HoopsKing

Shooting, as I have often stated, is the easiest of all skills to improve. Form and Focus are the two "areas" of shooting so time must be spent in both areas in order to yield a killer "J". Form shooting is essential and can be done with no hoop. Actual shooting requires time. You should concentrate on drills that will get you the most bang for your buck. For example, since the majority of shooting will be on the move (or off of relocating) so drills that include going to get your own ball or throwing the ball out, going to get it, then shooting builds not only shooting skill but stamina also.

Always be "live" when you train. Meaning, pay attention on every shot to what you are doing and what you are looking at (focus). Pay attention to "feel". Attempt to connect the "feel" to the shot going in. Always know how much your shooting, as well as how many you make and the the time it takes to complete. Continue to work on increasing the number of shots taken, the number of shots made, in less time. Track your progress.

Anyone can shoot. Great players make shots, from game spots at game speed. Shooting is the hardest skill to master. It requires specific mechanics with daily repetition. Learn at an early age to shoot the correct way. Get comfortable with your form and then get reps in daily. Be able to make 300-1,000 shots a day. Mix up your shots; get stationary shots, shots off the cut, shots off the dribble, and shots off a jab/catch. Have variety in your drills, use chairs, two balls, and cones. Put your drills on the clock. How many can you make in 1 minute. Shooting is fun and you should never get bored with your workouts. Put pressure on yourself. If you don’t make 70% of your 14-18 footers and 60% of your 19-23 footers on your own, you have to develop some sort of punishment for you. Shooters are made, not born. Get After It!

Basketball Shooting Skills with Jason Otter

I teach shooting with the underlying philosophy that PROPER MECHANICS + REPITITION = SUCCESS. I want players to practice shooting on track, incorporating some basic shooting concepts. All players should establish a proper foundation catching the ball low, balanced out, and square to the rim (10 toes at the rim). This ensures that the student will use their legs to shoot and release the ball as quickly as possible.

As players catch the ball to shoot either by a 2 foot drop or a one-two step, they should be sighting the rim and showing a wrinkled wrist target. As a player tracks the ball, a right handed players elbow should line up with his or her right foot (opposite for the left handed player) keeping their head, shoulders, hips, feet, and palm square to the basket. The students’ follow-through should be smooth and in one motion, assuring a quick and fluid shot. Remember the more efficient a shot is the less room for error and the quicker the release will be. At the conclusion of the follow-through, the player’s elbow should be above the eyebrow with the wrist breaking at the rim. Once the student has released the ball, they should still be square to the basket with his arm lined up with his lead foot, and the arm should also be fully extended.

When a player is incorporating his or her shot into game shooting drills proper practice techniques should be emphasized. Game speed shooting is emphasize based on the philosophy: PROPER MECHANICS + REPITITION + INTENSITY = GAME SUCCESS. Players should practice taking game shots at game speed. Game shooting workouts should take no longer than 45 minutes and should be as difficult as running wind sprints with free throws practiced in between each set of shots or sprints. As the shooter becomes tired he must remember to focus on using proper techniques from footwork to release. And remember that every missed shot is a learning opportunity. Shots should fly straight or something is wrong with the student’s mechanics. All shots should be charted during shooting workouts, monitoring progress and consistency. During game shooting workouts, remember to COME OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE!

Shooting the ball and making shots consistently are two very different things.  My partners covered the art of shooting very thoroughly.  What are some pitfalls that will hurt your chances of making shots? 

1.  Not being ready to shoot.  Stay in a stance on offense like you would on Defense. 

2.  Not being balanced and feet placement.  Make sure your feet are shoulder width apart and when you land they should stay that way.  Make sure on the move that your right foot is slightly in front of your left foot no matter how you catch the ball.  I also see players clicking their feet together on the jump or landing awkwardly. 

3.  Players hitch their shot or hold the ball too long.  Some players stop the momentum of their shot at multiple spots before releasing the ball.  Other players elevate and hold the ball too long.  This causes players to lose the power they get from the lift and make the shot more of an arm throw.  This usually causes flat shots and misses at the end of games.

4.  The crooked follow thru.  Make sure your follow thru is at the basket and not to the left or right.  When players make passes it is rare for their follow thru to be left or right when their target is straight ahead.  The same concept goes for shooting. 

5.  Focus on the target.  I have seen over and over again players looking at the rim and then taking their focus off of the rim and onto the ball as it is in the air.  Players should focus on the hoop the whole time.  The same goes for any other sport or activity like pitching, playing darts or bowling to name a few. 

Remember that the less stuff you do with your shot the more likely you will make shots because there is less room for error.  Even if you miss you should be able to self-adjust your shot because you will know what you did wrong.  If the shot is different every time then it will be hard to build muscle memory and it will be near impossible to figure out what you did wrong.  “Train like a Pro!”