Analysis of the Trajectory of Free-throws

Abstract

This research paper delves into the intricate realm of free-throw shooting in basketball, combining advanced dataanalytics and artificial intelligence to dissect the trajectory of human-generated free-throws and induce the theoretically“perfect shot” by AI. This study aims to introduce the sport of basketball, provide valuable insights into the science ofbasketball shooting, and ultimately contribute to developing the skill of free-throw shooting. I used a real-life exampleof a free-throw shot to achieve this goal. Using the model, I molded a horizontal and vertical distance-time graph onthe coordinate plane to estimate the velocity at each second. By utilizing some physics kinematics, I was able to drawa free-body diagram of the basketball in motion and analyze the possible factors affecting its trajectory. Finally, as allmy research points toward the same goal, I hope to mathematically optimize the perfect trajectory to maximize thelikelihood of a perfect shot by an AI.