Meet BRAD PITH

Do you really know what you're aiming for?

If you narrow your focus, you'll expand your vision.

Last week, we talked about the importance of having a Quiet Eye on the rim each time we take a shot. (If you're new and you missed that one, you can read it [here].)

Today, we're going to take that focus even further, and I’m going to tell you what the basketball science nerds 🤓 have to say about exactly where we should aim when shooting in order to have the greatest chance of getting a bucket.

Let me introduce you to your new best friend:

BRAD PITH

Otherwise known as a:

Back-Rim-And-Down, Perfect-In-The-Hoop … shot. :)

We want all the BRADs.

If you're doing it right, a BRAD always comes right back to you. 😉

Most people think a swish is the best make in basketball. Not to take away from that beautiful sound we all know and love… but it’s not technically the make we should train for to consistently get the best possible outcome.

You'll know it immediately when you've had a pleasant encounter with a BRAD:

It’s when you make the shot, and the ball hits the back of the rim perfectly straight.
These are the times when the ball goes through and then takes a couple of bounces right back into your hands where you stand.

Who needs a rebounder when you’ve got a BRAD? 😉

This is a BRAD from the right corner.

The first person who told me about BRAD was someone named Kristi Toliver (you may have heard of her). Here's a clip of Kristi and BRAD together.

During her time as a coach for the Washington Wizards, Kristi actually helped calibrate the NOAH Analytic System—a high-level data-collecting and shot-tracking system that provides information like entry and projection angles, shot speed, spot-favors, and more. NOAH provided the foundational science behind a lot of what we’ll talk about today.

True story: During the offseason, I once watched Kristi shoot for six straight minutes, taking about one shot every three seconds or so. She was training with an NBA basketball, shooting from NBA range, with constant movement around the NBA 3-point line.

Y’ALL.

She didn’t miss.

For six straight minutes.

Her trainer just caught buckets and passed them back to her. If my math is right, that’s about 120 makes in a row. In a row!!!

I wish that I would’ve filmed it, but that would’ve been weird. Still, I think it would’ve put even that famous Steph Curry video to shame.

I also got to sit for 45 minutes and watch her make 200 free throws in a row. And she didn’t even miss at 201 — she just got bored and stopped. 😂

Put some respect on her name (!!!) and watch more WNBA.

Moving on. :)

The second person who taught me about BRAD — not kidding — is named CHAD. (Capitalization for humor only.)

And CHAD was taught about BRAD by a man named THAD.

Lol, jk. Chad was actually taught about BRAD by a player development guru I hope to meet one day — Sefu Bernard. :)

The following graphics are from Sefu’s website and blog. If you’re a fan of the science and the art of player development, check out his site and articles that he’s so kindly (and freely) shared with the world.

So, let’s get to the science!