Psychological Preparation in Free-Throw Shots in Basketball – A Review and Research Limitations

A free-throw (FT) shot in basketball has been classified as a closed self-paced task. Self-paced tasks are those that take place in a relatively stable and predictable environment with adequate time to prepare for the execution. A review of a series of studies (n= 34) examining psychological preparation for FT shots in basketball was performed. The literature search was conducted using two databases – PubMed and SPORTDiscus.

The purpose of the current presentation is twofold: 1) To describe the main findings that emerged from our review; and 2) To discuss a number of methodological and measurement concerns associated with the reviewed studies.

The main finding of this review was that FT performances can be enhanced by the use of psychological techniques, such as quiet eye, focusing attention, pre-performance routines, verbal feedback, and modeling. However, a number of research limitations and methodological concerns associated with the reviewed studies were observed. Among these limitations and concerns are the following: 1) Lack of data on the effectiveness of interventional techniques in achieving FT success in actual games; 2) lack of authentic practice; 3) lack of qualitative data on psychological profiles of FT shooters; and 4) lack of data on beginning shooters.