Raymond Cage Jr Biomechanical Overview of a Free throw BIOL 2301 Anatomy and Physiology I (Kasparian) - Section 001 Fall 2008) December 4, 2008 When deciding about a movement to study, I thought about many, and very few interested me. Then I decided to choose something that was very important to me. Shooting the basketball, and more specifically the technique in performing a free throw. I thought by looking more closely at the details of a movement I have been doing since a small child. I thought possibly I could learn something that would give me an advantage in my shot.
The application of this particular movement is for shooting a free-throw, which is a stand still uncontested shot. There are a few rules that go with shooting a free-throw, such as you have to be behind the fifteen foot line, called the free-throw line, and you can't cross that until after the ball makes contact with the rim. The action of a free throw is a full body effort. This document will only focus on the shooting motion of the free throw though. Aspects like speed, trajectory, and the simple algebra of the shot will be focused on. Once the angle of projection is established (for a given point of release), there is only one velocity of projection which will take the ball through the center of the goal. . References Dayton, William. Sports Fitness and Training. Pantheon Books: New York, 1987. McArdle, William D. Exercise Physiology. Lea & Febiger: Philadelphia, 1981. Wirhed, Rolf. Athletic Ability, The Anatomy of Winning. Harmony Books: New York, 1984.