There are many skills to learn in basketball that will make you a complete player. Learning how to shoot may be the most important of all of them. There is more to basketball than being able to put the ball through the net, but players who can score consistently will always be valued by their coaches and will be put on the court when the game is on the line. Having the proper shooting form and technique comes with practice and discipline.
Lift
"You shoot with your legs." This statement has been made by coaches for decades. It's quite true. Basketball players who shoot by firing the ball with their hands and arms and don't think about their legs are not going to be good jump shooters. In order to have the proper form, you must get great lift from your legs. One of the most important factors in shooting is letting the ball go when you are at the peak of your jump. This gets you closer to the basket, and it makes your shot difficult to block. To drill for shooting at the peak of your jump, take a rack of basketball shoes, go to the top of the key and let go of 10 straight jump shots. You are concentrating on shooting only when you get to the peak of your jump and you are also looking at the front rim. You will soon build the habit of getting maximum lift when you shoot your jump shot.
Hand Position
When you shoot, the ball needs to be balanced evenly in your shooting hand. The ball should be on your fingertips with a small percentage of daylight between your palm and the ball. Your non-shooting hand needs to be on the side of the ball, guiding it to the correct shooting position. The ball should be over your head, and as you reach the peak of your jump, you should snap your wrist forward while aiming at the front of the rim.
Follow Through
Keep your eyes focused on the rim throughout your shot. Do not just let the ball go abruptly. In order to keep the ball flying straight, you must continue through with your hands and wrist toward the rim to keep it on target. After the ball is flying to the target, always move toward the basket. This is called following your shot. If you miss, you want to be in a position to gather the rebound, and you may be in the best position of any player to get the rebound.
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