I never looked at the consequences of missing a big shot…when you think about the consequences you always think of a negative result.
Michael Jordan

The successful basketball player understands the important role that free throws play in the strategy to win games. A player with basketball confidence uses mental toughness to maintain consistency both in practice and during pressure situations of games. Free throws are a distinct indicator of the ability to transfer success in the practice gym to points on the game floor. Successful free throw shooting requires a solid mental focus denying outside distractors to affect performance.

Certainly fundamentals are key to proper free throw shooting. However, by the collegiate and professional level, all basketball players comprehend the true fundamental of shooting a free throw. They have practiced and made thousands upon thousands of shots from the free throw line. Problems arise as players lose their mental focus and basketball confidence which results in poorer shooting percentages and sometimes streaks of miss upon miss. Sports psychology in basketball claims that maintaining a positive mental outlook and focus plays just as significant an impact as physical practice in the successful athlete’s preparation. Legendary coach Bobby

Knight stated it best when he said, “Mental toughness is to physical as four is to one.

This previous week I appeared on ESPN’s Wisconsin radio program “Jump Around” to discuss causes of poor free throw shooting, while also offering positive exercises that improve mental focus.

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I stressed the importance of incorporating mental imagery and deep breathing exercises as a facet of an athlete’s training preparation. Any athlete benefits from a mental aspect of their training, but for those experiencing a slump in free throw shooting, rebuilding a strong mental focus is crucial to improving their shooting.

One feature of basketball confidence stems from the ability to remain relaxed during the pressures of a game. Deep breathing allows the body to relax and regain its mental focus. Players suffering from a mental block experience a type of disconnect that keeps their mind out of alliance with their physical performance. These players worry about the consequences of a miss, or reactions from coaches or teammates. The mentally tough player blocks all outside distractors and maintains focus strictly on making the shot. Taking a couple of deep cleansing breaths prior to any free throw, whether in practice or a game, allows the body to regain relaxation which improves the ability to sink the free shot.

In conjunction with the deep breathing exercises, I promote the idea of mental imagery as a component to keeping mental focus positive. A player with basketball confidence believes they will make the shot before their hands ever touch the ball. The successful player envisions success before every single practice and every single game.

Finally, routines offer relaxation through the familiarity and muscle memory. “It is important to have the same pre game routine because consistency helps the body relax more, and consistency helps the body perform better.” Understanding the power the mind plays in the success of any athlete is the first step to gaining true mental toughness. Incorporating mental exercises into both practice and game routines exponentially improve a player’s ability to achieve a peak performance.