Shooting is one of the most important skills a player can have when playing the game of basketball. Clearly there is more to the game than just shooting--dribbling, rebounding, passing and playing defense are also vital--but knowing how to put the ball through the hoop will help a player grow and develop and make her a vital part of the team. Proper form is essential when it comes to shooting a basketball.
Lift
The first part of shooting correctly is getting height on your jump and shooting the ball just before you reach the apex of your leap. In basketball, coaches refer to this as getting lift. The best way to do this is to have your feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart. If you are a right-handed shooter, make sure your left foot is about 2 or 3 inches in front of your right foot. Jump off the balls of your feet and wait until you are within an inch or two of the top of your leap before you release the ball.
The Release
When you release the ball when shooting, you need to have your hands just above eye level. The fingertips of your shooting hand should be on the bottom of the ball and your opposite hand should serve as a guide placed on the side of the ball. Spread your fingers nearly as wide as they can go. The shooting motion should be up and out as you release the ball toward the basket. You should be shooting more with your wrist than you are with your arm. Your vision should be focused on the front of the rim as you go up and as you shoot the ball.
Follow-Through
If you want your shot to stay on course once you release the ball you have to follow through with your fingers, wrist and arm as you let go of the ball. Keep your vision focused on the front rim as the ball leaves your hand. Extend the forefinger of your shooting hand toward the front rim so that it is pointing at the front rim. Snap your wrist as you release the ball so that the forefinger can point right at the rim and give your shot a better chance of being successful.
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