The Coach Dave Love Podcast

How I Work On Balance in a Player's Shot

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  [https://coachdavelove.com/how-i-work-on-balance-in-a-players-shot/] * Blog: Periodization of Shooting Development (PoST overview with MCST, SAT-MV/CT/TBT, PT). [https://coachdavelove.com/periodization-of-shooting-development/]

The Reality of the "Dip"

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: podcast@coachdavelove.com Referenced blogs: * The Physics of the Basketball Dip [https://coachdavelove.com/the-physics-of-the-basketball-dip/] * Exploring the Sandbox: Rethinking Skill in Basketball Shooting [https://coachdavelove.com/exploring-the-sandbox-rethinking-skill-in-basketball-shooting/]

EuroLeague Star Kevin Pangos

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 [https://coachdavelove.com/exploring-the-sandbox-rethinking-skill-in-basketball-shooting/] 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 podcast@coachdavelove.com

Quantifying Touch

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 [https://coachdavelove.com/quantifying-touch/] 🎙 Have a coaching question for Dave? Record a voice note with your name, location, and question, and email it to podcast@coachdavelove.com — your question might be featured in a future episode!

Why ShotMetrics Will Work For You.

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 [https://www.amazon.ca/ShotMetrics-Revolutionizing-Shooting-Informed-Approach/dp/1967441588] 👉 Explore the blog on ShotMetrics: ShotMetrics Blog [https://coachdavelove.com/shotmetrics-a-data-informed-approach-to-shooting-development/] 🎙 Want your question featured on a future episode? Send a voice note to podcast@coachdavelove.com. Be sure to include your name, where you coach, and your question — we’d love to feature your voice in an upcoming show.