After I injured my right index finger in the 2009–2010 season, I knew my usual method would no longer work. Up?until then, I’d always shot off?of my first two fingers. After I hurt it,?I had to start focusing on using my middle finger. The middle?became my point of release, and I had to sort of let my index finger?drift.

Making that change took a couple of practices. Not average?practices, though. Days flooded with mental and physical work. I?had to mentally download the software that was the new form, and?then drill it in. I definitely got my one thousand makes in on each of?those days.

People ask me if the change impacted my shot, if it made me a?better or worse shooter. I can’t answer that. I can say that there are?times when my index finger just went numb, when it had no feeling?in it at all. I can also say that was still good enough to win another?championship—and that’s the only thing that matters.