Letter from Coach Hoover

Dear Coaches, Parents and Players,

Proper shooting is the most important aspect of offensive basketball. Unfortunately, most players and even coaches don’t fully understand the importance of shooting. It’s really simple…If you can shoot, you will play—somewhere. Professional coaches and general managers, college coaches and high school coaches are constantly looking for players that can put the ball in the basket.

Athleticism (and good ol’ dunking) has taken a back seat to the three pointer and the midrange shot. If you don’t believe this, check out how many foreign born players are now suiting up in the NBA compared to 20 years ago. The best NBA shooting teams consistently make the playoffs (Boston, Orlando, Lakers, Phoenix) and the best collegiate shooting teams always make a strong run in the tournament (Duke won the NCAA title because they can shoot).

Think about this…How many times have you come across an exceptional athlete and commented under your breath, “If he/she only had a consistent jump shot…He/she would dominate.” I guarantee thousands of coaches utter this ever day.

So the question must be asked, “Why do some players have the gift of shooting, and others don’t?” Most coaches believe the answer lies in practicing. They believe—good shooters practice, bad shooters don’t. They think it’s that simple. But it’s not.

In reality, becoming a great shooter is not about how many shooting drills you know or how much time you spend on the court. It starts first and foremost with TECHNIQUE. You see, good shooters have tremendous technique and poor shooters normally have poor technique.

So where does this poor technique come from? The answer is simple—our coaches. You see, today’s coaches were taught by their coaches, who were taught by their coaches, who were taught by their coaches. In other words, today’s players are taught shooting concepts that are derived from the 1950’s.

Problem with this is that the jump shot has DRASTICALLY changed during this time. The methodical set shot of Bill Sharman has been replaced by the sleek and narrow jump shots of Kobe Bryant, Michael Redd and Ray Allen. Unfortunately, coaches still instruct players to start wide, bend the knees and start the ball well above their head. This shooting style no longer works in today’s athletic game. It’s too mechanical and slow.

Proper shooting is easily the least understood aspect in all of basketball and perhaps all of sports. Once again, we are taught at a young age to shoot like players from the 1950’s (back straight, feet square to the basket, ball above the head, shoulder width stance, knees bent). What truly makes no sense is that while most current coaches continue to teach this outdated style, these are not the same techniques that the best shooters in the world use.

I have taken shooting concepts and “secrets” from the best players in the game and have developed the Pro Shot Shooting System. The PS System is simply the most revolutionary shooting system ever devised. With techniques that are straightforward and logical, the Pro Shot System combines mental aspects with the physical to produce accurate, rhythmic and quicker shooters.

Please take time to look over this site. I do believe that the Pro Shot Shooting System is the premiere shooting system in the world. Our instruction is first rate. We would be interested in speaking with you to help your child, player, team and program in the art of shooting.

Sincerely,

Paul Hoover
Pro Shot Founder and Director