Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the world, and it has been gaining popularity in the United States since its creation. There are now over 35 million basketball players in the US alone, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and that number has increased by 3 million since 2010. Basketball helps to develop several skills that can translate into success both on and off the court, such as mental discipline, teamwork, and physical strength. But because it’s such a fast-paced game, form matters significantly if you want to succeed as an individual player or your team wants to win games.
The 2 things you need to fix your shooting form
Before you fix your shooting form, it’s important to recognize that there are two things you need to fix in order to become a shooter. Those two things are: mental and physical. I will cover how to fix both of those in my next post… stay tuned! So keep an eye out for that one 🙂 – Mental: As mentioned above, before you can become a good shooter, you must first believe that you can be a good shooter. If you don’t believe in yourself, why should anyone else? It’s important to find something within yourself or outside of yourself (such as God) that gives you confidence when shooting so that when others doubt your ability to shoot or shoot well, it doesn’t affect your confidence level. – Physical: This is probably more obvious than mental but just as crucial. You have to have great shooting form if you want people to think of you as a great shooter.
Point your toes (toes should point to the basket)
You’ll want to remember to keep your feet aimed at the rim at all times. Pointing your toes in, or even slightly out, results in missed shots every time. Imagine holding a basketball under water – it gets a lot harder to shoot straight with slanted feet like that. If you’ve ever had trouble with shooting, try pointing your toes at the basket when you practice from 3-point range, and see if it fixes things for you.
Keep your feet shoulder-width apart
A wide, solid base is a key to drawing power from your legs when shooting on court. If you have too narrow of a base, you’ll lack stability, and your shot will suffer. So as you start your shooting motion, try to keep your feet shoulder-width apart with both feet facing forward. Also try to get into a fairly erect position with knees slightly bent and hands slightly above shoulder level on each side of your body. Keep in mind that all of these tips are for your first step towards fixing basketball shooting form for beginners. A good starting point is already half way there!
Knees slightly bent
In order to shoot with form, you have to be ready to shoot. This means that your knees should be slightly bent and that you’re ready to go. If your knees are locked or if you’re not bent over at all, it’s harder to shoot with form because there’s no spring action in your legs. Furthermore, standing up straight puts undue pressure on your back and makes it more difficult to move quickly enough when a defender closes in on you. Don’t underestimate how important technique is; if you don’t have great shooting form, it doesn’t matter how hard you work—you won’t improve your game. That’s why working on shooting technique from day one is so crucial for beginners and young players who are still building their muscle memory and coordination.
Chin over the basketball (looking at rim instead of floor)
Holding your chin up and eyes forward at the rim when shooting is a simple change to your shooting form that will increase your accuracy and prevent injuries. The best way to start? Place a piece of tape on the back of your head that directs you to keep your chin up and eyes focused on the rim. Then, every time you shoot jump shots from within 10 feet of the hoop, be sure to look directly at the basket while keeping your body straight and making sure that you are not dipping your body or bending at any point during the shot. While it may feel difficult at first, once you become accustomed to shooting with a straight stroke, it’ll prove very beneficial down the road both in terms of performance and injury prevention!
Exhale when releasing the ball
If you’re a beginner, it can be hard to hold your form in order to shoot a basketball. You may not feel like you have as much time, and as a result you may hold your breath while trying to shoot. This will create tension in your muscles and tendons, which will hurt your accuracy and lead to poor shooting form. Instead of holding your breath when shooting, simply exhale right before releasing so that you don’t tense up during your shot.
Practice makes perfect!
You can practice shooting form in your driveway, at the park, and even in your own home (see the next section for more on that). Every coach and player will say the same thing—get in the gym and practice everyday! But how do you know if you’re practicing correctly? While everyone has different mechanics, there are a few universal factors that will help improve your shot. First off, keep both feet firmly planted on the ground. Some beginners think they need to jump forward or backward in order to get a better shot off. This is absolutely wrong! Knees bent, balance forward, and a steady hand while shooting will fix all these issues and shoot you to success.
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
