Chapter - 21

Shooting

Secret to good shooting | Types of shots | Shooting  essentials | The lay-up shot | The set shot | The jump shot | The hook shot | The free-throw shot | Shooting hints | Drills to develop shooting ability

Shooting is the most important fundamental in the game of basketball! Without good shooters, a team may possess Cousy-type passers, superb dribblers, excellent rebounders, and other strong assets but may still find it difficult to consistently win. Many coaches feel that shooters are "born" and not "made" and the brilliant touch of some of the nation's great shooters today lends support to this argument. Surely some players do possess the "touch" that other players strive a lifetime to achieve. However, the vast majority of good shooters are "made" shooters who have combined sound shooting fundamentals with countless hours of practice to develop themselves into good percentage shooters.

Secret to Good Shooting

Is there a secret to good shooting? If such a secret exists, it is countless hours of practice, practice, and more practice! Why do all coaches love to see goals nailed to the sides of garages in students' backyards? Simply because these goals afford opportunities for hours and hours of shooting practice by prospective basketball players. Probably more shooters have been "made" in backyard practice than ever have been made in gymnasiums.

Types of Shots

There are five major types of shots:

1. Lay-up shot.

2. Set shot.

3. Jump shot.

4. Hook shot.

5. Free-throw shot.

Shooting Essentials

Varying techniques are used when shooting each type of shot. However, several essentials for all types of shots may be listed:

1. Good Vision. A player must be able to clearly see the goal if he is to develop the consistent depth perception that will enable him to shoot a good percentage. The writer has seen players wear glasses in all of their activities of the day and then remove them for the basketball game that night. This usually is unwise for, if glasses are needed, vision is not up to par. Contact lens or glass guards may be bothersome but may prove necessary to assure good shooting ability.

2. Good Hand Position. The ball should be held with fingers spread widely and with the palms off the ball.

3. Concentration. When the shooter takes aim for the basket, he must be concentrating on the shot with his eyes centered on the target. His thoughts cannot be on his girl friend in the front row or the photographer under the basket.

4. Relaxation. Muscles must be functioning properly during the shooting motion. Tenseness will prevent this.

5. Follow-through. The shooter must follow-through on all types of shots. This is a common error committed by many shooters and its correction often improves shooting percentage tremendously.

6. Confidence. The shooter must believe that he is going to make the shot. I once heard one of the country's greatest shooters say that he never took a shot that he didn't think he was going to make. If the shooter is putting the ball in the air and "hoping" it will go in the basket, he and the team would be far better off if he passed to someone else for the shot attempt.

The Lay-Up Shot

The lay-up shot is used close to the basket and usually is taken on the move as the player is driving toward the basket. The simplest shot in the game, it is often missed at a crucial time of the game. Consistent missing of the lay-up is attributed solely to improper fundamental technique or lack of concentration.

In shooting the lay-up shot, the right-handed shooter will receive the pass or pick up his dribble as his right foot touches the floor. He will then step forward onto his left foot using this foot to brake his drive and to push upward toward the goal. The ball should be brought upward with both hands and with the ball on the side of the body away from any defensive player who may be challenging the shot. The ball is brought to a position with the arms extended over the head. The left hand is under the ball for control and is released as the right hand pushes the ball softly towards the backboard. The back of the right hand should be facing the shooter. The ball should be aimed at a spot on the backboard approximately 12 inches above and slightly to the right of the goal. A slight backspin should result from the follow-through of the right hand. Emphasis should be placed on jumping up toward the goal rather than broad-jumping, a common error of many lay-up shooters.

The Set Shot

The set shot usually is attempted from outside the circle. Proficient set shooters can draw the defense away from the basket and open up cutting and driving lanes. It is particularly effective against the zone defense. Both one-handed and two-handed styles of set shooting are used.

Two-handed Set. The ball will be held with both hands on the side of the ball but slightly toward the back. The elbows should be bent and held in to the side of the body as the ball is brought to a position just in front of the face of the shooter. Sight at the target should be made just over the top of the ball. The feet should be approximately 12 inches apart. One foot may be in advance of the other depending on the preference of the individual. The knees should be bent slightly. The ball is pushed toward the basket with a forward move of both arms and the straightening of both legs. The ball should be arched to the basket rather than shot flat or straight at the basket. The shooter should follow-through with his arms and wrists so that his hands will be palms down.

One-handed Set. The ball is held by both hands just in front of the face. The left hand should be under the ball for control with the right hand in back of the ball. The knuckles of the shooting hand should face the shooter. For the right-handed shooter, the right foot should be slightly extended. The knees are bent slightly. A little forward body lean probably will be more comfortable to most shooters. As the ball is pushed toward the basket with a straightening of the right arm, the left hand releases. The knees straighten simultaneously with the push. Complete follow-through of the shooting hand and ample arch are again important. After the ball is released, the shooter's eyes should remain focused on the target. This is necessary for proper concentration and applies for all types of shots.

