Basketball: the mechanics of hanging in the air

A theoretical technique to permit basketball players to "hang in the air" prior to the release of a shot is presented. The purposes of this study were (a) to determine whether skilled players used such a technique when delaying the release of their shot and (b) to determine whether such players could be readily taught to "hang in the air" using this technique. Six current members of the Iowa basketball team were filmed, executing jump-shots. During each trial the players "faked" or "pumped" to delay the release of the shot. Qualitative analysis of the film revealed that none of the players demonstrated the coordinated limb movement involved in the theoretical technique. Prior to a second filming session, two former Iowa varsity players practiced a predetermined sequence of body movements. Each player performed eight trials and the results were analyzed quantitatively. The vertical displacements and the vertical velocities of the center of gravity, vertex of the head and mid-point of the hips were plotted against time. Results clearly indicated that the players were able to maintain the same vertical position of the head and hips (and thus, the trunk) for about 0.2 sec at or near the peak of the jump. It was concluded that a skilled player could be taught, in a relatively short period of time, to "hang in the air" using the techniques presented.