Shooting Tips and Technique

BREAKTHROUGH BASKETBALL SHOOTING
TIPS & TECHNIQUE

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Critical Importance of Shooting .........................................................................................3
7 Unconditional Requirements to Developing a GREAT Shot ................................................5
Requirement #1: Consistent Mechanics ............................................................................6
Requirement #2: Good Mechanics.....................................................................................8
Requirement #3: Supreme Confidence ..............................................................................9
Requirement #4: Mental Attitude......................................................................................12
Requirement #5: Soft & Sufficient Arc ..............................................................................17
Requirement #6: Taking Good Shots ...............................................................................19
Requirement #7: Practice Plan with Repetitions ..............................................................20
Shooting Mechanics and Fundamentals ................................................................................22
Shooting Mechanics Checklist ................................................................................................32
Recommended Shooting Aids, Resources, and DVDs..........................................................33
Page |3
The Critical Importance of Shooting

As you no doubt know, among the factors that make the most difference in the game of basketball,
shooting percentage has to be at, or very near, the top of the list.
Consider these points
A very small improvement in shooting percentage will win more games!
Teams that shoot at a higher percentage give themselves a tremendous competitive advantage. All other
factors being equal, it's clear as a bell that the better shooting team will win.
Let's look at a statistical scenario: taking 78 points as a target example, how many made shots are needed?
Well, you'll need to make 39 two-pointers. If your team shoots 40%, then you'll have to generate about
98 two-point attempts. But suppose your team shoots only 30% from the field. For two-pointers, you will
now need to generate 130 shot attempts to reach 78 points - That's 32 more attempts than you needed with
the team shooting at 40%!
As you can easily see, if your team's shooting percentage falls by 10%, then the team will have to increase
rebounds or forced turnovers dramatically to reach the same point total. Obviously, shooting at a higher
percentage makes winning easier.
Good shooters will completely change the dynamics of your offense and make it easier to get lay
ups!
Offensive minded coaches know that a few good shooters on the floor can work wonders for your offense,
even if they dont score.
Just by having the threat of a good shooter stretches out the defense and causes them to cover more
ground.
Think about it
Good shooters open up driving lanes for everyone on the team and make it easier to score.
However, if nobody on the floor can shoot, the defense will pack things in and make it more difficult to
score.
Great shooters STRETCH out the defense.
Good shooting can get you more playing time!
Similarly, all other factors being equal, players who shoot at a higher percentage usually get most of the
playing time!
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Its simple; coaches want great shooters on the court. Of course they want good defensive players,
passers, and rebounders on the floor too.
But great shooters are hard to come by and coaches are always on the look out for them. Great shooting
can make you a super valuable player that the coaches want on the floor as much as possible.
Great shooting can take you a long way in basketball and can even get you a college scholarship!
History proves that countless players have made Division I college teams for one simple reason
They can shoot the lights out!
Some of these players are slow, short, cant play defense, and cant rebound. Of course all those other
skills are nice to have, but shooting is SO important that this one skill alone can literally earn you a
college scholarship.
With determination and enough practice, any player can learn how to become a good shooter. You dont
have to be tall, fast, or even smart to be a great shooter.
Bottom line
From both perspectives, team and individual, shooting at a relatively high percentage is a critically
important goal. As a coach, player, or parent, you will want to do everything possible to build up your
team's, your own, or your youngster's shooting percentage.
Now that we've taken a quick look at how important shooting at a high percentage is, you are probably
anxious to learn all that you can about developing this vital skill.
Page |5
7 UNCONDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS TO
DEVELOPING A GREAT SHOT
Shooting is a very complex process and there are thousands of tips on how to shoot a basketball.
But we have cut to the chase by providing you with the critical elements that you need in order to improve
your shot, giving you the biggest bang for your buck.
Start with these requirements and always come back to them. Never forget these things!
Youll always need to understand and perfect these aspects of your shot to be great. The requirements
will never go away and you must always keep improving in these areas.
Page |6
Requirement #1: Consistent Mechanics