The Jump Shot

The newest of basketball's variety of shots, the jump shot has become extremely difficult to defense. Modern jump shooters have become proficient from normal set shooting distance. As the shooter leaps into the air, both hands bring the ball into a shooting position just above and slightly in front of the head. The jump into the air is made with a push off both feet but with more push off the right foot. The legs simultaneously straighten with the push of the feet. The left hand should be under the ball for control with the right hand behind the ball with knuckles facing the shooter. Both elbows will be bent approximately 90 degrees and should be held inward. Sight at the basket will be made just under the ball. The ball will be released with a push of the right arm and wrist and with complete follow-through. Height of the jump will depend on the individual but, as a general rule, the shooter will not leap as high as possible but will take a smooth, effortless jump into the air for the shot. The ball will be released after the slight moment of suspension at the height of the jump.

A common error made by beginning jump shooters is to fall away from the basket as the shot is released. This is unnecessary and reduces effectiveness of the shot. The jump should be made from a balanced position straight upward. Jumping forward or sideways is also incorrect and will result in offensive fouling.

The Hook Shot

The hook shot is most often used by pivotmen near the basket for it usually is begun in a position with the back to the basket. It is a very difficult shot to defend. When the pivotman receives a pass with his back to the basket, he will bring the ball to a position near his chest and with his elbows outward for protection. For the right-handed shot, the initial move will be a step onto the left foot. On the initial step, the ball will be extended and held by both hands at arms' length from the body. The right hand will be almost under the ball. As the shoulders and head turn to give clear vision at the goal, the left hand is removed from the ball and the left elbow brought high into position to give added protection. The ball is shot toward the basket with a sweeping motion of the right arm and with complete follow-through of the arm and wrist.

The Free-Throw Shot

A variety of shots is used for shooting free-throws. Many players use the shot they prefer to shoot from the field as their free-throw technique. The two-handed set shooter will often use a similar type shot at the charity line while the jump-shot artist usually will use a one-handed style. If the player can make a good percentage of his shots in his preferred manner, he should not change to another method. However, if he is not shooting well at the free-throw line, correction is a necessity. It may be possible to correct some fundamental error in his preferred shooting style or it may be necessary to change his method of shooting free-throws. When a change is made it is usually to the under-hand method. Research has supported arguments that this style is best since the under-hand technique allows maximum muscle relaxation, an absolute essential for good free-throw shooting.

The Under-hand Free-throw. In the starting position, the ball is held on the sides by both hands with the arms extended fully downward between the legs. The feet should be even and approximately 18 inches apart. The legs are straight and the body and head erect with the eyes focused on the target. To begin the shot, the knees are bent about 45 degrees. The ball is released toward the basket with a smooth upward motion of the arms and wrists and a simultaneous straightening of the legs. The follow-through should be so that the fingers point above the goal and toward the ceiling.

Shooting Hints

1. Always practice shots that will be taken in the game. It is foolish for the big center to spend time shooting from the guard position when he will never attempt these shots in the game.

2. Practice shooting under game conditions.

3. Don't shoot when a teammate is in a better position for a shot.

4. Don't "force" the shot.

5. Learn to relax when shooting.

6. Never attempt "wild" or "crazy" shots.

7. Always follow-through.

Drills to Develop Shooting Ability

1. Twenty-one. The game may be played on an individual or team basis. A long shot counts two points. A short shot counts one point. If both the long and short shots are made, the individual continues shooting. The individual or team that reaches a total of 21 points first is the winner.

2. Basketball Golf. Nine shooting positions are marked on the floor.

Each individual shoots until he makes a shot from each position. Each shot attempt counts one point. Low scorer is the winner.

3. Lay-up Relay. The team is divided into groups and any standard lay-up drill may be used. Each successful lay-up counts one point. The group that scores twenty-five points first is the winner.

4. Free-throw Rotation. Most gymnasiums have six goals for practice. Each player shoots two free-throws at each goal. The player with the most successes is the winner.

DRILL 5. Lay-up drill. 1 passes to 2 who passes to 3 for the lay-up. 1 goes to the free-throw line as 2 goes to the shooting line. 4 takes the ball out of the net and passes to 1 to continue the drill.

DRILL 5a. Angles from which the lay-up should be practiced. Practice from these angles may be received through the use of the above lay-up drill or other preferred drills.

DRILL 6. Lay-up drill. 1 passes to 2 who passes to 3. 1 and 2 split the post. 3 passes to 1 for lay-up. Two balls may be used in this drill to allow more shooting. Defense may be added to the drill to afford practice in using the split-the-post maneuver for scoring.

DRILL 7. Jump-shooting drill. On the left, 1 shoots the jump-shot off the dribble, retrieves the ball and passes to the next player in line. On the right, 3 shoots a jump-shot from a stationary position, retrieves the ball, and passes to the next player in line. Players should also practice the jump-shot after cutting hard to meet a pass.

DRILL 8. Set shooting drill. Players work in pairs with each pair having a ball. One player in each pair assumes offense, the other defense. The defensive player waves his hands in a distracting maneuver as the offensive player shoots. The defensive player does not attempt to block the shot. After five shots, the players exchange positions.

DRILL 9. Free-throw shooting drill. 1 shoots two free-throws and rotates clockwise. 6 becomes the next shooter. When a shot is missed, players attempt tip-in.

Are You Ready To Move Onto The Next Lesson? Click Here...