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Programming Arc Levels 9, 8, and 7: The Brain Behind the Shot
- Marvin Harvey
- Jul 30
- 2 min read
By Marvin Harvey, The Original Shot Doctor
🎯 Why Arc Matters – And How the Brain Helps You Master It
Arc is not just a visual result—it's a programmed motor pattern. Every time you shoot, with or without the ball, you’re training your brain to recognize and replicate a specific level of arc. The key is using step-by-step drills to gradually introduce automatic adjustments in arm position and release height.
By using the Stepper Chart (five evenly spaced cones away from the basket), we break arc into manageable, repeatable stages. Here’s how to build it—starting with Level 9.
🔹 LEVEL OF ARC: 9
Drill: Stand at all the one-stepper spots (first step from the rim).
Reps: Take at least five shots per spot using correct form.
Visual Cue: Imagine the ball passing over the “W” (target zone) in front of you.
Observation: Your shooting arm will naturally come down ~2 inches from the Level 10 reference point.
🧠 Every time you shoot, you’re teaching your brain what Level 9 feels like—no extra thinking required. You're storing arc muscle memory.
🔹 LEVEL OF ARC: 8
Drill: Move to the two-stepper spots (second cone from the rim).
Reps: Take at least 10 shots per spot using the same fundamentals.
Cue: Visualize the same arc line over the “W”.
Result: Your arm will drop about another inch—automatically.
This is your brain doing what it’s designed to do: calculate trajectory, distance, and release angle—all without conscious effort.
🔹 LEVEL OF ARC: 7
Now step back to three-, four-, and five-stepper spots. These represent:
Three-stepper → Free throws
Four-/Five-stepper → Three-point range
You’ll notice something surprising:Your arm won’t drop any further beyond Level 7.
Why?
Because on any properly executed shot, the shooting arm never finishes below the line of the eyebrow. That’s a universal principle. Whether you’re at the free-throw line or the arc, your form should maintain that eyebrow-to-rim connection.
📌 Important Arc Rules:
❌ No game shot uses Level 10
❌ No valid form uses Level 6 or below
✅ Optimal range: Arc Levels 7, 8, and 9
Repeatability: The Key to Great Shooting
As you shoot and feel these slight changes, your subconscious builds a catalog of micro-adjustments. That’s what Repeatability means:
“A motion that becomes automatic—allowing all your focus to shift from mechanics to the target.”
Elite shooters don’t think about form in games. They’ve programmed their system to fire on command.
BUILDING YOUR SHOT WITH THE BALL
With arc levels programmed mentally and physically, you’re now ready to add the basketball and transition to full-range shooting drills.
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