Release parameters across jump shot success among Zimbabwean league basketball players

This study investigated release parameters (angle of release, velocity of release, height of release and spin of release) utilised in executing successful and unsuccessful jump shots of Zimbabwe male league basketball players. It further investigated any statistical differences in the release parameters used for successful and unsuccessful jump shots of the players. Twenty-six players were randomly sampled from the Bulawayo Basketball Association, and performed ten successive uncontested jump shots from the free throw line, after a warm up. A Panasonic VDR D1160 camera placed 10.7 m away from, and perpendicular to the plane of motion of the players, mounted on a tripod 1.9 metres high, was used to videotape the jump shots. Mean (±standard deviation) values of angle of release, velocity of release, height of release, and spin of release, used in the execution of successful and unsuccessful jump shots were computed to describe the jump shots of the players. The study found the mean (± s d) angle of release, velocity of release, height of release and spin of release used for successful and unsuccessful jump shots to be 55.4±8.8°, 5.6±1.8m/s, 2.6±1.1m, 3.5±1.6Hz and 55.2±8.3°,5.5±1.6m/s, 2.4±0.3m, 3.1±1.4Hz, respectively. The study further found significant differences (p≤0.05) only in the spin used for successful and unsuccessful shots. No statistically significant differences were found (p≤0.05) in the angles of release, heights of release and spins of release utilised for successful and unsuccessful jump shots. The study indicated that spin of release is important for jump shot success in Zimbabwe league players. It was concluded that Zimbabwe league basketball coaches should ensure that basketball players optimise spin of release when practising for the jump shot.