With March Madness getting under way, you may be thinking about what you’d do if you found yourself with the ball in your hands, your team down by two, with a second left in the game. Could you make the game-winning shot?

Like most athletic skills, shooting a basketball is less about raw talent than repetition — building a consistent motion so that your body can perform it the same way over and over again. Proper mechanics start from the floor, using the legs to generate power and the upper body to direct it in one smooth, continuous motion. That’s what makes longer shots feel fluid instead of forced, and why players who rely too heavily on their arms often lose accuracy as they tire.

If you tend to feel like you’re trying to shoot a square peg into a round hole, the encouraging part is that even small adjustments can produce quick results. Use the guide above to work on having a better stance, cleaner hand placement, and a more disciplined follow-through — all of which can help the ball come off your hand more easily and with a more reliable arc.

At the same time, remember that good shooting isn’t about forcing your body into a perfectly rigid set of positions. The best shooters develop a motion that’s consistent but still natural — aligned with the basket, balanced, and repeatable, even if it doesn’t look exactly like a textbook diagram. Rhythm and feel matter as much as form. Practice the basics, then let your shot become your own.

Putting up a decent jump shot belongs in the same category of basic athletic competence as throwing a football or swinging a baseball bat; even if you’re not using this skill to secure a championship, it comes in handy for playing pickup ball, coaching your kids, or just putting up shots in the driveway.

Illustrated by Ted Slampyak

This article was originally published on The Art of Manliness.

Studies show that people remember the beginning of something, and the end of it, the best. The middle of it is recalled a little more hazily.

Once a novel experience starts, your brain really starts focusing on what’s going on and quickly makes judgements about the new people you meet. And you clearly remember the last part of an experience, because it ends up being the freshest in your memory.

Given this phenomenon, people understandably spend a lot of time thinking about how to make a great first impression — which indeed has an outsized influence on how people see you, lasting for even months after you’ve gotten to know them.

But the other part of the equation is frequently ignored, though it’s also important. You not only want to make a dynamite first impression, you want to make a great last impression, too.

As Daniel Pink, the author of When, told me in my podcast interview with him, the end of something “has a disproportionate effect on how we remember things”:

You see it anecdotally in something like Yelp reviews. You want to kill 15 minutes, go on Yelp, look at restaurant reviews, and you’ll see a disproportionate number of them evaluate the restaurant by what happened at the end of the meal, ‘They gave me a check, and it was wrong, and they were jerks about it.’ ‘They gave me a free dessert, woo hoo.’ So, I think it’s really important in our personal encounters and in our professional encounters that we’re conscious of endings, and try to get endings to end not only on a positive note but in a way that elevates. Human beings prefer endings that elevate, we prefer rising sequences to declining sequences, and being conscious and intentional about that can improve our interactions.

Below are a few quick tips on how to improve the last impression you make in both business and social situations:

Gather your belongings in your left hand. When a job interview has come to a close, pick up things like your notebook or briefcase with your left hand; that will keep you from fumbling to free up your right hand when the interviewer reaches out to shake it.

Make physical contact before leaving. Physical contact promotes bonding; even a handshake has been shown to increase rapport and make you more likable and memorable. So make contact before you leave.

In a job interview or client meeting, shake hands with the other person as you part ways. Give a good, warm, confident handshake; make sure your hands are dry (discreetly wiping/patting them on your pants before you stand up), that the web between your first two fingers connects with the web of theirs, and that your fingers are flat rather than cupped so that your hands touch palm-to-palm.

In a social situation, shake hands or hug the other person as you say goodbye. 

In both professional and personal settings, if it feels natural, consider offering physical contact twice, offering a handshake/hug when you rise from the desk/table and at the door as well.

End with eye contact and a smile. As you make physical contact, look the other person in the eye and smile. Face them directly, rather than being at an angle, so you’re standing heart-to-heart. You’ll leave behind the impression of someone who’s open, straightforward, and warm.

Thank the person twice. As you stand up from a desk in an interview or other professional setting, say something like, “Thank you so much for the opportunity. I really appreciate it.” Then when you part at the door and shake hands, say, “Thank you again for the interview.”

In a social situation, accompany your first thank you with an appreciation for something specific you enjoyed about the event: “Thank you so much for having us over. That was the best pot roast I’ve ever had.” Then at the door, just say, “Thanks again for having us!”

Make sure you have all your belongings. If you make a great last impression, but then sheepishly have to come back through the door again, apologizing and saying you left your phone somewhere, that memory will supplant the other to become your new last impression, and not a great one at that.

Move with intent. Don’t stand there shifting your weight back and forth and saying, “Well . . . so . . .” When you’re hesitant, awkwardness results. Be friendly but firm with your goodbye; know exactly what you’re doing next, where you’re heading, and move confidently and deliberately in that direction.

