So, if you’re a college basketball fan or player, you’ve probably already heard that on Wednesday the NCAA approved moving the 3-point line another 16 1/4 inches to the international distance of 22 feet, 1 3/4 inches starting for Division 1 this fall. That’s a pretty significant change considering the last time the line got moved in 2008 it was only a foot.
But the game has changed quite a bit since then (read: Steph Curry), and this bump was inevitably coming. Now the question becomes, how do players adjust?
Odds are we’re not going to see much of a reduction in 3-pointers taken despite the change. We’re in a jack-it-up era, and for long-ball shooters (which defines just about everyone these days), 16 inches isn’t going to deter attempts much if at all. But it will reduce makes. At least in the short run, watch for percentages to drop across the board, especially for those players who aren’t consistent with their shot.
And that’s the key. While some may think they need to get a little bit stronger now that the line is pushed back, the real goal is to get more consistent in your form. The physics of adding 16 inches to your shot aren’t complicated, so long as your body is moving the parts in the correct way in the first place.
That’s why at GRIT, we teach the Pro Shot technique, focusing on the dip, the finger release, the sway, and the follow. The correct mechanics in every shot you take make distance less and less of a barrier.
But as with anything else, that takes reps. And if you’re looking to become a Division 1 basketball player (or D2 or D3 when the rule takes effect in 2020) who can shoot a high percentage from distance, it’s definitely time to get into the gym and start getting comfortable from 22+. That means more attention to form than anything else.