Rhythm (the dip and the hop)
The "Hop" or the "Dip" is a technique that causes coaches to turn their heads. Why? Because they have been told to never "Dip" or "Drop" the ball from where you catch the ball to begin your shot. But every great shooter you have witness from the past or the present, dips or drops the ball to at least waist level. Great shooters do this to get into a rhythm for their shot and it gives them a lot more power. Another question we get a lot is, "Is the dip slower?", of course its not. If anything, it will help players get their shot off quicker. Ray Allen is one of the greatest shooters of all time and he dips the ball down to his thigh! His shot is one of the quickest out there, so if the dip is slower, why would Ray Allen dip the ball? The dip is so quick you can hardly see it happening unless you were looking for it.
The other aspect of the rhythm part of shooting is the "Hop". For years coaches have been teaching their players to get in their shot by doing the 1-2 step. The 1-2 step is still good to do in certain situations but if your player is coming off a screen or off a pass, the hop should be used. With the hop it helps get in rhythm, develop a quicker shot and the biggest thing is that you have not established a pivot foot. When teaching the hop, we tell our players, "Ball in the air, Feet in the air." Combining the "Dip" and the "Hop" will help develop you a quicker and a more fluent shot. Check out the videos below to learn about the "Dip" and the "Hop".