Send a follow-up text/thank you note. Sending an appreciative text or thank you note (depending on whether the event was more casual or formal, respectively) is a really nice touch, and extends and solidifies the warm memory people have formed of you in their minds. So after a date is done, text the gal to let her know again what a great time you had. After a nice dinner party, send a thank you note to the host, sharing how much you enjoyed yourself and appreciate their hospitality. After a job interview, send a note to the interviewer thanking them for the opportunity. It’s such a simple thing to do, but will really set you apart from the pack.

Oftentimes, if we feel like an interaction isn’t going well, we just sort of turn off and shut down. But you shouldn’t give up — you can still improve the impression you’ve made! Even when things seem to be going downhill, try to finish strong; the person you’re with will remember the positive end of your interaction more than the muddling middle.

With our archives 4,000 articles deep, we’ve decided to republish a classic piece each Sunday to help our newer readers discover some of the best, evergreen gems from the past. This article was originally published in March 2018.

This article was originally published on The Art of Manliness.

Left to their own devices, shrubs will usually grow okay on their own — but they won’t always grow how you want them to. Over time, they become unruly and congested, with tangled branches that block sunlight and limit airflow, leading to damaged, unhealthy plants that kill the landscaping aesthetic you’re aiming for. Done properly, trimming your bushes at least annually helps manage their growth and structure, keeping them healthy, balanced, and visually appealing. By removing dead or diseased stems and selectively shaping the plant, you encourage stronger development and a longer lifetime. 

Spring-flowering shrubs like lilac and forsythia should be pruned right after they bloom, so you don’t accidentally cut off next year’s flower buds. Summer-flowering shrubs, on the other hand, are best pruned in late winter or early spring before new growth takes off. Dead or damaged wood can be removed anytime you notice it — in fact, the sooner the better.

Too many property-owners hack away at a plant until it looks tidy. But proper trimming is about making thoughtful cuts to guide future growth. With a simple plan and a few fundamental techniques, you can transform a wild, overgrown shrub into a healthier, more vigorous plant.

Illustrated by Ted Slampyak

This article was originally published on The Art of Manliness.

When winter settles in, keeping your house warm can feel like a constant battle against drafts, cold floors, and rising heating bills. The good news is that staying warm doesn’t always require cranking up the thermostat. Small, strategic changes — most of them unrelated to your heating system — can make a noticeable difference in how comfortable your home feels.

Warming a house is less about brute force and more about efficiency: keeping the heat you already have and making sure it circulates where it’s needed most. From sealing hidden gaps to rethinking how you use everyday features like curtains, fans, and even your oven, it only takes a handful of smart habits to help your home hold onto warmth all winter long. And remember, it’s ultimately about keeping the person (or people) warm rather than the house — it’s okay to wear an extra sweater and have a pile of cozy blankets on hand. 

Whether you’re dealing with subzero temperatures or just trying to stay comfortable without a skyrocketing energy bill, the ten things highlighted above will help get you through. For more detail, and a couple extra ideas, be sure to read our full guide to keeping your house warm in the winter.

Illustrated by Ted Slampyak

This article was originally published on The Art of Manliness.

In an age when every tap, text, and location ping is tracked, there are times when a little anonymity goes a long way. Whether you’re traveling through a dicey region or working on a top-secret project, a burner phone can provide a level of privacy and security that your primary device simply can’t. The ability to buy and use one under the radar is a bit of know-how worth having — even if you never need to use it.

These days, you can actually purchase a smartphone that’s meant to be a burner and has access to the internet and apps. But they’re more expensive, often require some type of account setup or sign-in, and have shorter battery life. It’s best to stick with the simplest available option like the old school flip phone or brick-style model that doesn’t do much besides calls and texts. The fewer features, the fewer ways your anonymity can be compromised.

Using a burner phone effectively takes more than just buying a cheap prepaid flip phone, though. To stay truly off the grid, you need to understand how and when to use it, what not to do, and how to properly dispose of it when you’re done. Follow these steps above to ensure your short-term phone serves its purpose: keeping you connected when needed, and untraceable when not.

Illustration by Ted Slampyak

This article was originally published on The Art of Manliness.

Over its long history, the whip has been tool for a variety of men.

Cowboys in the American West, South American gauchos, and herders around the world carried whips to move cattle and sheep. The crack wasn’t meant to strike the animals but to startle them with sound, nudging the herd along without contact. Out of this tradition came the “stockwhip” and the “bullwhip.”

Teamsters and coachmen once used whips to keep their horses in step. The lash might brush a flank, but more often the crack alone was enough to guide a team down the road. Cavalries often issued short whips to horsemen and pack drivers as part of their kit.

By the 18th and 19th centuries, the whip moved from utilitarian use into the realm of spectacle. Circus trainers used them to tame lions and tigers, while trick-whip artists developed flourishes that showcased control and precision.

