How I Work on Balance in a Player’s Shot
Balance isn’t stillness—it’s control of energy through the shot. In this episode I break down four kinds of balance I coach, the habits that stabilize them, and how I periodize balance work across a week and a season.

What we cover

• Why balance matters: great shooters don’t eliminate motion; they direct it toward the rim and minimize negative energy.

• The four balance problems I diagnose: Static, Transitional, Dynamic, and Reactive—each demands different constraints and drill design. 

• Habits that travel: feet outside hips, athletic posture, engaged core—used as tools inside movement-rich tasks, not as static positions. 

• Designing practice with PoST: when I live in Movement Coordination Training vs. Skill Adaptability Training (MV/CT/TBT) vs. Performance Training, and how I move non-linearly between them. 

Towards the end of the episode we have a listener question. We close with Hammer Action showing the push drill on video—how to use external pressure to force better energy direction and quick balance recovery.

Links & references

• Blog: How I Work on Balance in a Player’s Shot 

• Blog: Periodization of Shooting Development (PoST overview with MCST, SAT-MV/CT/TBT, PT).

How I Work on Balance in a Player’s ShotBalance isn’t stillness—it’s control of energy through the shot. In this episode I break down four kinds of balance I coach, the habits that stabilize them, and how I periodize balance work across a week and a season.

What we cover

• Why balance matters: great shooters don’t eliminate motion; they direct it toward the rim and minimize negative energy.

• The four balance problems I diagnose: Static, Transitional, Dynamic, and Reactive—each demands different constraints and drill design. 

• Habits that travel: feet outside hips, athletic posture, engaged core—used as tools inside movement-rich tasks, not as static positions. 

• Designing practice with PoST: when I live in Movement Coordination Training vs. Skill Adaptability Training (MV/CT/TBT) vs. Performance Training, and how I move non-linearly between them. 

Towards the end of the episode we have a listener question. We close with Hammer Action showing the push drill on video—how to use external pressure to force better energy direction and quick balance recovery.

Links & references

• Blog: ⁠How I Work on Balance in a Player’s Shot ⁠

• Blog: ⁠Periodization of Shooting Development (PoST overview with MCST, SAT-MV/CT/TBT, PT).

In this episode of The Coach Dave Love Podcast, we dive into one of the most polarizing shooting mechanics in basketball: the Dip.

Once seen as a bad habit to eliminate, the pendulum has now swung in the opposite direction—some coaches actively teach it. But what's the science behind it? What are the trade-offs when players dip versus when they don’t? And how can coaches make informed decisions rather than rely on trends?

Dave and Matt explore:

• What the dip does (and doesn't) accomplish from a physics perspective

• How it fits within Dave’s Sandbox Analogy of shooting mechanics

• How coaches can help players explore the dip more intentionally and effectively

Plus: we feature our first-ever listener question! Want to be next? Record a voice note with your name, location, and question and email it to: [email protected]

Referenced blogs:

• The Physics of the Basketball Dip

• Exploring the Sandbox: Rethinking Skill in Basketball Shooting

In this episode, Coach Dave Love is joined by EuroLeague star and former NBA guard Kevin Pangos, who shares his evolving journey from elite player to aspiring coach. As Kevin prepares for life after playing, he offers a rare and thoughtful perspective on what great coaching really looks like—grounded in his firsthand experiences at the highest levels of the game.

Together, Dave and Kevin discuss:

• The limitations of traditional coaching methods like explicit instruction and block practice

• How Kevin is beginning to form his own coaching philosophy

• The powerful impact of concepts like functional movement variability and guided exploration

Kevin also shares how Coach Love’s Sandbox Analogy blog has reshaped how he thinks about shooting development—and how coaches can empower players without micromanaging.

🎙 Want to submit a question for a future episode?
Record a voice note with your name, location, and question, and email it to [email protected]

What is "touch" in shooting—and can it actually be measured?

In this episode, Coach Dave Love breaks down a concept that has long been thought of as instinctual or unteachable: touch. Dave explains to Matt how the relationship between arc and velocity gives us the key to quantifying this elusive skill. By understanding how these two variables interact, coaches and players can begin to diagnose what touch really is, why it matters, and how to improve it.

