Stephen Curry’s Top 5 Basketball Tips
The time for the NBA playoffs has arrived yet again. As we watch the Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors square off once more, some of us can’t help but wonder how we, too, can take our games to the next level.
Fortunately for us, some of the best players have always been willing to share some of their top basketball tips with us.
One of those players happens to be the Warriors’ very own Stephen Curry. One of the most dominant players in the NBA today, Curry is revered for his shooting skills.
Regardless of where he’s standing on the court, he’ll find a way to make the shot.
So what advice does Curry have for those of you who are trying to improve your games? Keep reading to find out.
Develop A Strong Foundation
Many of you won’t be surprised to hear that a strong foundation helps improve your game. Even so, there are several elements of a good foundation which casual players might not even know they need to improve.
Balance, for instance, is cited as important, and not just by Curry. It is especially important for those who want to practice making more difficult shots on the court.
Achieving balance, however, is both a matter of practice and form. Bending your knees and straightening your torso do wonders for improving your balance. Your feet must also be properly lined up with the basket before you take your shots.
As a matter of fact, the U.S. National Library of Medicine conducted a study which examined the effects of balance training on basketball performance. The study’s results showed that “performing 30 min of balance training twice a week for 12 weeks” led to a “significant improvement in balance and vertical jump scores” for the study’s participants.
Repeat Your Shot
It’s no surprise that one of Stephen Curry’s top basketball tips is all about taking shots on the court. The player’s shooting skills, in addition to his team’s defensive and offensive capabilities, have taken the Warriors far.
The team, which has broken long-standing records, is often compared to some of the greatest teams in NBA history.
How, though, does Curry manage to bag so many 3-pointers with so little ease?
According to Steph, your shot should essentially be the same every time. That is to say, you should aim to perform the same motions each time you take a certain shot.
Perhaps this advice is counterintuitive to some people. We tend to think that movements should be situational. After all, there is no actual way that you could take a shot the same way every single time.
Unless, of course, you had a great team which helped you set up your shots nicely.
Still, there is something to be said about the fact that Curry’s record for 3-pointers is so impressive. There must be something to what he’s saying here.
A player who can perform a shot the same way each time must have excellent form. That player must have spent a lot of time practicing that shot in order to perfect it. In other words, his muscle memory is so developed that he always tucks his elbows and lines his feet up with the basket when he takes his shots.
That type of muscle memory is what you should work on if you want to take your shooting skills up a notch.
Try The One-Motion Shot
Curry stresses the importance of using one fluid motion while shooting, and he isn’t just all talk here. Footage of the player almost always shows him relying on this fluid motion he talks about.
Steph isn’t the only player who uses the one-motion shot. There are plenty of other players who rely on it as well. Novak and Harden are just a couple of other examples of players who do so.
The idea is that minimizing the amount of motion during the shot creates less room for error. Any extra motion is thought of as extraneous.
Notice, however, that we advised you to try the one-motion shot. It works for Curry, but the one-motion shot isn’t the only shot out there. You’ll find plenty of other players who use other techniques.
Of course, Curry is currently thought to be one of the best shooters in the NBA, so it’s possible that the other techniques aren’t exactly the best. Who can really say?
Physical Training Off of the Court
Every sport requires some degree of physical training off of the court. Consequently, this piece of advice doesn’t sound like one of the greatest basketball tips.
Still, Curry has shared some pretty interesting information about what his gym routine might look like. He has, for instance, suggested that he uses exercise machines to do basketball-specific resistance training. Unfortunately, though, he could not give more specific information about the machines he uses.
He has also hinted that he diversifies his training by doing fun things such as wearing goggles which impair his vision. He’s always looking to find ways to tweak his practice to challenge himself as a player.
An Eye Trick
Each NBA player no doubt has his own technique when it comes to lining up a shot with his eyes. So how does Curry visually line up his shots?
The player recommends that you aim for the front of the rim rather than the back of the rim. He mentions the three hooks that hold the basketball net up. He uses these to line up his shots, trying to get the ball just over those hooks.
This might seem unconventional, but it’s a worth a shot when you consider the fact that Curry has impressive accuracy.
More Basketball Tips
Stephen Curry is doubtless one of the best players around today. Taking a few tips from him certainly, won’t hurt.
Needless to say, though, there are tons of other basketball tips that are just waiting to be found, our tips included. From shooting to dribbling, we’ll help whip you right into shape before next season starts.
While you’re hard at work training, feel free to reach out to us. Voice any of your questions and concerns or just rave about your favorite players. We’re always glad to hear from you.