There are two types of shooters in this world: those who only get good shots when they’re wide open, and those who can hit shots under pressure that no one else would even think about taking. The difference between these two groups? Shooting IQ, which is essentially your basketball intelligence and ability to read the game so you can get open at the right time and take smart shots. There are many ways to improve your shooting IQ, but these 5 drills will help you shoot smarter on the court today . . .
Fastest Way To Increase Your Shooting IQ
Get Better At PAssing
Passing at the right angles to the right player may help free up your jumpshot. If a player runs to one side of the court and you’re in position to pass it where that player is, try passing instead of shooting; your teammate may be able to hit the shot if he receives it quickly. Additionally, if you pass at the right angle and direct it toward his forearms, your teammate will have more time to get a good shot off because he doesn’t have to immediately adjust his jump.
Know where your teammates are
Being spaced out allows shooters space to work with and know where teammates are at all times. It also makes your team’s spacing looks less sporadic and more effortless. Not only does being spaced out make you a better shooter, but it makes you a smarter player as well. When looking for passing options, being aware of your spacing will allow you to identify passing lanes that may not be available if you aren’t playing as spaced out as possible.
Don’t pass when you should shoot
The best shooters in the NBA don’t just have good instincts, they also have a decision-making role for each possession. Good shooters know when to pass and when to shoot, so taking shots doesn’t mean you’re bad at passing. The trick is knowing when it’s time to take the shot or make a better play by passing. Do your homework on every offensive set and watch what every player does during their possessions.
Use your head
When players are off-the-ball, they should try to anticipate where and when their defender is going to be. If your defender always sags in a certain situation, then you need to learn how to shoot with confidence when that happens. It is just as important, if not more so, to know who your defenders are not as well as where they are, so you can run off a screen and shoot with confidence. This can be frustrating when you have good shooters on your team that play without knowing who or where their defenders are—this doesn’t mean they lack talent; it means they need to smarten up and start using their head! Great shooters always play with great confidence. They never doubt themselves; regardless of what happens before or after a shot attempt.
Defend from the inside out, not the outside in
In short, being able to defend good shooters will also help you recognize what good shooters do. You’ll start to see patterns, tendencies and mannerisms in your opponents that could help you become a better defender. A shooters defender will know when to close out on a shooter from across the court because of that shooters tendency or know when to leave their man alone because of his outside shooting ability. The better you get at recognizing these things and applying them quickly, based on where you are in relation to the offensive player, is what separates average defenders from great ones. Why? Average defenders make all defensive decisions pre-emptively while great defenders react intelligently to what they see in front of them.
Move without the ball
Great shooters not only master the art of shooting, but also the art of moving without the ball. Steph Curry is the greatest example of a player who moves without the ball. He has mastered many tricks to get himself open, such as faking hard to one side, then cutting to the other side quickly; or he’ll cross behind himself and pop up on the opposite side of his defender – all while keeping his eyes up looking for an open teammate.
Space, Space, Space!
The number one thing that separates good shooters from bad is a willingness to use the entire court. It’s okay to cut into the lane and drive to the basket but you have to understand that in doing so, your spacing will suffer. Don’t be afraid to take your guy off the dribble, but also be aware of how many points you’re giving up in order to attack the basket. Good shooters space themselves well enough where even if they do miss their shot, it opens up opportunities for other players on their team. Bad shooters tend to hang out on one side of the court and shoot contested shots which don’t give their teammates much room for error with their passing or shooting abilities.
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
