How to Get Better at Basketball Shooting: You should work on your shot if you want to play basketball for a team in high school, college, or even the pros. If you can make shots, you have a better chance of getting in the game. Do a lot of practice if you want to get better at hitting the ball. You can improve the accuracy of your shots in a number of ways, such as by working on your form and running runs.
The Elements of Great Basketball Shot Form
To make a good basketball shot, the first thing you need to do is stay balanced. If you can’t keep your balance, how can you hope to reach your goal?
Keep your feet shoulder-width apart and the larger foot just in front of the other one. The right foot should be slightly ahead of the left if you type with your right hand. Bend your knees and keep your back straight. Your hips should be straight ahead of you.
It’s not always possible to have all of these parts perfectly lined up when shooting while moving. That being said, shooting off the dribble drills can help as long as you stay steady and don’t fall over.
Next are your elbows. One of the most important parts of your form is where your elbows are placed, even if you don’t know it.
As you stand up to take the shot, try to keep your arms in. With your stronger hand facing the back of the ball, the ball should start close to your chest and under your chin. Also, your other hand shouldn’t be used to shoot the ball; it should just be used as a guide. You’ll be much more likely to miss the goal if you flare your elbows while you shoot.
How to Get Better at Basketball Shooting
The next part of your shot is your eyes and where you look. Each shooter looks at a different target to help them aim, but they all keep their eyes on the target the whole time.
Three-point record holder and four-time NBA champion Stephen Curry says he focuses on the hooks in the net where the rim hits the net.
As you come up to your shot, the last step is the follow-through. To release the ball, extend your arm and flick the wrist and fingers of your shooting hand.
As you do the follow-through, picture a cookie jar on a high shelf and act like you’re trying to grab a cookie for yourself.
Method 1
Practicing Perfect Form
Practice catching in a shot-ready position
A good way to improve your form is to catch the ball in an athletic (or shot-ready) stand. It is better to be ready to shoot the ball when you catch it instead of after you catch it. This will help you make faster and more accurate shots.
- Bend your knees a little and hinge your body forward at the hips to get ready for a shot. It should look like you’re about to jump. You will have more power when you make your shot because of this.
- Being sure of yourself and having good form are the most important things you can do to raise your shot rate.
Find the shot spot that feels best to you
Where you shoot the ball is called your “shot pocket,” and it’s different for each person. Find the shot pocket position that makes you feel the best and stay in that position.
- For instance, you might feel most at ease striking from the middle of your forehead, to the right of your head, or just above your head.
- Never forget that your shot spot doesn’t have to be the same as someone else’s. Pay attention to what works best for you.
Set up your position
The accuracy of your shots can also be affected by where you put your arm, hand, and head. Forearm and hand should be in a “C” shape as you get ready to shoot the ball. You can look at yourself in the mirror or ask a friend to look at you from the side.
- Make sure you also look straight ahead.
- Lift the ball above your nose and keep your arms bent before you let go of it.
Follow through and hold.
Hold on and follow through. When you shoot the ball, make sure you snap your arm to finish the shot. After that, stay where you are until the ball hits the hoop or net. Your shot will be more accurate if you follow through and hold after you shoot the ball.[6]
- Do the same thing with your body. You should start your shot in a sporty way and then jump off the floor as you shoot the ball.7. After you make the shot, keep your body in this stretched-out pose.
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Method 2
Running Elbow to Elbow Drills
Stand on one leg
To do an elbow practice, you must first shoot while standing on one foot. It will help you get more balanced if you stand on one foot, but it will also make your throws harder. Beginning: Stand close to the foul line and shoot while on one foot.[8]
- When you start, you can stand on either leg, but make sure you switch legs in the middle of the drill. Try making shots on more than one leg.
Use both hands to hold the ball.
Use both hands to hold the ball. To start, standing on one foot should be enough of a struggle. When you first start elbow drills, make your shots with both hands.[9] When you shoot, keep your arms in and point your fingers towards the middle of the hoop.
- Find your shot spot, make a “C” shape, and follow through after you shoot.
