Abstract

The best twelve jump shooters from two mens Australian National Basketball League (NBL) teams and from the Australian National team, from five womens NBL teams, were filmed. A Photosonics high speed camera was positioned perpendicular to the line of motion of the shot to record jump shots from 4.25 m, 5.25 m and 6.25 m from the basket. A successful shot at each of these distances was then analysed so that the kinematics of the shooting action could be identified as the distance from the basket was increased. No significant variations in joint angles were generally recorded in the crouch position as the distance from the basket increased. Male players released the ball at a time when the vertical displacement of the hip was a greater percentage of total vertical hip displacement in the jump than the female players, at all shooting distances. Means of the percentages for relase position of the ball compared to total vertical displacement of the hip for the two closer distances were significantly decreased to 88.4 for male and 77.2 for female players at the 6.25 m distance. The horizontal displacement of the hip during the jump increased as the distance from the basket increased particularly for female players, who recorded greater displacements than males at all shooting distances. Female shooters then used the vertical and horizontal velocity of the body during the ascent of the jump more than their male counterparts to assist in developing ball velocity particularly for the 6.25-m shot. Verf.-Referat (gekuerzt)