Practice makes perfect?

I've always wondered what separated 90%-accurate free throw shooters in the NBA from the 80% folks, the 76%ers, and lower. I'm not convinced that it's just practice. I'm not sure how much Sam Cassell practices anymore, but he hit 88% of his free throws last year. Lebron must practice like crazy and he only hits 70%. It's not all "talent" either, is it? People can get better, to some degree. Are some forms just more consistent? Is it mentality? Basically, is it coachable? Shaq did hire a free throw coach, and hit a high of 62.2% in the 2002-2003 season (before retreating to 42.2% last season).

I believe in coaching, but in most cases I've only experienced beginner levels. Snowboarding and tennis: I remember both as being quite frustrating at first but enjoyable with just the slightest bit of advice. And of course, there's driving. Nobody would let you on the road for the first time without watching a few videos and sitting with an instructor.

Of course not everything is fun and sports.  I suppose you can say that you receive a lot of coaching in school, and it seems reading, writing, and communication are the primary focuses for most people.  That's fair.  That's most of what others see about you.

Anyhow, I haven't enjoyed a writing class since English 1A. I have a feeling my writing and communication skills flattened-out. That's not to say that my style has not changed; it has.  In particular, I don't uses ellipses as much anymore, but the phrase "in particular" is everywhere now. What hasn't changed is my  tendency to use "anyway/anyhow/any***" as a cop-out when I don't have a good transition.

Anyway, this is practice. Reading, in a way, is also practice. I suppose practice is all I can do.  I can't stay in school forever, and I wouldn't want to either.