“I don’t get too excited about shots I make because I’m supposed make them. I’m more perplexed when I don’t make it.” - Jesus Shuttlesworth.
Once an afterthought in basketball, the art of shooting has become one of the games most interesting subjects to study. From Reggie Miller, Ray Allen, Larry Bird and Stephen Curry all have different shooting mechanics in a sense but they all have been extremely effective from beyond the arc.
One thing about the art of shooting is clear though: there is a method to the madness. For those shooting savants, TheDribbleDrop has started a new feature series called “Respect The Shooter.” Each article will discuss the ins and outs of shooting.
Next up is Rumson Fair Haven guard Teddy Sourlis. The STRAPPED senior is knocking down 3 three pointers made per game thus far. The Babson commit has also knocked down 3 or more three pointers in a game ten times this year thus far.
By Christian Mordi / @thedribbledrop
TheDribbleDrop: In your opinion, who are the top three shooters all time?
Teddy Sourlis: Ray Allen, Stephen Curry and Reggie Miller. In no particular order, because that is way too hard to do.
TheDribbleDrop: Tell me two or three drills you do to improve your shooting?
Teddy Sourlis: One thing that I usually do, whether I’m struggling with my shot or getting right before a game is form shooting. I start close to the basket, normally 3 feet away from the rim. I love form shooting because if there is something wrong with my shot I can feel like that is a great time to fix it.
Another drill I like to do is I pick five spots on the floor. Spots that I normally take shots from in a game. I make five shots in a row from those spots before I move on to another spot.
TheDribbleDrop: What’s more important: a quick release, foot placement or arm form?
Teddy Sourlis: Foot positioning and balance is the most important to me. I feel like if you are a good enough shooter you know where your shot is going to land every single time. If you are not balanced or in the right position to shoot the ball, that is something that can alter your shot.
TheDribbleDrop: Would you say shooting more about your arms or legs when extending your range?
Teddy Sourlis: Legs. I feel like the further away you get from the three point line the more you have to use your legs. When it’s crunch time in the fourth quarter it will be your legs that allow you to hit big shots down the stretch.
TheDribbleDrop: You randomly walk down the street and stumble into Ray Allen. You have a chance to ask Ray one question about shooting. What do you ask?
Teddy Sourlis: I would ask Ray what he does when he struggled shooting the ball. How do you recover from a bad shooting night. How do you get yourself mentally prepared so that you don’t stay in a funk.
TheDribbleDrop: Which rock are you guys shooting with: Wave ball or Evolution?
Teddy Sourlis: Wave ball. My dad coached girls basketball at RFH for around 30 years. He basically created a sponsorship with the Wave Ball so we have as many balls as we want. I always used those in practice. It’s a comfort thing.
TheDribbleDrop: If I were new to shooting a basketball, what’s the most important piece of advice you would give me?
Teddy Sourlis: Well I train a lot with little kids. There's an air hole near the bottom of the ball. I usually line my pointer finger up and make sure I am lined up so it’s directly in the middle. I make sure my arms are in the “L” form. I tell them to release the ball and follow through and imagine that your arm is going through the bottom of the net.
TheDribbleDrop: Anything else you want to share about shooting?
Teddy Sourlis: I think that the most important aspect of shooting is mentally. I’ve worked on my shot for the last 15 years of my life and I’ve probably shot about a million shots during that time and it's pretty much become muscle memory at this point. I think that with my shot becoming muscle memory, I know my shot is going to be the exact same every single time I shoot.
I think that if you’re mentally prepared for a game and are in a good state mentally before and during the game, you will ball out that night. If something is bothering you or you have something on your mind that night, you might not. That’s why every time I step on the floor, nothing else matters & I just clear my mind.