"Slo-Mo" It for Greater Learning

When learning any new skill, it's very valuable to slow it down to learn more deeply. When you go to learn any new motion, especially a complicated motion like a golf swing, it's helpful to slow it down and also keep it small and in close. I am not versed in learning theory of how, technically, the body, brain and nervous system receive and process stimuli. I just know that if I slow it down, I learn it quicker. It just works that way.

Young kids are often just learning to grow into their bodies, especially those with big growth spurts, and this is a great way to help them feel more stuff and learn to do the seemingly complicated motions in a basketball shot. With practice and patience and a lot of forgiveness for the inevitable errors, learning will take place.


Way too often, golfers swing too fast and hard when they're learning the swing. (When they have it down, too.) Especially we guys, who want power so badly! When they slow it down, learning goes up. A great instruction for a full swing in golf is, "Take the club back only as far and as fast as you can feel it." When you do that, learning is greatly enhanced.

The basketball stroke I coach is no where near the complexity of a golf swing, but we can use the same tactic. Slo-Mo it and keep it in close and give the body more time to feel and learn it. Remember to "play" with the motions, too. Exaggerate and do extremes. Use the opposite hand. Awareness is the main thing we need, and the slower and smaller something is, the easier it is to be aware. Once you "know" the stroke to a greater and greater degree, then you can speed it up (slowly) and move back in distance (gradually) and you'll be able to keep the new stroke going.

Our bodies are amazing learning machines. Find ways to enhance your sense of direction and distance and the motions needed to create a basketball shot, and your shooting will start to soar.