Later, pulp heroes carried them alongside revolvers, turning the whip into a symbol of adventure. Half tool and half weapon, it was ostensibly useful for a variety of tasks: latching onto beams or branches to swing across gaps, coiling around small items to grab them, knocking an object out of someone’s hand, cracking to intimidate and keep foes at a distance, or lashing an opponent directly. (Some of these techniques, of course, work better and are easier to execute on screen than in real life.)

If you want to harness your inner rancher or treasure-hunting archeologist, this illustrated guide will get you started with the art of whip cracking. Whip cracking is just physics: you send the energy of your arm into the thong, it travels down the length, and accelerates until it breaks the sound barrier and creates that satisfying “POP!”

Every whip-hand starts with the cattleman’s crack. It’s a simple up-and-down snap that will give you a grin-inducing pop, and help prepare you to raid tombs and fight Nazis.

Illustration by Ted Slampyak

This article was originally published on The Art of Manliness.

An important part of manhood has always been about having the competence to be effective in the world — having the breadth of skills, the savoir-faire, to handle any situation you find yourself in. With that in mind, each Sunday we’ll be republishing one of the illustrated guides from our archives, so you can hone your manly know-how week by week.

A knife’s functionality is only as good as its maintenance. Although there are dozens of ways to sharpen knives, this basic technique goes a long way toward keeping your blade keen enough to do most jobs with ease. Sharp blades mean smoother cuts, which are safer because they require less force. You can find more details on knife sharpening here.

Like this illustrated guide? Then you’re going to love our book The Illustrated Art of Manliness! Pick up a copy on Amazon.

This article was originally published on The Art of Manliness.

There you are, captured behind enemy lines, locked in a makeshift POW camp. Your only chance of escape? The M60 Patton tank sitting unguarded just beyond the fence. If you’re able to get inside it, would you be able to start it up and pilot the tank for a getaway?

While you might never find yourself needing to commandeer a tank for a daring escape, there’s something undeniably appealing about knowing how to operate one of these steel monsters. Tony Borglum, owner of Drive a Tank in Minnesota, has taught thousands of people the basics of tank operation, and in this illustrated guide, we’ll share his instructions for piloting an M60 Patton.

Why the M60 Patton?

Because it was so dang ubiquitous in the second half of the 20th century.

Most of us grew up playing with little green army men. That tank in your collection was almost certainly modeled after the M60 Patton. Named after one of America’s greatest tank strategists, General George Patton, the M60 was the backbone of American armored forces for decades after WWII. This 52-ton beast saw action from the Cold War through Desert Storm, earning its reputation as one of the most reliable tanks ever built.

Because we’re showing you how to drive an M60 Patton, we thought it only fitting to have Old Blood and Guts himself show you the ropes. 

Illustration by Ted Slampyak

Thanks to Tony at Drive a Tank for the tips!

This article was originally published on The Art of Manliness.

Your contact is somewhere in this sea of faces, but you can’t be seen talking to him — can’t even acknowledge his existence. One wrong move, one glance from the wrong person, and years of careful work — not to mention your life — could be over in an instant.

This is where the brush pass comes in. A technique perfected during the Cold War, it allowed spies to exchange documents, money, or other small items without ever appearing to interact. Two operatives would simply walk past each other, and in that brief, choreographed moment, critical intelligence would change hands.

You may not be running clandestine ops behind the Iron Curtain, but the brush pass remains one of the most elegant and discreet ways to transfer something unnoticed. Requiring subtle technique and magician-like sleight of hand, it’s a master art of secret-agent subterfuge. 

Illustration by Ted Slampyak

This article was originally published on The Art of Manliness.

An important part of manhood has always been about having the competence to be effective in the world — having the breadth of skills, the savoir-faire, to handle any situation you find yourself in. With that in mind, each Sunday we’ll be republishing one of the illustrated guides from our archives, so you can hone your manly know-how week by week

When it comes to holidays that don’t get a lot of hype, Flag Day must be at or near the top of the list. You may not have known it was this Saturday, that it’s celebrated every June 14th, and that it commemorates the adoption of the Stars and Stripes as the official flag of the United States on June 14, 1777, by a resolution of the Second Continental Congress. 

Though Flag Day is not a federal holiday, it’s observed with patriotic flag-raising ceremonies, and citizens are encouraged to display the American flag outside their homes and businesses. The day also serves to educate people on proper flag etiquette.

One of those points of flag etiquette is how to properly fold the American flag.

The American flag is folded into a triangular shape as a show of respect and dignity during various situations. This practice is performed after lowering the flag, particularly at sunset, to prepare it for proper storage. The triangle fold is also used in military and patriotic ceremonies, such as Memorial Day and Veterans Day events, and is a key tradition at military funerals, where the flag is presented to the family of a fallen service member. The folding process is designed to honor the flag’s significance, with the triangular shape representing a tricorn hat, a nod to soldiers of the Revolutionary War.

Illustration by Ted Slampyak

This article was originally published on The Art of Manliness.