what is the proper way to shoot a basketball?

Question

i want to know the proper shooting form.

Answer 1

How to shoot a basketball

Below are thirteen tips for how to shoot a basketball:

Foot placement: The foot under your shooting hand should be about one half foot length forward rather than parallel with the other foot. It should be in this position when shooting a set shot or before jumping for a jump shot.

Body balance: Your body and its center of gravity should be between your feet prior to shooting the basketball.

Body flex: Your knees, ankles, elbows, wrists, should be bent prior to shooting the basketball.

Eye focus: Your eyes should focus on the basket area. Coaches teaching how to shoot a basketball disagree on the specific target. It is your preference whether you focus on the front of the basket, the back of the basket, an imaginary pair of lines leading upward from the side edges of the basket, the oval inside the basket, or another point of visual focus. The important thing is to be consistent with the one you use unless there is reason to change.

A good video on how to shoot a basketball is in The SmartBall Shooting System by pro shooting champ and Olympic scoring record holder Ed Palubinskas. To see the full package including the new instructional ball, click here.

Another good video on how to shoot a basketball is at www.swish22.com and is by Tom Nordland.

Hand hold: Your hands should hold the basketball firmly enough to give you control of the basketball.

Hand position: As your arms raise the basketball, your shooting hand and it's elbow should move under the basketball ball.

Hand release: Somewhere between you shoulders and your release of the ball your non-shooting hand should be removed from the basketball so that your release with your shooting hand is not hindered by your non-shooting hand's contact with the basketball. Coaches teaching how to shoot a basketball disagree on the specific point at which the non-shooting hand should be released. The non-shooting hand is used only to help raise the ball to a point from which it is shot with the shooting hand.

Legs: Some coaches teaching how to shoot a basketball believe that the distance of the shot is controlled by the power from the legs. The farther the shot, the more leg power is used. This technique leaves the shooting hand free to direct the flight of the ball without adding power to get the ball to the basket. The power from the legs get the ball the distance to the basket, the shooting hand makes sure the ball falls on your visual target.

A good video on how to shoot a basketball is in The SmartBall Shooting System by pro shooting champ and Olympic scoring record holder Ed Palubinskas. To see the full package including the new instructional ball, click here.

Another good video on how to shoot a basketball is at www.swish22.com and is by Tom Nordland.

Follow through: The shooting arm fully extends and the shooting wrist flicks the basketball toward the visual target. The wrist flick gives the backspin rotation to the basketball. Coaches teaching how to shoot a basketball debate about the degree to which the arm extension is upward caused by a raising of the arm between the shoulder and the elbow and the degree to which the arm extension is forward caused by an extension of the arm between the elbow and the wrist. See what works best for you keeping in mind the advantages of a good sized arc of ball flight.

Arc of ball flight. The greatest distance would be achieved by a shot that is released at a 45 degree angle. However, distance isn't necessary if the shot does not require maximum distance. Therefore thought should be given to using a higher release angle to increase the size of the hoop opening through which the basketball may fall when it reaches your visual target. When the hoop is looked at from straight on it is a closed line, when it is looked at from directly above it is a wide open circle, and when it is looked at from an angle it is an oval. Obviously the best chances of the ball falling through the basket is when the basketball is falling from directly above the basket. This would suggest that a higher arc of ball flight is more likely to lead to a basket and a lower arch of ball flight is less likely to lead to a basket.

Range: To increase your chances of making your shot, you should only shoot shots from distances from which you have had success at shooting previously.

Defenders: To increase your chances of making your shot, you should create space between you and the defenders prior to shooting.

Practice: The more you practice the shots you will be likely to attempt in your tea's offense, and practice them at game speed, under game adrenaline and game fatigue conditions, the more likely your practice will result in desired game performance.

If you refer to the above tips for how to shoot a basketball as you learn and practice shooting, and whenever your touch goes missing, you should master the fundamentals of how to shoot a basketball.

Answer 2

I think it was Loyola University that did a study with a computer controlled robot that could shoot the basketball the same way every time. They determined that you have the most probability of a shot going in by putting a large amount of arc or height in your toss. Most players, even those that score often shoot somewhat flatter than in their study.

