For as long as basketball has been played, new ways to put the ball in the basket are always being invented and perfected. From distances long and short, there is no one way to shoot the basketball. However, some methods are better than others. Mastering them all can make you a star player at any level.
Layup
The layup is the easiest shot to make in basketball. Taken from close range to the basket, the layup requires the shooter to dribble in close to the basket, often at a 45-degree angle from one side of the basket or the other, depending on which hand the player dribbles with. As the player approaches the goal, he picks up the dribble, takes two steps and extends the ball to the basket with the the dribble hand, releasing the ball from a position above the head. The forward momentum toward the basket allows the player to get the ball close the rim unimpeded.
Jump Shot
The jump shot did not come into vogue until the 1950s and 60s, but is now the most popular shot in basketball, especially with the advent of the three-point shot in the NBA in 1979. The jump shot requires the player to elevate straight up with both feet, while simultaneously raising the ball to eye level and releasing it toward the goal, the dominant hand providing the loft and the opposite hand steadying the ball for guidance. The ball is released not with a push of the arms, but with a flick of the wrist, causing the ball to spin with rotation toward the basket, keeping it on a proper trajectory.
Hook Shot
The hook shot is designed to allow the shooter to ward off defenders by keeping his body between the opponent and the ball. A stationary hook shot, or "Sky Hook" is attempted from a set position, with the ball placed in the dominant hand and the corresponding leg lifting, while keeping the other leg planted. The arm with the ball is curled over the shooter's head and the ball released at the highest point toward the basket. A running hook is similar to a layup, only shot from a longer distance, with the arm again curling over the head, instead of extended forward.
Runner
A runner is the combination of a layup and a hook shot, with the shooter dribbling toward the basket, then coming to a stop generally in the 10- to 12-foot range, usually with the defender not playing tight defense, providing the shooter room to release the shot. The shooter then extends his arm with the ball toward the basket and flips the ball toward the goal, like a layup, but adding more loft because of his distance to the basket. While a layup is generally released underhanded, a runner is almost pushed overhand toward the goal. Because the shooter is upright as he releases the ball, he is able to control the accuracy, despite the distance.
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