Ace Hoffstein - Voted into Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame. USA #1 Corrective Shooting BasketBall Coach shares his secrets.

Nationally renown shooting coach sells successful technique on DVD
By Patrick Finley
ARIZONA DAILY STAR http://www.dailystar.com/dailystar/allheadlines/98514.php

Ace Hoffstein is selling a lifetime of secrets for $29.95.

For most of Hoffstein's 83 years, the Tucson resident has analyzed shooting techniques and, more importantly, learned how to find, tweak and fix what is broken.

His license plate reads "SHOT DR."

"I'm able to, for some reason, spot something when it goes wrong," Hoffstein said. "I can correct it, which is even more important. A lot of coaches and players would love to have that skill."

Hoffstein gives lessons in town for $150 an hour, and travels across the country to speak at clinics. He estimates he has spoken to more than 71,000 players.

Hoffstein has worked with NBA players Grant Hill and Jason Kidd, Tennessee women's coach Pat Summitt and UA coaches Lute Olson and Joan Bonvicini. And he has garnered accolades from coaches Bob Knight and Eddie Sutton.

Now he is selling his first DVD.

"He teaches the fundamentals, which most people have forgotten or never were taught," said Eldon Waters, Hoffstein's business partner. "It's worth somebody's time to learn those things."

Waters and Hoffstein met about eight years ago. Waters learned Hoffstein's background, and the two would talk basketball.

Late one night, Waters saw a commercial for Tom Emanski's instructional videos on ESPN.

"I said, 'Ace, ya gotta be doing this,' " Waters said. "He resisted for a few years.

"I think he's getting older, and the travel is quite taxing. He doesn't have the time to be everywhere. I figured the time was right. He did, too."

Waters, who does video work, sunk $5,000 into the production of a 40-minute DVD entitled "Corrective Style Shooting."

"We just thought we could reach a lot more people this way," Hoffstein said.

In it, Hoffstein explains his 12-point shooting method, advising shooters to put their middle knuckles on a basketball's valve, keep an L-shape with their shooting arm and keep the shot straight with their other hand.

It's the method Jules Hoffstein started perfecting as a student at the University of Delaware, where he received 10 letters in four sports and his nickname of "Ace" - from the student newspaper - in 1950.

After college, Hoffstein became a celebrated coach. His Goldey-Beacom College teams went 86-14 in five years; at St. Elizabeth High School in Delaware, he went 138-28.

For his playing and coaching efforts, Hoffstein was inducted into the Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame in May.

Hoffstein also has been an assistant college coach, a minor-league coach, a college scout and an NBA scout.

"I'm happy when I'm teaching kids how to shoot the ball better," he said. "They can't believe what they just saw. That's how I make my living."

Hoffstein - who looks 60, maybe - and Waters are selling their DVD on the coach's Web site, www.shotdoctor.com.

Hoffstein is peddling the disc to his friends in coaching, from high school to the pro ranks.

He has sold copies to the UA men's and women's teams.

St. Joseph's coach Phil Martelli put in an order last week.

"He said, 'Just send me the invoice, Ace,' " Hoffstein said. "How about that?"


Where to find it

To purchase a copy of Ace Hoffstein's DVD "Corrective Style Shooting," call 1-877-805-6475 or visit www.shotdoctor.com.