Variables Contributing to the Free Throw

The free throw is a very important shot in basketball. Its successful execution allows teams to gain scoring advantage in a very short time since it is an uncontested shot. Maximising on this shot therefore promises success to a basketball team. The objective of this study was to determine characteristics which contribute to successful free throw shooting. Seven male league basketball players were selected from basketball players registered in the 2017/2018 Harare Basketball Association, in order to take part in the study. Each participant executed ten free throws, in sets of two, from the free throw line, after a warm up. The last five shots were videotaped using a Panasonic VDR D1160 camera placed 10.7 m from, and perpendicular to the plane of motion, in the sagittal plane and mounted on a tripod 1.9 m high. The video-data obtained was cut into units of analysis using ANYCONVERTER software. The study found that lower body stability, eye focus, arm extension, player composure and rate of leg power generation, all contributed 96% to the success of a free throw.