Consecutive free-throw records measure uninterrupted shooting accuracy over extended sessions.
These records track how many shots a shooter makes without missing.
Most Free Throws Made in a Row World Record represents the highest documented streak by any shooter under verified conditions.
Game records differ from shooting demonstrations. NBA game records occur during competitive play with fatigue, pressure, and time constraints.
Demonstration records happen in controlled practice environments with unlimited time and multiple basketballs.
Basketball organizations track these categories separately. Guinness World Records certifies demonstration shooting achievements.
NBA records department maintains in-game statistics only. Both categories require witnesses and official documentation.
Shooting demonstrations allow pure focus on technique without defensive pressure. Game situations include physical contact, crowd noise, and strategic timeouts.
Most Free Throws Made in a Row
The most free throws made in a row nba differs significantly from non-game records due to these competitive factors.
Ted St. Martin’s Era of Dominance
Ted St. Martin established multiple world records between 1975 and 1996. His documented streaks show consistent improvement across two decades. Volume shooting and multi-ball setups allowed rapid-fire attempts with minimal rest periods.
His final 5,221 streak remains the verified all-time high. The attempt lasted 7 hours 20 minutes with continuous shooting. No subsequent documented attempt has approached this total under similar conditions.
| Streak Length | Year | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5,221 | April 28, 1996 | Jacksonville, Florida | Current world record |
| 2,036 | June 25, 1977 | Not specified | Previous record |
| 1,704 | February 28, 1975 | Not specified | Demonstration streak |
| 1,238 | February 21, 1975 | Not specified | Multiple records same year |
Tom Amberry: A Free-Throw Phenomenon
Dr. Tom Amberry achieved 2,750 consecutive makes on November 15, 1993, at age 71. The attempt occurred at a gymnasium in Seal Beach, California. He stopped only because the facility closed for the night.
Amberry practiced 500 shots daily after retirement from podiatry. His documented practice logs show consistency across 473 separate days. The shooting method emphasized knee bend, visual focus, and complete follow-through.
His streak received Guinness World Records certification at the time. The record stood as the verified high mark until St. Martin’s 1996 attempt. Amberry’s age at achievement remains notable in shooting record history.
The documented method focused on a six-second shot rhythm. Each attempt followed an identical mechanical sequence. Practice volume exceeded 200,000 documented attempts across multiple years.
The Two Greatest Free-Throw Shooters of All Time
| Name | Best Streak | Year | Age | Record Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ted St. Martin | 5,221 | 1996 | Not specified | Demonstration | Current world record |
| Tom Amberry | 2,750 | 1993 | 71 | Demonstration | Second all-time |
St. Martin holds the absolute high mark for Most Free Throws Made in a Row at 5,221. Amberry’s 2,750 remains the second-highest verified streak.
Other Major Free-Throw Records (Quick Highlights)
- Harold “Bunny” Levitt: 499 consecutive (1935) – early landmark record
- Fred L. Newman: 88 blindfolded consecutive (1978)
- Ryan Martin: 2,494 in one hour (2025) – current time-based record
- Fred L. Newman: 20,371 in 24 hours (1990)
- Perry Dissmore: 2,395 in one hour (2018) – former time record
Most Free Throws in 24 Hours
| Rank | Shooter | Free Throws Made | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fred L. Newman | 20,371 | 1990 |
| 2 | Jeff Liles | 17,227 | 1990 |
Fred L. Newman’s 20,371 makes represents the highest documented 24-hour total. Jeff Liles holds the second-place mark with 17,227 makes in the same year.
Most Free Throws in 1 Hour
| Rank | Shooter | Free Throws Made | Year | Accuracy/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ryan Martin (USA) | 2,494 | March 26, 2025 | 89.77% accuracy, Naples, Maine |
| 2 | Perry Dissmore (USA) | 2,395 | May 13, 2018 | Tallahassee |
| 3 | Bob J. Fisher (USA) | 2,371 | December 17, 2011 | Kansas |
| 4 | Perry Dissmore (USA) | 1,968 | September 14, 2010 | New York |
| 5 | Perry Dissmore (USA) | 1,926 | October 9, 2009 | Florida |
Most Blindfolded Consecutive Free Throws
Fred L. Newman achieved 88 consecutive blindfolded free throws in 1978. This record represents a specialized shooting category requiring memorized mechanics. No documented attempt has surpassed this mark under blindfolded conditions.
The world record for most free throws made in a minute differs from the consecutive streak records. Time-based records measure volume within a fixed duration, while consecutive records track unbroken accuracy.
Greatest Consecutive Free-Throw Streaks Ever Recorded
| Rank | Shooter | Consecutive FT Made | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ted St. Martin | 5,221 | 1996 | Record |
| 2 | Tom Amberry | 2,750 | 1993 | Stopped due to gym closure |
| 3 | Ted St. Martin | 2,036 | 1977 | Earlier record |
| 4 | Ted St. Martin | 1,704 | 1975 | Demonstration streak |
| 5 | Ted St. Martin | 1,238 | 1975 | Multiple records same year |
| 6 | Harold Levitt | 499 | 1935 | Early landmark record |
The top 10 most free throws made in a row show St. Martin holding four of the top five positions. His 1996 streak of 5,221 remains the Most Consecutive Free-Throw World Record all time in any documented category.
Did Anyone break the Records?
No documented attempt has matched St. Martin’s 5,221 streak since 1996. The record requires sustained focus across 7+ hours with zero shooting errors.
Physical fatigue and mental concentration demands make extended attempts extremely difficult.
Breaking the record requires specialized training focused solely on free-throw mechanics. Most shooters lack the time commitment needed for 5,000+ consecutive attempts.
The most free throws made in a row in a game remains separate from demonstration records and follows different verification standards.
Current record status shows St. Martin’s mark intact after 28 years. No announced attempts to break the record have emerged in recent years.
FAQs
- What is the difference between game records and practice records?
Game records occur during official competition under NBA rules. Practice records happen in controlled demonstrations with multiple basketballs and unlimited time.
- What is the NBA record for most consecutive free throws made in a game?
The NBA record for most consecutive free throws made in a game is maintained separately by the NBA statistics department. This differs from non-game demonstration records like St. Martin’s 5,221.
- Are there season-long consecutive free-throw records in the NBA?
The most free throws made in a row in an NBA season tracks in-game streaks across multiple games. These records count only shots attempted during official NBA regular-season and playoff games.
- What are the college basketball free-throw streak records?
The Most Consecutive Free-Throw college category follows NCAA verification standards. College records require official game conditions and NCAA witness protocols.
- Do 24-hour records count missed shots?
Yes, 24-hour volume records count total makes regardless of misses. Consecutive streak records end immediately upon the first missed attempt.
Conclusion:
Most Free Throws Made in a Row records measure pure shooting accuracy without competitive game pressure.
Ted St. Martin’s 5,221 streak represents the verified all-time high under documented conditions.
Tom Amberry’s 2,750 marks the second-highest recorded streak.
These records remain intact decades after the original attempts. No recent documented challenges have approached St. Martin’s 1996 total.
Record durability reflects the extreme difficulty of maintaining perfect shooting mechanics across thousands of consecutive attempts.
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