What’s the take on training arms while trying to maintain the “touch” in basketball?
Like shooting touch, or throwing in baseball and football, and many other sports.
I’ve recently dropped all isolation arm execises because of the effect it had on my basketball shooting, and focus only on the compounds and shoulder movements. Those also affect my shooting negatively, but less.
Going through some articles, especially Louie Simmons, I’ve gathered that it’s important to put some extra-work on the triceps. You guys think that’s necessary for basketball? (I’m not bulking). Because, those are obviously the worst for shooting.
Any tips? Anybody know what do the pro’s do? Is it even possible to have good strength gains and improve shooting at the same time? Weights before shooting or after?..etc.
What’s the take on training arms while trying to maintain the “touch” in basketball?
Like shooting touch, or throwing in baseball and football, and many other sports.
I’ve recently dropped all isolation arm execises because of the effect it had on my basketball shooting, and focus only on the compounds and shoulder movements. Those also affect my shooting negatively, but less.
Going through some articles, especially Louie Simmons, I’ve gathered that it’s important to put some extra-work on the triceps. You guys think that’s necessary for basketball? (I’m not bulking). Because, those are obviously the worst for shooting.
Any tips? Anybody know what do the pro’s do? Is it even possible to have good strength gains and improve shooting at the same time? Weights before shooting or after?..etc.
Thanks![/quote]
I am by no means a basketball expert, but I used to play. I also went about a year without playing after I got serious about weight lifting. I tried to play after that and nearly threw the ball out of the building. You maintain your touch by continuing regular practice with the ball. If you gain strength without continuing practice, you will screw up your game. There are several pro basketball players who clearly look like they lift weights. Karl Malone stays in the weight room.
Since ur trying to “maintain the touch” u should keep shooting. When ever u have free time go out and shoot. Ur shot is going to be off because when u use weights and get stronger, it will seem kinda weird to shoot because ur stronger.
I thought this “myth” went out the window years ago? You won’t lose your shooting touch by lifting weights, you will lose your shooting touch by not shooting anymore.
Thanks alot for the quick responses, but that’s not what I meant, sorry if I misdescribed.
I shoot every day, about 1-2 hours every time…doesn’t help.
It’s not that I’m not used to my new strength, it’s that my arms are just tired from the weight work, whether I shoot right after I lift or even the next day.
I train upper body 2 times a week like westside, that means it affects my stroke pretty much most of the week - the day I workout, the day after, the second day I work out, the day after, and it almost carries throughout the whole week. Obviously, a serious basketballer can’t have that.
I don’t think I overtrain. My muscles aren’t sore or anything…just everything falls short.
[quote]Adi Foyle wrote:
Thanks alot for the quick responses, but that’s not what I meant, sorry if I misdescribed.
I shoot every day, about 1-2 hours every time…doesn’t help.
It’s not that I’m not used to my new strength, it’s that my arms are just tired from the weight work, whether I shoot right after I lift or even the next day.
I train upper body 2 times a week like westside, that means it affects my stroke pretty much most of the week - the day I workout, the day after, the second day I work out, the day after, and it almost carries throughout the whole week. Obviously, a serious basketballer can’t have that.
I don’t think I overtrain. My muscles aren’t sore or anything…just everything falls short.[/quote]
No offense, but you sound extremely weak if your arms give out for days due to a workout. That means you need to work on your endurance, not to mention that this may be largely mental. You fix that by continuing to train, not giving up. Sometimes the answer doesn’t need to be the most scientific jargon someone can throw together. Sometimes you just need to grab your nuts and push through it.
Keep practicing your shooting so you won’t lose it. The reason your shot is off is because your strength has improved so your body has to re-learn the mechanics of shooting with your new strength.
[quote]Professor X wrote:
Adi Foyle wrote:
Thanks alot for the quick responses, but that’s not what I meant, sorry if I misdescribed.
I shoot every day, about 1-2 hours every time…doesn’t help.
It’s not that I’m not used to my new strength, it’s that my arms are just tired from the weight work, whether I shoot right after I lift or even the next day.
I train upper body 2 times a week like westside, that means it affects my stroke pretty much most of the week - the day I workout, the day after, the second day I work out, the day after, and it almost carries throughout the whole week. Obviously, a serious basketballer can’t have that.
