Shooting Blueprint

Shooting Fundamentals

Shooting is a fundamental basketball skill. Proper form, footwork, and consistency help players become reliable scorers. This guide covers shooting mechanics and techniques to improve accuracy.

Hand Position: Shooting and Off-Hand
Feet Position: Balance and Alignment
Shooting Mechanics
Follow-Through
Aiming
Checklist

1. Hand Position: Shooting and Off-Hand

Control the ball with both hands, using all your fingers and as much of your palms as possible. This gives you a comfortable feel for the ball and you the freedom to move the ball around.

Your dominant hand will control the ball for the shot and your off hand will secure the ball to your shooting hand.

Your pointer and middle fingers of your dominant hand are called your control fingers. They are placed in the centre of the ball and control the ball’s centre of gravity. They are also the last point of contact with the ball, which is crucial for aiming.

Your off hand is on the side of the ball, pinning it to your dominant hand. This forms a V with your thumbs.

Remember, you want as much contact with the ball as possible while remaining comfortable with your fingers spread and relaxed.

2. Feet Position: Balance and Alignment

Your feet are shoulder width apart for even balance. They are even, not staggered. Your toes point towards the goal to align your shoulders to the target.

You are in an “Athletic Stance”, with your knees bent, hips hinged, chest out, shoulders back and ready to pop up.

3. Shooting Mechanics

Your elbow and wrist are at 90 degrees creating a shot pocket. Keep the ball in front of you, making the shot line straight and accurate.

As you push the ball up make sure your elbow is tucked in under the ball. If your elbow points to the ring, your shot will be accurate.

You are pushing the ball up to the sky with your whole body. The key is to time your shot release with your jump. The ball leaves your hand, and at the same time, your feet leave the ground.

Shoot the ball with your wrist, using your control fingers to aim at the target. The power generated from your jump pushes the ball up and shooting the ball with your wrist pushes the ball forward, creating the essential shooting arc.

The shooting touch comes from the ability to shoot from your wrist. Your jump shot should be the same every time for consistency.

4. Follow-Through

After the ball is released your shooting arm is extended and relaxed, with your fingers pointing toward the goal.

You land in the same spot with your feet in the same position, back into an athletic stance.

5. Aiming

Identify the Bulls-Eye by focusing on the centre of the ring. By focusing on the Bulls-Eye within the bigger target of the ring, you narrow your focus to a single point.

Your shot line is where the ball moves from the shot pocket up to the release point. This should be a straight line up and down with no variation.

6. Shooting Checklist

Athletic Stance aligned with the goal.
Aiming at the bulls-eye.
Ball starts in the shot chamber.
Wrist and elbow have a 90-degree bend.
Ball moves straight up the shot line.
Elbow is under the ball at the release point.
Pop off the ground when releasing the shot.
Control fingers point to the goal.
Relaxed extension, off-hand hasn’t moved.
Balanced landing in the same position.

Use the checklist to check your form before and after your shot for quality reps.

Becoming a good shooter takes practice and attention to detail. Focusing on proper technique with enough repetition will help you develop a consistent and effective shot.