Change spots as you shoot the ball
You might get better at shooting from one spot if you practice there a lot, but it’s also good to practice shooting from different spots. You can keep challenging yourself by switching up the places from which you shoot.
- An example, you could begin at the free line, move in and to the left of the basket, then move to the right of the basket, and so on.
As soon as you feel ready, make it harder
As soon as you feel ready, make it harder. When you think you’re ready to make the drills harder, move on to one-handed shots. Make sure you have good form, just like when you hit with both hands. You might need to go more slowly until you get better at hitting with one hand.
- If moving to one-handed shots is really making your form worse, you can always go back to two-handed shots.
Other Ways to Improve Your Basketball Shooting Form
Great archers work on their shooting skills all the time. Adding the following tips to your practice schedule will help you get better at shooting the basketball:
1. Where you put your hands is very important
How you hold the ball is a big part of how well you can shoot. Feel, spin, link, and control through your release are all affected by how you hold the club. To get into the right position, put your shot hand behind the ball and rest the tip of your index finger on the air valve. This will help you grip the ball in the middle. Put your balance hand, which is also known as the guide hand, on the side of the ball so that the tip of the thumb on your shot hand points to the side of the thumb on your balance hand? This makes a “T” shape.
2. Find your shot pocket
The shot pocket is where a basketball player holds the ball to start their shot. One way to make sure you always shoot the same way is to start in the same place every time. Hold the ball in front of your stomach in a place that feels good to you to find your shot spot. Once you’ve caught the ball and are ready to shoot, bring it back to your shot pocket and make sure your hands are in the right position. You will always be able to shoot consistently if you start from your shot spot.
3. Pay close attention to your body
The lower body is where every good shot starts. Start by aiming both of your toes in the same direction and making sure they are square to the rim. Then, practice until you find the stance that feels best for your body. To stay stable, keep your feet shoulder-width apart and your stance open. If you shoot with your right foot slightly in front of your left, you should do that. If you shoot with your left foot, you should do the opposite. To load your lower body, press the heels of your feet into the floor. Your legs give you strength and stability. Put your weight on the balls of your feet and keep your knees behind your toes. Focus on letting power and energy run from your feet up through your hips and glutes. Remember to flex your legs on every shot and square your toes, knees, and hips.
4. Aim at a consistent spot on the rim.
Steph Curry, the four-time NBA winner, looks at the front of the rim and imagines the ball falling just over it before he shoots. Just make sure you keep your aim the same, and it doesn’t matter if you hit the front, back, or middle of the rim. Spend 15 minutes walking around the basketball court with your eyes on the rim to get good at quickly finding your goal. Get to know how the area you want to target looks from different distances or angles. Try running to an empty spot on the floor, stopping, and quickly using your eyes to find that spot on the rim. Do this without a ball.
5. Get your shooting arm and wrist in the right place.
When you shoot, the ball needs to go in a straight line with the right amount of backspin to get into the basket. Make sure that your shooting elbow is under the basketball and bent into “L” form when you lift the ball to start shooting. You should bend your wrist back until it’s almost at a 90-degree angle. This will make a platform for the ball in your hand.
6. Avoid using your balance hand to propel the ball forward
If you miss a lot of shots to the left or right, it’s likely that your balance hand is giving the ball more force. You should only use this hand to keep the ball balanced until you straighten your arm to shoot. You should then take your balance hand off the side of the ball without pushing it forward.
7. Increase the height of your release point
Letting go of your shot from a higher spot will help you avoid blocks and make your shooting range better. To get better at letting go, start by moving the ball off the shot pocket while your legs are straight. Your shooting arm should be straight when the ball is above your shoulders. When the ball is released, snap your wrist forward so that your fingers point down. Your middle and index fingers should be the last ones to touch the ball. Don’t let go too low. It’s harder for a defense to block your shot when your release point is higher. Hold your elbow and wrist in line with the basket as you let go of the ball. Extend your arm all the way to where it ends above your eye.
What are some common shooting mistakes in basketball and how can you avoid them?
