This article was co-authored by Ryan Tremblay. Ryan Tremblay is a Basketball Coach and the Owner of National Sports ID and STACK Basketball. With over 30 years of experience, Ryan specializes in basketball coaching, social media marketing, and website design. Ryan created the National Sports ID as a platform to verify the age/grade of youth athletes and STACK Basketball to inspire young athletes to grow into mature individuals and basketball players. Ryan was a First Team All-Decade basketball player in Bergen County and finished in the top 20 all-time leading scorers in the county’s history with 1,730 points. He went on to Caldwell University on a basketball scholarship where he was part of three championship teams. Ryan was a two-time All-Metropolitan, All-State, and All-Conference point guard and the all-time three-point leader in the school’s history, landing him in the Caldwell University Athletic Hall of Fame.
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If your goal is to play basketball on a team in high school, college, or even at a professional level, then becoming a better shooter is essential. The better you are at making shots, the better your chances of getting in the game. Regular, frequent practices can help you to improve your basketball shooting skills. There are different practice techniques that you can use to improve your shot accuracy, such as by practicing perfect form and running drills.
Steps
Practicing Perfect Form
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1Practice catching in a shot-ready position. Catching the ball in a shot-ready (or athletic) position is a good way to improve your form. By being ready to shoot the ball when you catch it, rather than getting ready to shoot the ball after you catch it, you can improve the speed and accuracy of your shots.[1]
- To get into a shot ready position, bend your knees slightly and hinge your body forward at the hips. You should look as if you are getting ready to jump in the air. This will provide you with some extra power when you make your shot.[2]
- Having good form and being confident are the most important things you can do to improve your shot percentage.[3]
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2Identify your most comfortable shot pocket. Your shot pocket is the position where you shoot the ball from and this is different for everyone. Try to identify the most comfortable shot pocket position for you and stick with that position.[4]
- For example, you might feel most comfortable shooting from the center of your forehead, to the right of your head, or slightly above your head.
- Keep in mind that you don’t need to have the same shot pocket that other players do. Focus on what seems to work best for you.
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3Position yourself. The position of your arm, hand, and head can also influence the accuracy of your shots. Your shooting arm and hand should form a “C” shape when you are getting ready to shoot the ball. You can check yourself in a mirror or have a friend check you from the side.[5]
- Make sure that you are looking straight ahead as well.
- Keep your elbows bent and lift the ball above your nose before you release it.[6]
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4Follow through and hold. When you shoot the ball, make sure that you follow through with your shot by snapping your elbow.[7] Then, hold the position until the ball makes contact with the hoop and/or net. Following through and holding after you shoot the ball will help to improve your shot accuracy.[8]
Running Elbow to Elbow Drills
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1Stand on one leg. To do an elbow drill, you will need to start by making shots standing on one foot. Standing on one foot will help to improve your balance and it will increase the difficulty of your shots as well. Start by standing near the foul line and making a shot standing on one foot.[11]
- You can stand on your left or right leg to start, but make sure that you switch legs halfway through your drill. Don’t just practice making shots on one leg.
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2Hold the ball with both hands. Standing on one foot should add enough of a challenge to start things off, so use both hands to make your shots when you first start doing elbow drills.[12] Make sure that you keep your elbows in and point your fingers towards the center of the hoop as you make your shots.[13]
- Also, remember to find your shot pocket, create a “C” shape, and follow through after you shoot.
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3Change spots as you shoot the ball. Shooting in one position may help you to master shooting from that spot, but it is a good idea to practice shooting from varied positions. Try to cycle through some different shooting positions to challenge yourself in different ways.[14]
- For example, you could start out at the foul line, then move in and to the left of the hoop, then move to the right of the hoop, and then repeat the cycle.
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4Increase the difficulty when you feel ready. Move onto one-handed shots when you feel ready to increase the difficulty of your drills. Make sure that you use good form like you did with your two-handed shots. You may need to go slower until you perfect your form for one-handed shots.[15]
- If your form is really suffering as a result of switching to one-handed shots, then you can always return to two-handed shots.
Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow do I improve my shooting percentage?
Ryan TremblayRyan Tremblay is a Basketball Coach and the Owner of National Sports ID and STACK Basketball. With over 30 years of experience, Ryan specializes in basketball coaching, social media marketing, and website design. Ryan created the National Sports ID as a platform to verify the age/grade of youth athletes and STACK Basketball to inspire young athletes to grow into mature individuals and basketball players. Ryan was a First Team All-Decade basketball player in Bergen County and finished in the top 20 all-time leading scorers in the county’s history with 1,730 points. He went on to Caldwell University on a basketball scholarship where he was part of three championship teams. Ryan was a two-time All-Metropolitan, All-State, and All-Conference point guard and the all-time three-point leader in the school’s history, landing him in the Caldwell University Athletic Hall of Fame.
Basketball CoachYou have to figure out the proper mechanics, fundamentals, and form. Do them over and over until they become a habit. Then, when you're doing it, you'll be able to tell when you have it perfect.
Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.
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QuestionWhat is the perfect basketball shooting form look like?Ryan TremblayRyan Tremblay is a Basketball Coach and the Owner of National Sports ID and STACK Basketball. With over 30 years of experience, Ryan specializes in basketball coaching, social media marketing, and website design. Ryan created the National Sports ID as a platform to verify the age/grade of youth athletes and STACK Basketball to inspire young athletes to grow into mature individuals and basketball players. Ryan was a First Team All-Decade basketball player in Bergen County and finished in the top 20 all-time leading scorers in the county’s history with 1,730 points. He went on to Caldwell University on a basketball scholarship where he was part of three championship teams. Ryan was a two-time All-Metropolitan, All-State, and All-Conference point guard and the all-time three-point leader in the school’s history, landing him in the Caldwell University Athletic Hall of Fame.
Basketball CoachNot everyone's shot will look exactly the same, but the best shooters do have similar characteristics. They shoot the ball over their nose, keep their elbows and knees bent, follow through, and get off the floor when they jump.Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.
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QuestionHow do I become a better free throw shooter?
Community AnswerFirst relax. If you have a routine, then do the routine. After you do that, take a deep breath. Next, your free throw position should be the same position as your jumper. Then relax, bend your knees, and shoot. Follow through on every free throw you take. Make sure it has the same arc as your jumper.
References
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H8c3hQ4rU0&nohtml5=False
- ↑ http://www.usab.com/youth/news/2012/08/3cues-for-better-basketball-shooting.aspx
- ↑ Ryan Tremblay. Basketball Coach. Expert Interview. 13 November 2020.
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H8c3hQ4rU0&nohtml5=False
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H8c3hQ4rU0&nohtml5=False
- ↑ Ryan Tremblay. Basketball Coach. Expert Interview. 13 November 2020.
- ↑ http://www.usab.com/youth/news/2012/08/3cues-for-better-basketball-shooting.aspx
- ↑ Ryan Tremblay. Basketball Coach. Expert Interview. 13 November 2020.
- ↑ Ryan Tremblay. Basketball Coach. Expert Interview. 13 November 2020.
- ↑ http://www.usab.com/youth/news/2012/08/3cues-for-better-basketball-shooting.aspx
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndpqW-7H2sY&nohtml5=False
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndpqW-7H2sY&nohtml5=False
- ↑ http://www.usab.com/youth/news/2012/08/3cues-for-better-basketball-shooting.aspx
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndpqW-7H2sY&nohtml5=False
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndpqW-7H2sY&nohtml5=False
- Videos provided by ILoveBasketballTV
About This Article
To become a better basketball shooter, try shooting from the center of your forehead, looking straight at the rim, and positioning your shooting arm and hand so they form a “C” shape. When you shoot, follow through with your shot by extending and locking your elbow and snapping your wrist, then hold this position until the ball hits the net. As you catch the ball, catch in a shot-ready position by bending your knees and positioning your hips forward to prepare to shoot again. For more advice, like how to run elbow to elbow drills to improve accuracy, read on!
