
go (Benjamin, 2014). Therefore, when taking a jump shot players must
consider how much force to apply to the ball in relation to its mass.
How are equal and opposite reactions incorporated into the jump
shot? What do they produce?
Newton’s Third Law of motion states that for every action there
is an equal and opposite reaction (Blazevich, 2013). With regards to the
basketball jump shot, this law can be most obviously applied during the actual
jump stage of the total sequence where the body applies a force to the ground
and the ground pushes back an equal, opposite reaction forcing the player to
propel in an upwards direction. This ultimately reduces the required projectile
angle to successfully complete a jump shot. The vertical jump motion showcases
Newton’s Third Law regarding equal and opposite reactions. The equal and
opposite reactions themselves occur when the player jumps to reach their
optimal height before actually taking the shot and releasing the ball in the
direction of the basket. It is the ground reaction force that enables the foot
to propel and stay above the ground and without this the foot would remain in
contact with the ground (Blazevich, 2013). Through this process the upwards
reaction force produced by the group is directed through the bodies centre of
mass (Blazevich, 2013). Equal and opposite reactions are also evident in the
body limbs during a jump shot. When the shot is taken the arms move in a
forwards direction which correspondingly creates a flexing motion in the legs pushing
them in a backwards motion ready to propel the body in the vertical
jump (Knudson, 1993). Therefore, players must ensure they apply an
appropriate force to the ground during the vertical jump to ensure the ground
reaction force produces and equal, yet opposite reaction consequently
propelling the player upwards.
How does acceleration affect the jump shot?
Acceleration refers to the increase in the speed or velocity of
an object and is a key concept in basketball. When the initial shot is taken the
object being the ball is moving with great speed as it has an applied force,
however as the ball progresses through the air it slows due to loss of momentum
and the deceleration caused by gravity. During the jump shot, acceleration is
evident at the elbow, wrist and fingers. As of result of the acceleration
generated at these sites, momentum is also generated through the muscle forces
acting on the object. It is the acceleration generated that creates the
momentum for the ball to travel through the air and reach the
basket (Better Basketball, 2014). Therefore, players must consider the
appropriate force needed to be applied to produce and maintain sufficient
momentum to ensure the ball reaches the basket (Okazaki, Rodacki, &
Satern, 2015).
Why is the ‘fade away’ jump shot not advisable?
Momentum also explains why a fade away jump shot is a poor
technique. The player will have unbalanced momentum and will miss shoot with an
incorrect angle and lower height of release. The player is moving with horizontal
velocity with decreased vertical height of release. Also, the momentum created
by the jump will be directed in a backwards direction, causing the player to
transfer less momentum to a high, vertical jump. The player would also need to
shoot with greater force or velocity to make up for the loss of momentum.
What would happen if the player moved through the movements of the
jump shot and paused before shooting?
The Law of Conservation of Momentum is also related to the jump
shot, which states, “The total (angular) momentum of a system remains constant
unless external forces influence the system” (Blazevich, 2013, p. 91). A player
should try to fluently move through the motions of the jump shot. There should
be no break in the movements between the legs, torso and arms to conserve the
momentum being produced through the jump and limb movement. If a player paused
in the chain of movements for the jump shot, force and momentum would not be
conserved, resulting in incorrect angle of release or a jump which does not
reach maximum height.
Jump Justification
Second Law of Motion states that the acceleration of an object
is proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to the
mass of the object. When cross referencing this law with the biomechanics of
the basketball jump shot, initial force is generated through the push like
movement of the kinetic chain during the contraction of the muscles and bending
of the ankles, knees and elbows of the kinetic chain during the jump. This
force production then travels upwards through the body in sequence to exert
acceleration onto the ball to reach the ring. The amount of force exerted
through the push like movement will be proportional to the acceleration of the
ball. Acceleration can also overcome the inertia of the ball in motion.
However, a basketball has low inertia due to its low mass and requires low
force to change its state of motion. Therefore, it is important to exert an
appropriate amount of force in relation to the player’s distance from the ring
and time constraints in order to overcome the inertia of the object to attain
optimal acceleration to the ring This showcases aspects of Newton’s First Law
of Motion. Additionally, Newton’s Third Law of motion states that for
every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. With regards to the
basketball jump shot, this law can be most obviously applied during the actual
jump stage of the total sequence where the body applies a force to the ground
and the ground pushes back an equal, opposite reaction forcing the player to
propel in an upwards direction. This ultimately reduce the required projectile
angle to successful complete a jump shot.
What is the importance of kinetic energy in regards to the jump
technique?
The optimal technique associated with the basketball jump shot
requires a high amount of kinetic energy to be generated in the shortest amount
of time. This is made possible through generating the majority of the power
from ones legs to get into the air, yet, this should be generated through a
shallow bend of the knees as a deep bend would generate a slow release. This
would also minimise the chance of the individual being blocked by an opponent
as the jump increases the successfulness of the shot. Relatively, the rest of
the power should be generated from the upper half of the body and arms in
relation with the accuracy needed. Through the use of this technique it will
generate a fast shot whilst also generating a great amount of potential kinetic
energy. As the potential energy generated here increases, the
overall energy generated within the kinetic chain subsequently increases the
force production passed onto the ball. The equal and opposite reaction is also
seen to play a major role in the jump of the jump shot. As if you apply enough
force into the ground in a shallow jump it will propel the individual into the
air, leaving what may seem like an abundance of time to execute the second half
of the shot using the upper body. Therefore, one must ensure to
adopt a shallow jump, which provides a substantial amount of force to generate
a high jump, to create the illusion that the individual has all the time in the
world to execute the shot.
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