John Bol free throws, explained: Why UCF big man adopted bizare one-arm motion at the line
The UCF center has one of the more interesting free throw motions in interesting college basketball memory.
John Bol free throws, explained: Why UCF big man adopted bizare one-arm motion at the line originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . UCF’s John Bol is 7-foot-2, but it’s his routine at the 15-foot line that has turned the sophomore center into a viral sensation during the 2026 season.
Stepping to the stripe, Bol abandons the traditional guide-hand approach for a bizarre, one-armed flick that involves twisting the ball back toward his body before a snapping release. While the form has been called everything from "AI-generated slop" to the basketball equivalent of a Charles Barkley golf swing, the logic behind the change is purely functional. For Bol and the UCF coaching staff, the ugly mechanics are a small price to pay for a developmental project who has transformed from a bench-warmer into a legitimate postseason interior threat.
Here's more on Bol's unique free throw motion. SN's MARCH MADNESS HQ: Live NCAA bracket | TV schedule | Printable PDF John Bol free throws Bol has one of the most unique free throw motions in college basketball, using one hand when he is at the stripe. John Bol’s free throw form is… unorthodox pic.
twitter. com/DDQll3485F — Mostly Hoops With Mark Titus & Co. (@MostlyHoopsShow) January 4, 2026 The center takes his left hand off the ball when releasing his shot.