Shooting ability isn’t entirely genetic — which means you can develop into a good basketball shooter with the right workouts and drills.
By focusing on ball-handling, shooting mechanics, and footwork, you can move up from being an average shooter to becoming one of the best shooters on your team. In this beginner’s guide to developing into a good shooter, you’ll find workouts and drills that you can use to improve your shooting form, as well as information about improving your balance and body control in order to shoot more accurately.
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Now let’s get to the tips.
Step 1: Warming Up Before Shooting
The most important aspect of being able to develop into a good basketball shooter is having touch to the rim, which will help you make shots. So, before you can start making baskets and scoring points, you’ll need to ensure your touch to the rim is warmed up and ready for use.
Shooters often warm up by running or doing push-ups in order to ensure their touch to the rim isn’t cold. It may seem like shooting isn’t much more than a finger on the trigger but it’s one of the most difficult skills in basketball.
You have to be prepared for anything at any time, as every player on your team is counting on you when they shoot. If you want to develop into a good shooter, your first step should be working out so that you’re able to withstand pressure from opposing teams.
Without good conditioning, it won’t matter how good your shot is because opposing players will just overpower you. In addition to conditioning yourself physically, remember that mental toughness is equally important.
Being able to keep calm under pressure will allow you to play at an optimal level even if things aren’t going well early on in a game.
Step 2: Free Throw Drills
In basketball, the free-throw line is one of the most important areas on the court for any shooter. This is where players line up to shoot when their team has committed a foul.
The mid-range shot around the line is incredibly important for any player because it allows them to make buckets if they miss the shot from inside the three-point line and it also forces teams to guard that area, which opens up driving lanes and scoring opportunities around the hoop.
Shooting well on free throws comes with practice, but there are drills you can do at home or on your own time to improve your jump shot.
Free Throw Line Drills For Shooting Accuracy: Stand about 6 feet away from a wall. Stand sideways so that your dominant hand (right-handers should use the right hand, lefties should use the left) is closest to the wall.
Face forward toward an open space about 15 feet away from you and keep your back flat against the wall so you don’t sway backward while shooting.
Have someone hold two tennis balls in each hand behind their back with their palms facing down towards their legs and have them hold out both hands at chest level like they’re holding an invisible ball in front of them.
Step 3: Three Point Shooting Drills
An important part of being a good three point shooter is learning to take high percentage shots. And, one way to help accomplish that is by practicing specific drills. Here are three that basketball players should start incorporating into their workouts:
1) The s-curve drill helps players develop smooth shooting mechanics while keeping their form as they shoot. This will help them be more consistent when taking regular shots and increase their chance of hitting every shot they take.
2) Foul shots are worth two points and NBA teams shoot most of their foul shots within five feet of the basket, so it’s important for players to work on shooting from that range during their workouts—especially if they want to make it to an NBA game!
3) Free throws can also be used in workouts because there aren’t many different types of free throw shots. However, if you’re going to do free throws in your workout routine, remember to focus on repetition rather than scoring as quickly as possible.
In other words, you shouldn’t just go through all your free throws in a row at full speed; instead, try slowing down between each shot and focus on technique throughout your workout.
Step 4: Spot Up Shooting Drills
Having someone pass you the basketball in this style workout is key for consistent mechanics. You want the passer to be at eye level with you, and either behind or in front of you, making it harder for defenders from getting between the two of you.
Make sure that your defender is standing flat-footed so they can’t contest your shot easily. Stand 10-15 feet away from your partner with plenty of room around him/her as well as behind him/her.
This way, if he/she moves laterally towards you as you shoot, it won’t affect your shot negatively—just try not to let them get directly in front of the line between you and the basket.
In addition to having your passer at eye level, make sure his/her arms are extended out straight ahead of him/her like an airplane. Then start by shooting three jump shots in a row, each one more difficult than the last:
- Catch and Shoot
- Catch and Step
- Catch and Hop Back
Step 5: Moving Without the Ball Drills
One of the most important aspects of learning how to shoot is developing your off-the-ball game. It’s easy to think that the ball will come to you in basketball, and even easier to believe that when you’re just starting out on the court.
However, learning how to move without the ball can open up new ways for you to score and get more comfortable playing in traffic with fast breaks, screen and rolls, and dribble handoffs.
The real challenge with moving without the ball is knowing when not to move: if there are defenders between you and the basket or your teammates are ready for a pass as soon as you catch it, then don’t bother trying to juke around them—just stop where you are until the ball does come.
Step 6: Post Moves and Finishing
One of the most basic post moves is a drop step –- an offensive player takes a few steps, pauses, and steps back quickly.
If done correctly, it will make the defender slip and fall. But in general, basketball players with post footwork are not afraid to use their footwork when on the basketball court.
Finishing at the rim is hard enough if you have elite talent; try doing it without using proper footwork. Learning how to develop your own post moves and finishing will give you an upper hand on the basketball court.
If you want to level up your shooting accuracy, we got you. We created the 6ixShooter Academy. A one-stop basketball training program to help elevate your game and become an unstoppable shooter with coach Seth McCoy a.k.a 6ixShooter. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
If you want to level up your shooting accuracy, we got you. We created the 6ixShooter Academy. A one-stop basketball training program to help elevate your game and become an unstoppable shooter with coach Seth McCoy a.k.a 6ixShooter. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
