Teaching How to Shoot a Basketball
A comprehensive guide for coaches to teach shooting techniques to beginner level high school players.
Instructions for Shooting a Basketball in Six Steps
SQUARE UP
1
2
SET YOUR FEET
3
GATHER & GRIP
ELEVATE
4
5
RELEASE
6
EVALUATE
Gather & Grip
[Turn Your Body to Face the Basket]
1. SQUARE UP
To guide your players in shooting a basketball, instruct them to first lock their eyes on the basket and align their shoulders and feet so they face it with their entire body. Emphasizing the importance of squaring up to the basket will help establish a solid foundation for their shooting technique. Remind them that consistently squaring in the same way for each shot will contribute to greater consistency in their shooting motion.
SQUARE UP
Face the basket with your eyes, shoulders, hips, and feet before you start to shoot the ball.
SQUARE UP
From the side, notice how eyes,
shoulders, hips, and feet are all facing the basket before the
shooting motion has begun.
Coaches should encourage some shooters to naturally square their feet by pointing them directly at the basket, while others may find it beneficial to aim slightly to the left, helping their shoulders align at a slight angle. It's worth noting that left-handed shooters might prefer to angle their feet slightly to the right of the rim. Instruct players to consider taking a stance with their dominant foot forward, as this can help reduce shoulder tension, keep the elbow in line, and create a more fluid shooting motion.
EVEN STANCE
SLIGHT LEFT STANCE
STAGGERED STANCE
Encourage your players to find the shooting stance that feels most comfortable for them, while emphasizing the importance of consistency. If they feel more natural with their feet aligned directly toward the basket, instruct them to adopt that position for every shot. If a slight angle to the left or right feels better, guide them maintain that stance consistently. Whether using an even or stagger stance, remind them that consistency is crucial for improving their shooting performance.
Try It Out
Ask your players which stance feels more comfortable for them. Have them take 3-5 practice shots with both feet aimed at the basket, then 3-5 shots with their feet slightly angled to the left or right. Which position felt more natural for them? Encourage them to try a staggered stance as well. Ask if they prefer it and to take 3-5 practice shots with their feet positioned slightly staggered. Did this make shooting feel easier for them? Before moving on to Step 2, guide your players to decide which stance is most comfortable and practice squaring up.
2. SET YOUR FEET
[Get Your Balance]
When guiding your players on shooting, emphasize the importance of finding and maintaining proper balance as they square up to the basket. Encourage them to position their feet about shoulder-width apart, resting their weight on the balls of their feet instead of their heels. Remind them to keep their knees slightly bent and avoid leaning in any direction. If they're moving (running or dribbling), instruct them to come to a jump stop and establish balance with their feet set before taking the shot.
Tip: Advise your players to keep their eyes focused on the rim as they prepare shoot. Some may prefer to look at the front of the rim while others might focus on the back. Whatever their choice consistency in their gaze is key for every shot.
What Does It Look Like?
SET YOUR FEET
Balance your weight on your forefoot -- which will naturally cause you to bend your knees and crouch slightly forward.
When you're balanced, you can go into your shooting motion quicker.
NOT ON TIPTOES
Don't rest your weight on your toes, it will make you less balanced. Poor balance will make your shot less consistent and it could cause you to travel if you fall forward.
NOT FLAT FOOTED
Don't stand flat footed either, it will slow your shot down because you can't jump or go into your shooting motion without shifting your balance.
FIND YOUR CENTER OF GRAVITY
In a balanced stance, your head, shoulders, knees, and feet are aligned.
Why Is This Important?
Squaring up and getting your feet set should occur almost simultaneously (at the same time) and shouldn’t take longer than one or two seconds. Squaring up and getting your feet set is the foundation of a consistent shot. When these steps are done consistently, they give you greater control over the rest of your shooting motion. A poor stance will lead to off-balanced shots -- which will reduce consistency and therefore reduce your shooting accuracy.
RED FLAG
Coaches should emphasize to their players that until they reach an advanced shooting level, it's crucial to face the basket and achieve balance before taking a shot. This can be particularly challenging during off-the-dribble situations or when players feel pressured to shoot quickly. Encourage players to prioritize proper alignment before more advanced shots, such as hook shots or fadeaways. Once they have mastered this fundamental technique, they can then work on increasing their shooting speed.
3. GATHER & GRIP
[Establish the Shot Pocket]
Once your players are squared to the basket and balanced, they can initiate their shooting motion. Encourage them to gather the ball a few inches above their waist on the side of their dominant shooting hand, ensuring it aligns with their dominant foot. Instruct them keep their shooting hand behind the ball, spreading their fingers and gripping it firmly with the pads of their fingers. Remind them to bend knees slightly and lean forward while keeping their shooting elbow tucked close to their side. The guide hand should rest on the side of the ball with a lighter grip. This is often referred to as the “shot pocket” or “shoot pocket.” What does this look like?
LINE UP YOUR SHOT
The ball is gathered on the right of center (for right-handed shooters) and remains on that line throughout the rest of the shooting motion.
GRIP THE BALL
Get a wide grip on the ball with your fingers spread apart comfortably. Cock your wrist back as you line up your shot and keep it cocked back until it's time to release.
