Does Lifting Weights HURT Your Basketball Shot?

So many players wonder whether or not lifting weights will hurt their jump shot. They look at all these massive football players who can't shoot and can barely even move their upper body and decide that maybe they should leave the lifting up to them and off the bat. This makes sense, right? Shooting is all about muscle memory. So why would you want to do something that would change your muscles, therefore affecting your muscle memory? So the question you're all here for is, should I lift as a basketball player? And the answer TO that is 1 million percent yes. In a sport like basketball that's so much about fine muscle movements and finesse, why would lifting weights be necessary? There are a lot of reasons why lifting weights is important. It'll make you run faster, jump higher, and get pushed around less. It'll also help you prevent injuries as well. But those are points for a different video. Today. I just want to talk about how lifting affects your jump shot. Will lifting heavy weights affect your jump shot? Well, yes, but not in the way you might think. I'm going to explain to you why weightlifting is actually going to help your shot instead of hurting it. Many players develop bad shooting habits like slingshotting the ball, using both hands and putting weird rotation on the ball when they're young because they aren't strong enough to get the ball up to the basket with good form. And even as you get older, shooting the ball from farther away requires more strength. Players ask me what the best way to increase their shooting range is. One of the most crucial things is to get stronger. I work with a lot of middle school and high school players who aren't strong enough to shoot three pointers with good form because they haven't spent enough time working on their strength. If you want to shoot consistently in the game of basketball, you have to have great form. And if you want to shoot consistently from farther away, you have to be strong enough to keep your great form as you move farther back. So if you have trouble shooting consistently from farther away, you need to make sure you're working on your strength. The other concern people have when it comes to lifting weights is that it'll throw their shot off. That lifting weights will affect their muscle memory. But don't believe it. It's a myth. Let me give you guys an example. If you're in the weight room every single day for six months and you don't touch a basketball at all during those six months, your shot will be off when you try and shoot again. But if you make sure to consistently work on your shot and you also lift weights. Through that six month period, your body will adjust and you won't notice any difference in your shot. Actually, the only difference that you'll notice in your shot is that it'll be easier to shoot because you're getting stronger. And remember, even if you aren't lifting weights, if you go a few months without practicing your shot, it'll be off regardless. But if you stay in the gym and work on your shot like you're supposed to, then you have absolutely nothing to worry about. The best thing to do is to improve your shot while getting stronger. You improve your shot by getting shots up and you improve your strength by getting in the weight room. But there is one thing you need to know. The only way that lifting weights will hurt your shot and your game overall is if you do it with incorrect form. That'll leave you susceptible to injuries and wear and tear, but it's okay. Don't let that stop you from getting in the gym and doing things correctly. If you guys have a weight room at your school, chances are there's a coach or trainer there that can help you maximize your strength game safely. If not, you could hire a trainer at a gym or for some free help. There's tons of resources online and on YouTube that can help you. If you guys want me to make some videos giving you guys some really good basketball strength workouts, let me know and I'll help you guys out. If you aren't getting stronger, you're not reaching your full potential as a basketball player, don't let any of these myths stop you from being the best you can be. I hope this video helped you guys out. If it did, please leave me a like and be sure to subscribe as well. That really helps me out. Click this black button right here on the screen to make it easy. I really appreciate it guys. Also, let me know in the comments what else you guys want to see. If you guys have any questions for me, drop them and I'll try and help you guys out. That's it for me guys. Peace.