Shooting Mechanics

We have spoken about shooting mechanics in prior posts but I wanted to take the time and add another post as my thinking of the subject continues to evolve.

1. Receiving the ball – This point is often overlooked but it is so important.  You should always be prepared to receive the ball with the proper footwork.  Proper footwork allows the shooter to save time in getting his shot off.  This precious time is important when you are competing against good competition.  Many times, it is the difference between getting the shot to the basket and getting the shot blocked.  When coming off a screen and you are ready to receive the pass always remember that you lead with the inside foot or the foot closest to the basket.  So, if you are going from the right to the left you lead with the right foot.  If you are coming from left to right you lead with the left foot.  It is also a good idea to teach your players the 2-foot method of receiving the ball as it is the quickest way to receive the ball and shoot it but both the step-in method and the jump stop method are effective. 


2. Eyes – The great shooters are always able to find the rim as soon as they catch the ball.  The faster you get your eyes on the rim the better your chances are to make your shots.  Learn to get your eyes up to the basket as soon as you receive the ball on a pass and shoot and even faster than that when you are shooting off of a dribble. 


3. Base – A players shooting base is important but is flexible.  Each player is different.  What you need to keep in mind is that you should have your shooting foot (same foot as the hand you shoot with) slightly forward.  Your feet should not be close together but should be a comfortable distance apart. 


4. Feet – You should have the weight of your body on the balls of your feet.  If you notice the best shooters in the NBA they have their heal slightly off of the ground as they prepare to shoot.  What this does is it helps you generate more power when you shoot.  Your power is generated from your legs when you shoot and leg power is started from the point where your feet meet the ground.  If your heels are on the ground they will serve as a natural neutralizer to the power you are generating.  Think of the feet as springs that are coiling.  If the heal touches the ground there is a lot of energy that will be absorbed by the ground instead of transferring to your body and then subsequently your shot. 


5. Knees – Bent knees are important to getting distance on your shot. 


6. Waist – Your hips should be bent slightly forward when you shoot. 


7. Load – Your load is where you place the ball as you are gathering all of the energy you need to get your shot to the basket.  The farther from the basket you are the deeper the load should be.  Just remember that the deeper the load the longer it will take for you to get your shot off.  This is a huge trade off so don’t go too deep with your load. 


8. Elbow – Your shooting elbow should be tucked in.  No “chicken wings” allowed.  For this point the better way to word it is that you want the shoulder, elbow, and wrist of the shooting hand to be on the same plane when shooting the ball.  This along with the proper follow through will assure that the ball goes straight instead of left or right. 


9. Guide Hand – The guide hand is there to keep the ball balanced when getting ready to shoot.  Remember that it is not used to help shoot the ball.  If the thumb of your guide hand goes forward on the release then you are using your guide hand to shoot the ball.  When this happens the fundamentals of a one handed shot are thrown out the window.  Place the guide hand on the side of the ball and use it for balance only.


10. Release – Being that the middle finger is the longest finger on your hand it should be the last finger to touch the ball when you release it.  This is the biggest determinant of whether the ball will go straight or be off left or right. 


11. Follow Thru – The follow thru should be with your shooting hand about 15 –20 degrees from vertical with your hand looking like it is trying to grab a cookie from a cookie jar on the top shelf.  It is important that the follow thru does not go much lower than 15-20 degrees.  If it is too low your shot will be a line drive or flat.  If done properly your shot will have a nice arc and look pretty. 


12. Putting it all together – All of the mechanics mentioned above are important.  What is also important is how they all come together.  Ideally you want everything to work efficiently so that there is no wasted motion and that they are done in a relaxed fashion.  Tensing up when shooting negates the power that a shooter generates during the shooting process.  The best shot is the one where everything works as if it is one effortless motion.  All of the above-mentioned points just fire off at the right time and everything looks relaxed and like one motion.  This assures that there is no wasted energy and assures that your shot will be efficient from all distances. 

Over the next few posts I will take the time to introduce a few drills which will help with each of the above identified mechanics.