Everyone makes mistakes, even the best ones. For continuous growth, it’s important to see and fix common shooting mistakes. Here are some common mistakes:
Poor Footwork: your feet are the base of a good shot. Using the right footwork will help you stay balanced and in line, giving you a stable base from which to make your shot. To keep your shooting method consistent and accurate, you need to make sure your feet are in the right place.
Inconsistent Follow-Through: If you rush or forget to do your follow-through, your shots may not be consistent. To keep control and accuracy, and to make sure the ball goes in the right direction, you need a strong and steady follow-through.
Ignoring Off-Hand Control: The off-hand is very important for getting accurate shots. If you don’t pay attention to its stability and balance, it can become inconsistent. To guide the ball well, it’s important to keep the off-hand under control and give it the help it needs.
Rushing Shots: Missed chances often happen when people take quick shots, especially when they are under a lot of stress. You need to stay calm and take your time setting up your shot if you want to get better at it. This calmness lets you release with more precision and calculation.
Lack of Focus: The U.S. National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) says that mental focus is just as important as physical skill when shooting. Keeping your mind on your goal, even when things are stressful, is a game-changer. It’s important to keep your mind on the game, especially when the game is on the line, because getting distracted or losing focus can cause you to miss shots.
Debunking Common Misconceptions
Misconception: You Need to Be Exceptionally Tall to Be a Great Shooter
Reality: Being tall can help you in basketball, but it’s not necessary to be tall to be a good shot. A lot of great NBA players, like Stephen Curry, Chris Paul, and Allen Iverson, aren’t very tall, but they’re known for how well they shoot. Not just height, but also skill, practice, and accuracy are important parts of being good at shooting.
Misconception: The More Strength, the Better the Shot
Reality: Being strong can help you in some areas of basketball, but being too strong in the upper body doesn’t always make you a better shooter. Accuracy in shooting depends more on method, balance, and skill. If you depend too much on your strength, it can make your shots less regular because it can make your shooting motion less fluid.
Misconception: Shooting Is All about Natural Talent
Reality: Some people may be naturally good at shooting, but most people become great shooters in hoops through hard work, practice, and dedication. Even people who are naturally good at what they do need to keep improving their skills through hard training and practice. No matter what level of skill they start with, anyone can get better at shooting with the right method and dedication.
Conclusion
To learn how to shoot a basketball like a pro, you need to do basic drills, get advice from pros, and avoid making common mistakes. With committed practice, perfecting your shooting form, and staying focused, you can walk onto the court like a pro, sure of your skills and sure of your shots. Keep working hard to become the best basketball player you can be.
There is specialized training at Revolution Basketball Training that can help you learn how to shoot like a pro. Get in touch with us right away to improve your game and reach your full playing potential.
FAQs
How do you shoot a basketball like the pros?
Your shot hand should be straight up and down from the ball to the basket, and your elbow should be right under it. Don’t let the ball go behind your head. It should stay in front of you. When you hit the ball, your legs, core, and arm should all swing freely together in a single smooth motion.
How can I improve my shooting skills in basketball?
To start, stand still and make five net shots in each of four different spots. Every time, keep track of your progress to see how much you get better. It’s best to start practicing with simple shots close to the basket. Don’t start practicing 3-point shots right away; instead, build up to it over time.
Where do you look when shooting a basketball?
Make sure there is some space between your hand and the ball when you hold it. Always use your finger pads. Look at the two or three rim hooks that are facing you as you line up your shot. You should try to drop the ball just over the front of the rim. Don’t let it go too low!
Why am I so bad at shooting in basketball?
It’s likely that you haven’t been holding the ball in the middle with your shooting hand fingers spread out far enough to give both sides of the ball similar power. To fix this, stretch your hand so that your thumb forms a “L” shape instead of a “J” shape.
What are the best angles to shoot basketball?
Trying to reach an opening angle of 45 degrees. The best shot, which always goes in, is straight and 11 inches deep into the basket at a 45-degree angle. Most shots hit the rim at an angle between 35 and 55 degrees.