Influence of distance manipulation on shooting kinematics and accuracy among intermediate basketball players

This study investigated how increasing shooting distance affects joint movement patterns and shot accuracy among intermediate level basketball players using two-dimensional motion analysis. Six male players aged eighteen to twenty-four with at least two years of competitive experience completed free throw attempts at two distinct distances of four point seven five meters and five point seven five meters. Movement kinematics at the shoulder elbow and wrist during ball release were recorded via a side view smartphone camera and processed through Kinovea software while shooting performance was measured using a detailed zero-to-five-point scoring system per attempt. Paired samples t tests were then conducted to analyze how distance adjustments impacted upper limb joint angles and overall shooting success in these athletes.