The Perfect Basketball Shot: A Coach’s Journey – From My Own Perspective, By Marvin Harvey

Marvin Harvey
Jul 14
2 min read

Introduction

In 1974, I wasn't a player. I was a college basketball manager—but I had a question burning in my mind:

"What is the correct way to shoot a basketball?"

That question launched a lifetime of observation, experimentation, and global teaching. This is my story—a coach's journey to discovering the mechanics behind the perfect basketball shot.

Where It Began: Coach Fred Polhman’s Challenge

At Ottawa University, my mentor, Coach Fred Polhman, gave me a challenge I took personally:🔹 “You’re going to figure out the right way to shoot.”

With no blueprint, I turned to the Kansas City Kings, watching their practices closely. I observed NBA professionals like Walt Frazier, Jerry West, John Havlicek, and Dave DeBusschere—not for entertainment, but for patterns.

Dissecting the Greats: Technique Over Trend

I wasn’t interested in gimmicks or flash. I studied balance, body alignment, and the straight-line trajectory of the ball with arc. These players taught me more than books ever could:

Frazier: Quiet hands, elegant footwork
Havlicek: Relentless consistency
DeBusschere: Shooter’s discipline
West: Surgical release under pressure

I also turned to basketball literature—books, magazines, diagrams—digging for anything that explained why the ball went in. And what I found was this:

The best shooters shared the same fundamentals—whether they knew it or not.

Breaking Down Shooting Myths: Why “B.E.E.F.” Wasn’t Enough

One popular concept at the time was B.E.E.F. (Balance, Eyes, Elbow, Follow-Through). But in real-time application, B.E.E.F. lacked depth. It failed to account for the dynamic movement, rhythm, and decision-making that occurred in live play.

I needed something more scientific—something that accounted for repeatability under pressure.

That pursuit led me to what would later become the Ready–Rhythm–Release (3R’s) system.

Key Discoveries: What Perfect Shooters Do Differently

Through years of firsthand study, these truths emerged:

Balance is the foundation: Foot placement determines trajectory.
The body must align as one unit: Knees, hips, elbows, and wrists must stack naturally.
The shot must follow a straight-line path with arc—not flat, not loopy.
Free throws and jump shots must share the same form for consistency.

These aren’t opinions. They are observed constants—repeated across decades of elite shooters.

Conclusion

The Perfect Basketball Shot: A Coach’s Journey isn’t just my story. It’s the story of every player, coach, and teacher who’s ever asked:

“Is there a right way to shoot?”

The answer is yes. But it’s not found in slogans. It’s found in study, repetition, correction, and truth.

That’s what I teach. That’s what I’ve lived. And that’s what I now pass on to the next generation of shooters around the world.

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🔍 Meta Description (SEO):

Basketball coach Marvin Harvey shares his personal journey to discovering the perfect shot, analyzing legends like Jerry West and Walt Frazier, and challenging popular techniques like B.E.E.F. with a deeper, more scientific approach to shooting mechanics.