I don’t think I overtrain. My muscles aren’t sore or anything…just everything falls short.
No offense, but you sound extremely weak if your arms give out for days due to a workout. That means you need to work on your endurance, not to mention that this may be largely mental. You fix that by continuing to train, not giving up. Sometimes the answer doesn’t need to be the most scientific jargon someone can throw together. Sometimes you just need to grab your nuts and push through it.[/quote]
Nope, I think I recover pretty fast actually. Endurance is my best feature, that’s why I’m training for power. I didn’t say my arms don’t “give out”. They’re just a little tired, enough to make my shots fall short.
I mean, NBA players’ shots fall short in the 4th quarter. So I think having tired arms after an arm workout is kinda normal.
So basically you guys are saying I should add arm isolation work?
So basically you guys are saying I should add arm isolation work?
[/quote]
You haven’t listed your routine anywhere in this thread aside from mentioning Westside. I don’t follow their programs so why would you add arm work unless that is what you want to focus on? What are your goals? That is what you base your training on.
As far as your arms getting tired, again that is something you need to learn to deal with. Basketball isn’t the only activity where training may affect how someone feels. If I just trained shoulders or arms the day before and have minor surgery to do on a patient under local anesthetic, I can’t pause the procedure because my arms get tired. Either deal with it or quit training.
I play bball & still keep up my bodybuilding workout, especially my arms. I only work them directly once every 10 days or so. They’re involved of course with chest & back exercise. So that’s plenty for me. They’re 15 inches & I’m 7 % @ 178 right now.
The training has never messed up my shot, in fact my range has improved big time for the NBA 3! I’ve got mad range, I believe it due to my powerful triceps ( weighted dips!) & my quick writs snap from all my wrist rolls.
Just make sure you practice your shot 3-4 times a week at least.
If your dong ALOT of arm work then I could c why it’s effecting your shot.
Look @ Jim Jackson. He’s got some well built arms & he’s a great shot.
[quote]Chris Mangano wrote:
I thought this “myth” went out the window years ago? You won’t lose your shooting touch by lifting weights, you will lose your shooting touch by not shooting anymore. [/quote]
As a basketball player you need to be on the practice floor AMAP! So doing a ton of isolation is just plain stupid. Remember, your working your arms quite a bit when performing exercises for your chest & back.
Sure it’s ok to isolate, but don’t go overboard! Do maybe 1 or 2 isolation exercises for 3-4 sets. Mix it up, try some down the rack, negatives, low reps, medium. U know.
I always shoot first then workout when I go to the Y for my daily practice. If you workout first then shoot, for me it’s a waste because It takes 20 mins before I feel normal again. Then my arms are of course tired & alot of my long range shots fall way short.
So always shoot first!
And many times what will happen if you lift first then shoot is you start to throw the ball instead of shooting it. You’ll start to have a 2 motion shot instead of a 1 motion like badass Ray Allen! What a quick release he has!
I have my own ball forum which I’m gonna PM to you.
My dad is a shooting instructer so I have alot about shooting on my forum.
Don’t lift weights before you shoot. And to think, you could have paid someone hundreds of dollars an hour to tell you that.
In all seriousness though, don’t lift weights before you shoot. You’re a basketball player, your number one goal should be to improve the skills that make a good basketball player. Lifting weights should be something you do with whatever you have left AFTER you practice basketball. There may be some days this means no weights at all. There may be some days this means attacking the weights. The point is, you give 100% to basketball, and whatever is left you give to weights.
Damn, I guess I need to start reading all the posts before I write my own, would have saved my hand some cramping. I would say I agree 100% with this post, give or take 0%.
A lot of the ‘power’ in a basketball shot is generated by the legs (right?), so perhaps after you lift, you’re tired, you lose your form, and start trying to shoot too much with your arms (although this might be a bigger problem after leg days than upper body days).
[quote]Dan M wrote:
A lot of the ‘power’ in a basketball shot is generated by the legs (right?), so perhaps after you lift, you’re tired, you lose your form, and start trying to shoot too much with your arms (although this might be a bigger problem after leg days than upper body days).
