The Coach Dave Love Podcast The Importance of the Set Point
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Dec 9, 2025 
Dave Love, an NBA shooting coach and expert in biomechanics, joins to delve into the vital yet overlooked concept of the Set Point in shooting. He explains its biomechanical significance and why it trumps other shot elements. Discover how to train this key transition for enhanced accuracy, the common mistakes players make, and the crucial role of video feedback in correcting set-point mechanics. Love also draws intriguing parallels between shooting and golf, emphasizing the physics of impact. Tune in for practical drills tailored to various skill levels!
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Set Point Is The Shot's Critical Transition
- The set point is the transition between the lifting motion and the shooting motion where acceleration begins.
- Dave Love argues this moment is the most important part of the shot because physics start to determine direction and force.
Shots Vary Early, Converge At Set Point
- Shot paths vary early but converge near the set point, showing players self-organize toward a repeatable release zone.
- Dave uses Steph Curry S-curve data to show variability earlier and tight consistency around the set point.
Set Point As A Movement Attractor
- The set point functions as an attractor in ecological dynamics: a self-organized habit players return to under variability.
- Dave frames the set point as the primary functional attractor (habit) that coaches should shape.