In basketball, your shooting percentage is the ratio of shots you make to the shots you attempt. Improving your accuracy will improve your shooting percentage. When you raise the ball, align your elbow with the target. Use your wrist to flick the ball smoothly, and follow through with your hand toward the target. Ask your coach to show you correct shooting form, or watch professional players. Try to mimic their movements until you achieve smooth, balanced shots.
Types of Goals
In basketball, the three types of goals are field goals, three-pointers and free throws. Field goals are worth two points and are the most common shots in a game. Field goals include jump shots within the three-point arc, dunks and lay ups. To make a three-point shot, a player must shoot from outside the three-point arc, which is a roughly semicircular line encompassing the playing area around each net. Free throws are shots that referees award as a penalty after an infraction, such as after a player on defense hits the arm of a player in the process of shooting. Free throws are worth one point each.
Calculating Shooting Percentage
Calculate your shooting percentage by dividing the number of shots you make by the shots you attempt. For example, if you make 20 shots during a game after 40 attempts, your shooting percentage for that game is 50 percent. By only factoring in certain types of shots, you can calculate different types of shooting percentages. For example, to calculate a free throw or three-pointer shooting percentage, use only that type of shot in your calculations.
Improving Shooting Percentage
Improve your shooting percentage by increasing the likelihood of a successful shot. Adding backspin to the ball makes it more likely to drop into the net. When a ball with backspin makes contact with the backboard or rim, it will bounce downward at a sharp angle. Adding arc to your shot also increases your chances of scoring. Flat shots are likely to bounce off the rim, while high-arcing shots are likely to drop straight through.
Considerations
Choose shot types that have a high chance of going in. For example, when you are close to the net, use a layup rather than a jump shot. The area immediately around the net is typically crowded with other players, making it difficult to find an open, undefended area to take a standard jump shot. Layups, on the other hand, typically have a high percentage of success because using the backboard allows you to shoot quickly at odd angles without performing the necessary motions a proper jump shot requires.
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