The perfect basketball shot approaches the hoop at a 45-degree angle and lands 11 inches past the front rim. Noah Basketball has taken this information to heart, designing a machine that analyzes a player’s technique based off of their scientifically proven, ideal shot.
While their two primary shot tracking machines, the Noah Instant and Noah Select, have been on the market for college and professional programs to use, on Thursday Noah announced that their three-dimensional data service is now available to the public.
Noahlytics is the brains behind the Noah operation, providing the user instant feedback on the positioning of the ball at all times, the ball velocity and whether or not a player has achieved the perfect shot.
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Noahlytics uses a sensor that is mounted 13 feet above the rim to gather the necessary data on a shot. The user can then access the information on their shooting session via Noah’s website or mobile platform. Additionally, the machine can call out the exact degree that a shooter achieved right after they take the shot.
So far, four professional teams and two college teams have implemented the system in training.
“How many times can a coach tell a player to ‘shoot out of the phone booth and over the Ferris wheel’ until they get it?” said Tony Bennett, head coach of the University of Virginia men’s basketball team, which is a client of Noah Basketball. “You are also telling them their shot is flat without scientific proof. But it’s impossible to dispute Noah because the proof is there, and the feedback is immediate. That’s when the body starts to self-correct.”
Noahlytics also uses charts, graphics and a grading system to influence a stubborn player even further. It can show exactly where each shot was coming from, and break down a shooter’s success rate from different areas of the court.
And for anyone watching the NBA Finals, Steph Curry has used the Noah Basketball system. His shot is actually more than perfect—he consistently hits a 46-degree angle, to account for his need to get his shot over taller defenders.