Author(s): OCIC, M., BON, I., KNJAZ, D., Institution: UNIVERSITY OF ZAGREB FACULTY OF KINESIOLOGY, Country: CROATIA, Abstract-ID: 2548

INTRODUCTION:
Three-point shooting in basketball is frequently executed under varying movement conditions, including stationary positions, linear approach runs, and change-of-direction actions. In competitive play, players rarely perform shots from fully stabilized positions, which requires continuous adjustments of whole-body alignment and segmental coordination. These contextual demands may alter centre of mass (COM) control and upper-limb mechanics, potentially influencing shooting stability and consistency. Understanding how shooting technique adapts to different movement conditions is important for performance optimization and the design of sport-specific training interventions. The aim of this study was to determine whether COM position and upper-limb kinematics differ between stationary, approach-run, and V-cut three-point shooting conditions.
METHODS:
The sample consisted of youth male basketball players, members of the Croatian national team (N = 10). Each participant performed three-point shots under three conditions: (1) stationary shot, (2) shot after linear approach run, and (3) shot following a sport-specific V-cut maneuver. Two trials per side were recorded using an Xsens inertial motion capture system. The following variables were analysed: COM position during ball reception, COM position during the shooting phase, peak shoulder angle, and hand height at ball release. Within-condition variability was calculated. A repeated-measures ANOVA was performed to examine differences between shooting conditions.
RESULTS:
Statistically significant differences were observed for COM position during both reception and shooting phases (p < 0.05), with dynamic conditions showing greater anterior displacement compared to the stationary condition, indicating altered postural regulation prior to ball release. Significant differences were also found in shoulder angle and hand height at release (p < 0.05), with the V-cut condition demonstrating greater movement variability compared to the stationary condition. These findings indicate a progressive alteration of shooting mechanics as movement complexity increases.
CONCLUSION:
The results suggest that increasing movement complexity systematically alters both postural organization and upper-limb coordination during three-point shooting. Integrating change-of-direction and movement-based shooting drills in the training process may improve mechanical stability and technique consistency under game conditions, particularly when shots are performed under dynamically changing positional demands.