For a basketball player or fan, there is no sweeter sound --- or sight --- than that of the ball perfectly swishing through the net without touching a speck of rim. But while anyone can net the occasional jump shot, it takes a true dead-eye shooter to consistently torch the nets, especially in game situations, with a defender in your face and your leg muscles fatiguing. So if you're dreaming of sinking the game-winning shot as the clock expires, you'd better get to practicing.
Shooter See, Shooter Do
Step 1
Study the greats --- renowned NBA shooters past such as Larry Bird and Mark Price, for example --- and take mental notes on their shooting form. If you're a taller player, you might be able to get away with shooting nearly flat-footed, as Bird did. Shorter guard types are more suited to a Price-like approach, aiming for maximum lift to get the ball over defenders.
Focus also on what the great shooters do before they get the ball --- half the battle is creating an opportunity to shoot without a defender's hand in your face.
Step 2
Hoist some practice shots. You won't become a great shooter by chucking up hundreds of 3-pointers right off the bat, so work inside-out, practicing lay-ups, short jumpers and finally, 3-pointers. Take mental notes: When you miss, is it usually because your shots are off to the right, to the left, long or short? This will help you adjust accordingly.
Step 3
Perfect your pre-shot form. To be a great shooter, you must start with your shoulders square to the basket, the ball resting on your fingertips --- not in your palm --- for better control, with your shooting-side elbow in tight near your body and the ball waist-high on your shooting hand's side.
Step 4
Elevate yourself. To achieve maximum arc on your shot, it's recommended that you jump high into the air and release at the peak of your jump. Few shooters can successfully shoot the set shot as Bird did. Less elevation and less arc often cause a flat shot, which isn't as "soft" as a arching shot and is more likely to clang off the rim. Plus, you're more likely to get the shot off over a defender's outstretched arm if you're higher off the ground.
Step 5
Fire away. Once you've reached the peak of your jump with the ball slightly above and to the shooting-hand side of your head, begin to loft it toward the hoop by unfurling your shooting elbow and snapping your wrist for maximum backspin. Keep your non-shooting hand steadily on the side of the ball. Think of it like an archer: The off-hand steadies the bow, while the shooting hand lets it rip.
Keep your eyes focused on the goal the entire time. After release, concentrate on following through in exaggerated fashion, holding your shooting pose until the ball has reach the rim.
Things You'll Need
- Basketball
- Basketball goal
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