Tip: When coaching players on gathering the ball into their shot pocket, emphasize the importance of using the guide hand to transfer the ball to the shooting. Advise against having players reach across their body with the shooting hand, as this can slow down their setup and lead to inconsistent motion resulting in misalignment as they prepare for their shot. At this stage, it’s important for coaches to help players understand which fingers they use to shoot the ball during release. Ensure they grip the ball with their shooting fingers positioned under the center. If players’ shooting fingers aren’t aligned with the ball’s center, they may struggle with control and accuracy.
Why Is This Important?
Aside from the upcoming focus on shot release techniques, the way players gather and grip the ball is crucial for accuracy. To foster consistency and precision, players need to maintain complete control of the ball from their shot pocket to the release. A proper grip will enhance their control as they follow through.
Try It Out
Encourage players to identify which fingers they use for shooting. Have them take 3-5 practice shots and determine which finger or fingers they release with. Suggest they experiment with different grips to the most natural feel, as this will aid them when learning about the release technique.
4. ELEVATE
[Jump and Bring the Ball Up]
To help your players elevate on a jump shot, emphasize importance of starting low to generate upward momentum. Encourage them to engage their hips and knees simultaneously to spring effectively into their jump, providing the necessary power for their shot. Instruct them adopt a balanced crouched stance with the ball in their shot pocket. Guide them to lift the ball along the front of their body until their arm forms an "L" shape, it six to eight inches from their chest. Remind them to tuck their elbow directly underneath the ball. As the ball approaches the plane of their forehead, they should be ready release it. Ensure they understand the grip should be maintained with the pads of their fingers, avoiding any resting on the palm.
What does it look like?
The ball is gathered in the shot pocket before the jumpshot begins. The stance is balanced and the ball is line up with the basket behind the shooting hand.
From the crouched and balanced stance, spring yourself straight upward while bringing the ball up -- keeping it lined up with the basket.
Continue bringing the ball up as you elevate, keeping it inline. Notice that the elbow stays tucked and the wrist is cocked throughout the entire shot.
Why Is This Important?
Elevating on a jump shot gives you an advantage over defenders because you can rise above their contested hand. Elevation can also help you improve consistency when you jump first and then release while in the air.
5. RELEASE
[Extend Shooting Arm and Follow Through]
As the ball breaks the plane of your forehead, just before the peak of your jump, extend your forearm up and forward out of the “L” shape and towards the basket. Your guide hand should be placed on the side of the ball and should not influence any ball movement. It’s simply there to hold the ball in place as your shooting hand goes through the shooting motion. At the peak of your jump, flick your wrist and push the ball high, letting the ball roll off your fingertips as you flick it up and forward. Your shooting hand should finish high with your fingers positioned as if they’re wrapped around the front of the rim. Your feet should land in the same spot they left the ground from.
Tip: Once the ball is lined up with your lead foot and the basket (in your shot pocket stance) it should stay lined up throughout the shot and the release. Keeping the ball in line from the shot pocket to the release ensures that your shot stays on target as you aim.
What Does It Look Like?
Before the shot, there's a balanced stance and the ball is in the shot pocket and lined up with the basket on the right hand side behind the shooting hand.
The ball has been brought up in a straight line. (This photo was taken from an angle) The ball has been lifted higher than the forehead and the arm is being extended out of the "L" shape and towards the basket. Be sure to elevate on your jumpshot. The higher the better!
As you extend your arm, flick with your wrist and let the ball roll off the pads of your fingers as you push the ball high and forward. The ball should follow the same path it was on while in the shot pocket.
6. EVALUATE
[Assess Your Accuracy and Adjust]
After each shot, there are several things to evaluate and this is one of the keys to perfecting your shot. If you’re not in complete control of where the ball goes, pay attention to the following details of every practice shot and it will help you perfect your form and improve accuracy.
Arch
The arch on your shot greatly affects the ball’s ability to go into the hoop. With less arch, the target (basket) becomes smaller because the ball comes towards the hoop at an angle. In other words, a flatter shot has a less chance to go in. The optimal arch on a shot is roughly 55 degrees and should peak at about the height of the top of the backboard.
To give a ball more arch, there are a few things to consider:
-
Check whether or not your elbow is tucked in close to your body so that you’re pushing the ball up as you shoot. Many young shooters have a bad habit of letting their elbow stick out which flattens out the follow through motion.
-
Check your follow through and release. As you release the ball, your arm should be at roughly a 55 degree angle towards the basket.
-
As you flick the ball, don’t put too much forward force behind the ball with the snap of your wrist or the push off your fingers. Instead, let the ball roll off of the pads of your fingers as you push the ball high from underneath.
55 degrees
As you extend your shooting arm and let the ball roll off the pads of your fingers, keep your elbow in and push the ball high to give it roughly a 55 degree arch.
With less arch on your shot, the ball is less likely to go in. With more arch on your shot can be less likely to control.
Force
The force you put behind the ball affects the ball’s ability to reach the hoop. If you shoot the ball with too much forward force it’s it will reduce your arch and cause your shot to be flat. When it hits the rim or backboard with too much force, it’s going to bounce hard instead of getting a friendly roll into the basket. Conversely, if you shoot the ball without enough force it may not even make it to the basket in order to go in.
If the ball has high arch but falls short of the rim, there is likely too much upward force and not enough forward force. If the ball flies forward at the rim or backboard with very little arch, it’s likely that there is too much forward force and not enough upward force.
