I think that comes from the same coaching manual as "If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball."

 

When I was a kid, we had a goal at the intersection of KY511 (Buffalo Road) and KY836 (Cripple Creek Road) in Whitley County. Dodging cars when going in for a layup improved agility.

Ervin Stepp told me that his father cut an inch or two out of their rim and welded it back together smaller. He said after shooting on that rim all summer that the school rims felt like shooting it into a giant trashcan. I've always wanted to try that.

 

Go shoot some free throws at the fair...that is what they do to those rims. They look normal straight on, but get around to the side and you can see that they are barely deep enough for the ball to fit through.

Having one in my driveway was a big reason I could shoot "lights out", however, as Ron Dawn told me my freshman year at the final cut.....you sure can shoot the ball, but couldn't play a lick off defense.

 

I'm willing to wager I could make 90 out of 100 free throws right now, and I haven't shot a ball in over a year.

 

Thinking of you going up there to hit 90 out of 100, reminds me of this guy

 

Dick's sells a ring you place in the hoop to narrow the diameter.

 

There are also oversize balls to practice with.

Go shoot some free throws at the fair...that is what they do to those rims. They look normal straight on, but get around to the side and you can see that they are barely deep enough for the ball to fit through.

 

I was always amazed that 2 regular size basketballs fit inside of a regulation rim at the same time.

I'm willing to wager I could make 90 out of 100 free throws right now, and I haven't shot a ball in over a year.

 

Sounds like @TAC took you up on it, so let's see it!

Sounds like @TAC took you up on it, so let's see it!

@lawnboy can do it at my house with the hoop I have installed. Looks like an opportunity for a BGP get together.

Every kid and situation is different, but at least for me playing basketball in the driveway is where I developed a love for the game. Some of my best memories growing up are playing games to 100 with my friends, getting beat by my older brothers (or being labeled DC ), and shoveling snow off the driveway so I could shoot even when it was cold outside.

 

How it contributed to my "skill" I cannot say for sure, but the easy access to a hoop for sure changed my life.

There are also oversize balls to practice with.

 

I'll not allow my kids to practice with oversized balls. Couldn't imagine taking my kids to Dicks to look for oversized balls. #nothappening

Playing 21 made everyone of us in my neighborhood dead eye free throw shooters. We started out playing that once you scored you could shoot FTs until you missed, but quickly had to limit that to 3 made FTs per basket scored because it wasn't unusual for some one to hit 15 or more in a row to win a game. Plus if there was 3 or more players and you were a shot from going out you had to be able to score going 1 on 2, 3 or even 4 in some cases.

 

In 21 you had to be able to handle the ball, rebound, shoot free throws and hit jumpers. If you played a lot of 21 the only skill you didn't really develop was passing.

Having one in my driveway was a big reason I could shoot "lights out", however, as Ron Dawn told me my freshman year at the final cut.....you sure can shoot the ball, but couldn't play a lick off defense.

 

I'm willing to wager I could make 90 out of 100 free throws right now, and I haven't shot a ball in over a year.

zero chance...

zero chance...

I have a fun ticket on the line that says he can't. Crickets from him so far ???

I have a fun ticket on the line that says he can't. Crickets from him so far ???

 

:wave:

I have a fun ticket on the line that says he can't. Crickets from him so far ???

 

I'm still in softball mode....in due time we'll get this done.

I'm still in softball mode....in due time we'll get this done.

Practicing won't help.