The Coach Dave Love Podcast

In this episode of The Coach Dave Love Podcast, Dave and Matt explore two foundational concepts in motor learning: The Challenge Point Framework and Task Complexity. Understanding these principles is critical for designing practices that actually improve shooting performance rather than just looking productive. Dave and Matt discuss: What the Challenge Point Framework is and why it matters for sho...

In this episode of The Coach Dave Love Podcast, Dave and Matt take a deep dive into the world of shooting devices. From shooting sleeves to guided hands to arc trainers, these tools are everywhere in basketball training—but are they helping or hurting player development? Dave breaks down: The most popular shooting devices on the market today What each device is actually designed to do (and what it...

In this episode of The Coach Dave Love Podcast, we revisit one of the most important concepts in shooting mechanics: Positive and Negative Power. Matt Robertson and I break down how these forces shape shooting form and how they connect to ecological approaches to motor learning. We explore: What Positive and Negative Power actually mean in shooting mechanics How these concepts align with an Ecolog...

In this episode of  The Coach Dave Love Podcast , we break down a deceptively simple concept —  shot arc  — and dig into how to diagnose and improve it with purpose. We cover: How to determine if a player’s arc is actually a  problem The most common  physical habits  that lead to flat shots Practical ways to build better arc Whether you’re coaching a youth player or an elite shooter, this episode...

In this episode of  The Coach Dave Love Podcast , we dive into the concept of  Periodization  and how it can elevate shooting development when applied with purpose. Matt and I explore: What  Periodization  means in the context of skill development The  phases of shooting development  (Movement Coordination, Skill Adaptability, Performance) How to schedule workouts based on time of year, player nee...

In this episode of  The Coach Dave Love Podcast , we break down one of the most undervalued but essential parts of the shooting motion:  the Set Point . Matt and Dave discuss: What the  Set Point  actually is and why it matters Why Dave prioritizes it over other parts of the shot (like the dip or lift) How to  train the Set Point  in ways that help players improve consistency and accuracy under pr...

In this episode of  The Coach Dave Love Podcast , we challenge one of the most common assumptions in basketball development: that  form shooting is a beginner’s tool . Coach Dave explains: Why traditional form shooting may actually do more harm than good for  young players How  certain pros  can benefit from form shooting—when it's done with the right intent and design What  coaches can do ins...

In this episode of  The Coach Dave Love Podcast , we dive into the concept of  constraints  — one of the most powerful tools in modern coaching and skill acquisition. Dave breaks down: What  constraints  actually are, and how they’re used in shooting development The different  types  and  intentions  behind constraints (e.g., to afford, stabilize, perturb) A list of the  most common constraints  D...

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 fo...

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 deci...

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...

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...

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 de...

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 Fo...

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, ins...

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 shoot...

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: Introduction to Ecological Dy...

In this captivating episode of "The Coach Dave Love Podcast," we are joined by Joerik Michiels, a renowned skills trainer and coach from Elite Academy in Belgium. Joerik shares his enriching journey in the world of basketball coaching, delving into his experiences and the profound insights he’s gathered along the way. Episode Highlights: Joerik’s Journey : Discover the path that Joerik has travele...

In this detailed episode of "The Coach Dave Love Podcast," we delve into the intricacies of the ball path in basketball shooting. Coach Dave Love explores what defines the ball path—the trajectory the basketball takes from the start of the lifting motion until it leaves the player’s hand—and why understanding this aspect is crucial for optimizing shooting technique. Episode Highlights: Understandi...

Join Coach Dave Love and host Matt Robertson on this episode of the podcast where we dive into the intricacies of managing the shooting hand in basketball. This episode breaks down common misconceptions and teaches fundamental practices to optimize the use of the shooting hand for better accuracy and control. Episode Highlights: Relax Your Hand : Discover why keeping the shooting hand relaxed and...

In this groundbreaking episode of "The Coach Dave Love Podcast," Coach Dave Love and co-host Matt Robertson introduce listeners to the revolutionary concept of ShotMetrics. This episode delves into what ShotMetrics are, traces the origins of the idea, and discusses its transformative potential in basketball shooting training. Episode Highlights: Introduction to ShotMetrics : Uncover what ShotMetri...

Join us on "The Coach Dave Love Podcast" for an enlightening episode titled "Release Curvature," where we delve into the intriguing findings of a newly published research paper on one of the key ShotMetrics: Release Curvature. Coach Dave Love breaks down this complex concept, starting with its definition and exploring common misconceptions in its teaching and application in basketball shooting tec...

In this episode of the podcast, Coach Dave Love delves into the crucial aspect of basketball training that often goes overlooked—the science of foot width. Discover how the spacing of a player’s feet not only affects their lateral stability but also plays a significant role in their ability to generate power during shooting and defensive maneuvers. Episode Highlights: Impact on Stability : Explore...

Join Coach Dave Love on this deep dive into the innovative training approach known as Differential Learning. This episode unpacks how this method can radically transform basketball shooting development by encouraging players to experiment with a wide range of shooting techniques and conditions. Unlike traditional training methods that often focus on repetitive practice, Differential Learning embra...

In this insightful episode of "The Coach Dave Love Podcast," Coach Dave Love and co-host Matt Robertson delve into the philosophy that shooting form doesn't need to be perfect—it needs to be optimal, functional, and adaptable. They introduce the "Sandbox Theory" to explore what constitutes optimal shooting form and discuss the limits of adaptability when the form becomes too challenging for player...