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When Bob Fisher flicks his wrist and the balls keep swishing “nothing but net”, there’s a common reaction among those watching: Their mouth begins opening. Then they start shaking their head.
As the net continues to snap at a rhythmic rate, observers realize they’re seeing something special. And someone special. Here’s a small town guy from Centralia who’s awed millions on The Tonight Show, at an NBA All Star game, as far away as China, and more.
Bob, a 56-year-old soil conservation technician, holds a list of Guinness world records as long as his shooting arm. Make that shooting arms—he’s set records with both of them, some of them with alternating shots.
And he’ll be gunning for a new record during the “Great Netawaka Shoot-Out” on Saturday, April 9th, at the Netawaka Fitness Center. He’ll follow it with a shooting exhibition, then share his thoughts on how everyone can achieve greater success at anything if they firmly set their mind to it.
Here are just a few of his Guinness world records for free-throw shooting: He’s made 33 in 30 seconds...50 in a minute...92 in 2 minutes...446 in 10 minutes...and 2,371 in an hour.
That’s just a sampling: In one minute in each case, he’s made 44 free throws using alternate hands...28 underhand...and 39 standing on one leg. Oh, he’s also made 37 in 2 minutes...blindfolded.
In one event, he made 246 consecutive free throws...missed one...then made the next 200.
“We are elated that he’s agreed to perform at our basketball Shoot-Out,” says Scott Steffes, general manager of the Netawaka facility, “and even more so that he’s agreed to attempt to set another world record while there. His aim is to make the most consecutive free throws with alternate hands. He made 33 in 30 seconds earlier this year.”
Making the record “official” is an achievement in itself. To qualify for Guinness, there needs to be two video cameras recording the action...a registered referee...a scoreboard operator to confirm the time...and two official witnesses. In Bob’s case, there’ll likely be one more key person—his wife Connie positioned near him, whispering encouragement.
Contestants in both the Adult and Teen divisions of the day-long Shoot-Out event will take a break for Fisher’s record-seeking attempt, which is set to begin at 1:00 p.m.
There will be free admission at the event in the gym of the 30,000 sq. ft. state-of-the art Center, which includes an 8,000 sq. ft. heated pool. Lunch and refreshments will be offered at reasonable rates.
Late Bloomer at Age 52
Bob was an average basketball player in high school, and later became an average high school coach, with fewer wins than losses. But in September 2009 at age 52, he got the itch to start shooting free throws, and began to wonder how good he could become.
“In my wildest dreams I never thought about setting any records,” he says. “But I practiced and practiced, began reading books on technique. Soon I started amazing myself, as well as others.
“I firmly believe that talent is built, not born. I am a living example that you can develop your talents at any age. I’m the ultimate late bloomer.
“Too many people squander their talent. They sell themselves short. Anyone who is really good at anything has invested a tremendous amount of time and effort to get where they are, no matter what the field.”
For Bob, this has meant practice, practice, and more practice. Every morning at 6:30 Connie wakes up to the thump-thump-thumping of basketballs that Bob launches at a homemade shooting contraption in the basement of their home outside of Centralia. And most days that’s followed by 2 hours of practice at a gym in nearby Vermilion.
He has bookcases of books on basketball and the art of shooting. He especially absorbs and applies books about biomechanics and anatomy. “I’ve studied the art more than anybody,” he says convincingly.
Gained International Acclaim
As his reputation spread—during one 26-month period he set 14 Guinness world records in free-throwing shooting—he began getting some limelight. Jay Leno invited him to appear on The Tonight Show and paired him with Charles Barkley in a contest...an easy win for Bob.
He was invited to the 2011 NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles where he got an ovation when he set the record for most free throws-49—in a minute while standing on one leg. The same year the Fishers were flown to Beijing for a televised production matching a group of Guinness record holders. And he was hired to give shooting clinics here and there.
In the process he has befriended a loose fraternity of shooting gurus and record holders, including Gary Boren, the shooting coach of the Dallas Mavericks. Most of them believe they have developed the foolproof method of shooting, particularly free throws.
Bob doesn’t agree; he doesn’t believe in a one-fits-all technique. Counter to conventional wisdom, he encourages each shooter to use their most natural wrist motion, even if the fingers don’t point to the basket in the follow-through.
He contends the optimum launch angle depends on the shooter’s height, and prescribes placement of the fingers on the ball to complement the direction of the wrist action.
“For me, it’s a natural 16-degree inward position,” he says, flicking his wrist. “I measured it.”
To fight fatigue, he’s developed five shooting techniques for each hand. When he set the record of making 2,371 shots in an hour—blowing past the old record of 1,968—he made 86% with his right hand and 71% with his left, making nearly 40 a minute on average.
“No one’s going to break that record until they learn what I know,” Bob says.
He’s not ready to put the ball in the rack and walk away. “I’m still getting better,” he says. He wants to pursue more records...and hopes to find a sponsor so he can do presentations at schools with the message that “knowledge plus practice equal world class skill in anything.”
So he’ll try breaking one of his records in Netawaka on April 9th. His performance is being held in conjunction with the “Great Netawaka Shoot-Out”, in which contestant s fire up 20 free throws in 2 minutes. The shooter who sinks the most walks off with a basket of prizes.
For a look at the gym and the Center, see www.netawakafc.com. To sign up for the contest, call 785/933-2616. Netawaka is at the junction of Hwy 75 and K9.
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