👉 For deeper understanding, follow along with the visual graphics in the video version of the podcast
👉 Or dive into the blog: Quantifying Touch

🎙 Have a coaching question for Dave?
Record a voice note with your name, location, and question, and email it to [email protected] — your question might be featured in a future episode!

We’re back! In the Season 2 premiere, Coach Dave Love updates listeners on everything that’s been happening behind the scenes. From working with an NBA team, to beginning a Master’s in Skill Acquisition, and launching his new book ShotMetrics — there’s a lot to catch up on.

Then we dive deep into what ShotMetrics really is. More than just a buzzword, it’s a revolutionary way to evaluate and develop shooting mechanics using measurable data. Dave breaks down how this framework can reshape the way coaches teach and players learn, and how it's already being used at the highest levels of the game.

👉 Grab your copy of ShotMetrics on Amazon: ShotMetrics Book
👉 Explore the blog on ShotMetrics: ShotMetrics Blog

🎙 Want your question featured on a future episode?
Send a voice note to [email protected]. Be sure to include your name, where you coach, and your question — we’d love to feature your voice in an upcoming show.

Join Coach Dave Love and co-host Matt Robertson on "The Coach Dave Love Podcast" as they delve into the evolution of form shooting practices in basketball. This episode revisits Coach Love’s signature form shooting drills—Isolation Drill, ABC, and Slow to Quick—and discusses their integration into a more dynamic and representative Ecological Dynamics approach.

Episode Highlights:

• Explanation of Form Shooting Drills: Explore how Coach Love’s three key drills—Isolation Drill, ABC, and Slow to Quick—are designed but also how he uses them within an Ecological Dynamics Approach.
• Adaptation to Ecological Dynamics: Discuss the shift from traditional, static form shooting exercises to a Contemporary Form Shooting approach that incorporates real-game contexts and player decision-making.
• Definition and Benefits of Contemporary Form Shooting: Define Contemporary Form Shooting and discuss its advantages over traditional methods, including better skill transfer to games, increased adaptability, and enhanced player engagement.

This episode provides insights into modern training techniques that can help coaches and players develop more effective and adaptable shooting skills, ensuring that practice aligns closely with game demands.

Join Coach Dave Love and co-host Matt Robertson on "The Coach Dave Love Podcast" as they dive into the intricacies of crafting an effective solo workout, particularly focused on shooting. In this episode, Matt shares his journey preparing for the upcoming semi-professional basketball season, discussing the personal training strategies he’s implementing to enhance his shooting skills, inspired by a year of insights from the podcast.

Episode Highlights:

Whether you’re an aspiring player or a seasoned coach, this episode provides valuable tips on designing solo workouts that are not only rigorous but also tailored to individual skill development needs. Tune in to learn how to take your training to the next level, even when you’re on your own.

Join us on "The Coach Dave Love Podcast" as we sit down with Hanno Möttölä, former NBA player and current assistant coach for the Finnish national basketball team, to explore his remarkable journey from playing at the University of Utah and in the NBA to coaching internationally. Hanno shares the highs and lows of his playing career, his transition into coaching, and his passion for teaching shooting.

Episode Highlights:

This episode is not just about the transition from player to coach but also about the continuous journey of learning and passion for the game. Whether you’re a player, coach, or a fan of the game, Hanno’s story offers valuable lessons and inspiration.

Join Coach Dave Love and Matt Robertson as they welcome Chris Oliver, the founder of Basketball Immersion, to an enlightening discussion on transforming coaching habits. This episode dives deep into the shift from traditional drill-based coaching to incorporating Ecological Dynamics, offering a fresh, evidence-based approach to basketball coaching.

Episode Highlights:

This podcast is a must-listen for any coach feeling the need to evolve from rigid, drill-based methodologies to more fluid, player-centric training approaches. Chris Oliver’s expertise and the shared experiences offer a wealth of knowledge and a real chance for coaches to grow and refine their practices.