See the target
Before the release, the athlete has an intended direction. Follow the gaze and the position of the ball, then look down to the stance supporting them.
LAW 02 / Direction
The Anchor
GIVE THE ACTION A DESTINATION.
The Anchor expresses the action: the hand that delivers, the side that reaches, the finish that gives the movement its purpose.
Direction at the finish depends on support underneath it. Train the relationship between the Base, the trunk, and the executing side.
Take it into practice ↓Organize the delivery
Watch how the hand, elbow, shoulder, trunk, and legs work together. Alignment means a useful relationship to the task, not forcing every joint onto one straight line.
Finish with control
The release is not the end of the lesson. A controlled finish lets you observe where the action went and whether the body can recover without falling out of position.
LEARN IT / REVERSE IT / APPLY IT
Make the relationship
your own.
- Choose a close, manageable target. Rehearse a relaxed shooting or passing action before adding distance.
- Observe the support and delivery together. Change one feature at a time: target, range, or pace—not all three.
- Use the other configuration at an appropriate distance. Let its technique develop rather than forcing it to imitate the preferred side at full speed.
THE SCIENTIFIC CONTEXT
Understand the mechanism.
A 2023 markerless-motion study of 34 experienced recreational male players examined free-throw proficiency through several movement variables. It did not find one universal stance or alignment separating groups. NST uses alignment as a task relationship; individuals still differ.
Cabarkapa et al. · Free-throw biomechanics ↗PUT THE LESSON IN SEQUENCE