How to Shoot for Easy Points in Basketball
When you’re standing at the free-throw line in basketball, it can seem like an eternity before the ball leaves your hands and heads toward the basket. Even if you practice your shooting technique regularly, the pressure of the moment can make it difficult to perform at your best. With these steps on how to shoot for easy points in basketball, you’ll be able to relax and nail more baskets, no matter what game situation you find yourself in!
Decide whether to shoot
Sometimes the best basketball play is to pass the ball. If a team’s shooter doesn’t have the right angle, or if he’s not close enough to the hoop, your best move might be to give it up and get a teammate an easy basket. It’s also important to recognize when taking the shot will help grow your basketball IQ by allowing you to work on your dribbling skills, and practice your shooting range and other techniques. Work on these when you’re open but know that sometimes it’s better to give up the ball than take an ill-advised shot.
Know where your shots are coming from
A great shooter is one who can visualize each shot and be confident in making it go in. A great shooter should also know where he or she is shooting from, as it affects his or her next shot. For example, if a shooter knows he’s at a bad angle when shooting, he or she will adjust their form and get extra power behind their shot. With practice and mental exercises, you can train yourself to focus on your shots—knowing which ones are good shots and which ones aren’t—and quickly learn where you’re most likely to score points based on what’s happening during a game.
Move your feet while shooting
Having a proper shooting stance will allow you to have better balance, which will make your shot more consistent. By moving your feet as you shoot, you’ll give yourself greater control over your body movement and more stability than if you were standing still. That way, when a defender tries to pressure you, there’s a good chance they won’t get their hand on your shot. Proper footwork is especially important when shooting off-the-dribble or out of a ball screen. Whether you go right or left shouldn’t matter; just keep up with how many dribbles it takes before you rise up.
Change speed while shooting
Before you even think about taking a shot, it’s always smart to survey your options and think about your best strategy. If there are multiple defenders around you, try changing speed while dribbling or shooting. At first glance, it might seem like that would throw off your shooting rhythm—but if you work on perfecting that kind of movement as a skill, you can actually score more easily than if everyone were just running at regular speed! Changing speeds will make it much more difficult for other players to know how quickly they need to run after you and will also buy you more time by slowing down your opponents.
Lead your defender slightly when shooting
One of basketball’s most basic plays is to lead your defender slightly when shooting. If you are driving to one side of your defender, you can use a hard dribble and slight lead on your shot to create space. This makes it more difficult for your defender to block your shot without fouling. Although it is legal and allows for more open shots, this technique may cause frustration with officials who call a lot of fouls when you try this move. When executed properly, however, this simple basketball trick allows you to shoot over your defender while moving left or right at a slow pace or standing still. You may be surprised by how often an easy basket suddenly appears because of this simple maneuvering tactic; use it whenever possible.
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