The shot is a transitory part of most player's basketball skill set. There will be days when you shoot the ball and everything seems to be going in. There will be other days when you can't seem to hit anything. It's important to work and experiment on your shot so you understand how to get out of a slump when you find yourself missing too much.
Shooting Without Jumping
Shoot the ball without jumping to work on your release. The jump is just one more variable in your shot that you have to control and do correctly when you are shooting. By eliminating that variable, you can make sure that you are using the fundamentally correct techniques when you aim, prepare to shoot, release and follow through. Once you are satisfied that you are executing your shot correctly, then add jumping to the shooting process once again.
Changing Trajectory
When you shoot, you have to get the ball high enough that the ball will drop through the rim and not bound off of it. To become a more consistent shooter, experiment with your trajectory in practice. Make it your goal that when you shoot the ball, it will not be a line drive that hits the front rim. Put enough arc on the ball so it goes past the front rim and drops down into the net.
Quick Release
If you have a problem getting your shot off and not getting it blocked by your opponents, you are probably waiting too long to let your shot go. Try to get your shot off as quickly as possible. Do this in practice by having a teammate set a screen, dribble by him and then go up as soon as you step past the screen. Let go of your shot as soon as you reach the apex of your leap. This should help you avoid getting your shot blocked.
Bank Shots
Using the backboard to make your shot is a lost art at many levels of basketball. Unless a player is going in for a layup, a player is very unlikely to use the glass. However, that does not mean it won't help your shot. If you are taking any shot from the right or left side, notice the rim-sized square that is painted on the backboard. Aim for the vertical lines in the rectangle when shooting a bank shot. Take 10 bank shots and then 10 straight shots. If you are more successful with the bank shots, start using the technique in games.
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