Maybe you can get some highlight film of these old school players, who were excellent high arc and classic textbook style shooters:

Jerry West (His shadow is the NBA logo).
Pete Maravich
Joe Dumars
Mark Price

Answer 3

When in flight I like to use a 20 ga. shotgun for shooting basketballs. Stationary a small caliber pistol or rifle, depending on the distance.

Proper shooting form: for shotgun a comfortable stance feet shoulder width apart. Pistol about the same for shotgun. Rifle, I love the prone supported for 100 yards or better, 50 to 100 kneeling supported and under 50, standing unsupported.

Paper targets are cheaper to shoot then basketballs.

Answer 4

there is no wrong way of shooting a basketball long as it goes in the basket (that is the whole point anyways) people that shoot the ball with flicking their wrist is to give the ball a back spin rotation, so when the ball hits the rim / back board, it has a higher chance for the ball to bounce in the basket. and with a good form, chances are the shooting are straighter then others. for long runs, (in basketball) I would recommand for your to have a good shooting form, and if you dont know how, try study Ray Allen's video who i think has the best form in NBA.

Answer 5

Stance is critical. one foot about 18" in front of you, 2/3 of your weight on your forward foot. Back foot at an angle to allow for greater stability. Arms in a firm but loose stance. Line the blade of the front sight up with the notch in the rear sight. Place the basketball squarely in the middle of the sight picture. Squeeze the trigger, do not yank or jerk the trigger. Smooth is the key. The basketball should jerk and have a brand new hole in it. Keep your style smooth for a quicker follow-up shot.

Answer 6

Perfect the art of jumping while you shoot. A jump shot is called that because players add momentum to the ball via jumping.
Arc the ball. Dont try to push it straight through the air to the basket. Imagine an arc from your hand to the basket. Really you are aiming for that imaginary spot at the height of the arc.
Larry Bird was said to have stood for hours right under the basket practicing lay-ins. Practice. For hours.
Ask yourself why the average NBA player misses 25% of their free throws. In my opinion, it is because practicing free throws are not as macho as practicing windmill dunks.
Develop a form that is comfortable to you and then practice it.

Answer 7

feet shoulder width apart, knees bent slightly to give you support and force, right foot slightly ahead and pointing toward the hoop....left hand on the left side of the ball fingers slightly angled forward, right hand behind the ball (lining up the seams helps....right middle finger should be on the nozzle used to fill ball with air)
keep your right arm at a 90 degree angle while holding the ball in front of you, elbow tucked beside your right hip.....all in one motion, use your legs for force, lift/push the ball up until you reach just barely above your forehead.....keep your eye on the front of the rim.....your left had is used to stabilize the ball, right to direct it...when you release, snap your wrist forward (don't throw your whole body or arms with it) and your middle finger should be pointed directly at the target when you're finished, left hand still at the forehead area. Best I can do for now....easier if you just ask a coach or gym teacher/friend to show you. If you become famous lol I taught you all you know ;)
Visualizing the shot going in with perfect form before you shoot really helps....

These are for right handers...if you're a lefty, change em up

Answer 8

its hard to describe in writing but have your dominant hand with your fingers spread out confortably in the middle of the ball with the other hand on the side of the ball have your dominate arm in a 90 degree angle bend your legs and push off the ground and shoot the ball. basicly look at how kobe shoots the ball he has the sweetest shot in the game right now

Answer 9

keep your right foot a short distance ahead or your left when you shoot- uh, if you're right handed anyway.
line up your right elbow with your right foot- make sure your elbow isnt out
keep left hand on the side of the ball, and right hand under it
dont move the left hand- make sure you only use your right arm to push the ball- the left is there to guide the ball
and then just keep your eye on the basket :)

Answer 10

i would advise buying a tape or asking an instructor to show you. it's easy to read to learn things but when you are talking about physical actions with such intricacies, it's best to have someone show you rather than tell you. even though someone tells you, you may not get certain aspects without watching.

i know i make it seem complicated when it isn't but you can't imagine how many small changes can make the difference.