Andre Drummond Using Virtual Reality to Improve Free Throw Shooting

Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond used the offseason to work on his free throw shooting with a regimen that included virtual reality.

Andre Drummond‘s game took a big step forward last season as he was named to his first All-Star team and the Detroit Pistons made a return to the playoffs. But while his role in the offense was as big as ever, his free throw percentage was as low as ever.

After hitting free throws at 37.1%, 41.8% and 38.9% in his first three seasons, Drummond was just a 35.5% free throw shooter last season. To be clear, we’re dealing with varying levels of terrible here, but Drummond’s performance at the line last season was the worst of the bunch.

Working to improve his free throw shooting has been a primary focus during Drummond’s offseason workouts and a reason he turned down the opportunity to play in the Olympics. One might think that Drummond’s quest to improve at the line involved countless hours in the gym practicing free throws. There is no doubt that was part of the equation, but it also involved a high tech component.

According to Keith Langlois on Pistons.com, virtual reality has also been used to aid in Drummond’s free throw development.

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"“I’ve been doing it three times every week. I have a system (at the team’s Auburn Hills practice facility) and I have one at my house, too,” Drummond said. “So every day after practice, I’ll go home or watch it here.”Drummond puts on a headset and watches himself making free throws. He can choose a first-person view, where he hears the basketball hitting the court as he dribbles, then sees the ball go over his head, up and into the hoop. Or he can choose third-person perspectives and watch his technique from various angles.“They’re all makes, obviously, so it’s constantly watching myself shoot the same shot, over and over again, and now while I’m out there it’s second nature. I know I’m not going to be able to make every shot and that’s one thing I really had to tell myself. But the more I shoot the same shot, the better chance of making it.”"

With VR technology, Drummond is able to work on the physical and mental part of free throw shooting so that he is not only training his body, but also his mind. With the virtual reality headset, he can see what a successful free throw looks like to reinforce his work in the gym to practice what it feels like.

It remains to be seen how much Drummond will have improved by the start of the season, but even approaching 50% could have a big impact on the game. Shooting 50% consistently could be enough to keep opposing coaches from employing the strategy of intentionally fouling Drummond to send him to the free throw line.

Next: New NBA Rules Offers Relief From Free Throw Woes

The Pistons were a middle of the pack team in terms of offensive efficiency last season, checking in at 103.3 points per 100 possesions – or just a hair over one point per possession. If Drummond can be counted on to hit at least one of two free throws, it becomes a dicey strategy to put him on the line instead of playing defense. At the very least, the risk-reward balance shifts more in the Pistons favor.

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