HOME PAGE My profile Website & App News Practice section Roster Management Calendar Practice planner Drills Plays Fundamentals Playbooks Tactics & Execution Coaching articles Coaching clinics Help section Free registration! Forgot password? Javascript is disabled in your browser! This website requires Javascript to be enabled in your web browser to work properly.    Report a problem or feedback Please login or register to use all features of this site. Fundamentals Categories Ballhandling Dribbling Passing and Catching Shooting Shooting - Fundamental Shooting - Jump Shot Combinations Shooting - Penetration Moves Moves Ilona Korstin Fundamentals Description Feet should be shoulder width apart, knees should be bent a little as the thigh muscles will provide power for the shot. For a right-handed shot, the right foot should be slightly forward, and the players weight should be on the balls of the feet (not the heels). Shoulders and body should be square to the basket. The important thing here is that when a player jumps to shoot, they should jump straight up, not sideways or backwards. Stay balanced throughout. Both hands will be used to hold the ball, but only the shooting hand will actually propel the ball forward. Players should not shoot two-handed. The right hand is the platform and should be underneath the ball with the wrist cocked back. The elbow should be bent about 90 degrees, and underneath the ball (not out to the side). The left hand helps support the ball, but does not enter into the actual shooting of the ball. The left hand should actually come off the ball just before it is released, so that the ball is shot with one hand. The fingertips, not the palm, will be used to hold and release the ball. The elbow should be in and pointing at the basket. The position of the right hand's thumb is important. The right thumb should be pointing upward at about a 45 degree angle. This will cause the elbow to naturally fall under the ball. The set point is where the player positions the ball just prior to releasing the shot. Have the player hold the ball to the right of their face, a little toward the right shoulder. The ball should not be lined up in the centre of the face, as this may result in the shooting elbow flying away from the body, and could actually cause the wrist to turn sideways when the ball is released, causing side spin on the ball. The ball should be by the forehead, or even higher in order to keep the shot from being blocked. The ball should not be cocked back over the top of or behind the head. Most of the power in the shot should come from the upward force of the jump (in the jump shot), or the upward force from the thighs moving upward (in the set shot). Players should release the shot on the upward force of the jump, not on the way down. Have them pick out a spot at the back of the rim to aim at, or the backboard if they are shooting a bank shot. Players should concentrate on this spot, and not look at the ball, or the flight of the ball. The shoulder should be used as a hinge. The shooting arm extends forward toward the hoop (keeping the elbow in), the elbow extends (straightens), and then the ball is released with a snap of the wrist, with the ball rolling off the fingertips. This will impart backspin on the ball. Backspin makes the ball land softly on the rim, and often creates a favourable shooter's roll, resulting in a score even though the shot was not perfect. The ball should be shot high with an arc. It should not be pushed with the heel of the palm; it should come off the fingertips. Make sure that the elbow is extended (straightened). The release should be repeatable. On shorter shots, the ball should be released more at the top of the jump with a higher set point (arms extended up over the head). A good follow through is important in getting the proper rotation on the ball. The fingers should be pointing toward the basket, and the wrist bent forward, similar to a goose neck. Have players hold this release after the shot until the ball hits the rim. With a proper follow through, the palm of the hand will be facing downward toward the floor. Players should keep their eyes on the target. Reverse left and right hands for a left-handed shot. Copyright 2003-2023 FIBA Europe. All Rights Reserved. Do not duplicate or redistribute in any form. FIBA Europe. Ismaninger Str. 21, 81675 Munich, Germany