If you dont understand the importance of having consistent mechanics, youll never be a great
shooter!
To put it bluntly, this is where almost every basketball player screws up. But once you truly grasp this
simple and powerful concept, youll be on your way!
Think about the components of your shot. Each and every step must be consistent and done the same
way
1 Your feet must be lined up and in the same position every time. This will help the alignment
of your shot.
2 Your shot pocket and grip on the ball should be the same every time. Generally speaking, the
ball should be held between the upper chest and the top of the nose.
Think about it: If you vary the position of the ball in your shot pocket, youll throw off the timing
and control of your shot as well as its power and distance.
3 Your shot motion and arm position should be the same every time.
4 Your knee bend and jump should be consistent. The height of your jump should be nearly the
same every time. (No, its usually not best to jump as high as you can!)
5 Your release point and follow-through should be the same every time. Your hand should be in
the exact same position, resulting in the same soft shot every time.
Consistency! Consistency! Consistency!
It doesnt matter if youre shooting a 3 pointer, a 7-footer in the lane, or a jumper off the dribble; your
mechanics will always be the same.
If you look at all of the greatest shooters in the world, they ALL shoot the exact same way every time.
They jump the same height. They release they same way, and so on.
Its all about reproducing the same results over and over. In order to do so, you must minimize the
variables that can throw off your shot.
Jumping at different heights introduces a new element that can throw off your shot.
If your foot alignment changes as you shoot different shots, you add a new variable that can twist your
body and throw off your shot.
If you release the ball from a different position, you are certainly throwing off your shot.
Page |7
You need to minimize these nuances and keep things consistent so your body and muscle memory do
NOT get confused.
Starting to make sense?
If not, read this section again. And if you still dont get it, by all means, send us a message.
How do you develop consistent mechanics?
KNOWLEDGE - First you must educate yourself about the mechanics of a good shot.
REPETITION AND PRACTICE Second, you need to practice in order to develop muscle memory
so you can repeat the same movements without thinking. This is explained in further detail in the
Step-by-Step Guide and Workout eBook.
AWARENESS - Third, you must always be aware and NEVER forget the importance of
consistency. This is something that you should think about EVERY time you practice.
Page |8
Requirement #2: Good Mechanics

Youll notice that we purposely used the word good and not great mechanics.
This is because its true that you need very good mechanics to be a superb shooter, but you dont need
great (or perfect) mechanics.
In other words, your mechanics will never be 100%, and you dont want to be robotic.
With that said, youll never be a great shooter unless you have satisfactory mechanics.
Its very common for players to have fatal flaws in their approach, and frankly they have no chance of
becoming consistent shooters.
So what should you do?
We have devoted an entire chapter and go into great detail about specific shooting mechanics. Its coming
up soon, so when you get there, read it and pay close attention.
Page |9
Requirement #3: Supreme Confidence

Just ask any shooting coach or expert about the importance of confidence
They will all tell you that confidence can be the difference between an AVERAGE shooter and a GREAT
shooter. Confidence will greatly improve your shooting percentage!
So how do you develop supreme and unwavering shooting confidence?

Here are a few extremely effective techniques:
GROOVING
Before every practice and game, face the basket and shoot 50 EASY shots about four to ten feet
from the basket.
Not only does this improve your shooting form, but it helps to develop phenomenal confidence.
How?
Youll quickly become very good at grooving these shots over and over. Youll see the ball going
in the basket over and over. Youll swish the ball repeatedly and probably shoot 60%, 70%, 80%,
or more, which is great for your psyche.
Simply by seeing your shot go in over an over, youll become more confident.
Why do you think that NBA players do this before games?
Why do you think that Tiger Woods starts all of his practice sessions by making 100 three-foot
putts?
Because it works! So dont overlook this powerful strategy.
CHARTING
This is another technique that you should NOT overlook!
Lots of coaches talk about it, but we give credit to Dave Hopla (www.davehopla.com) for helping
us realize the power of charting. He has been preaching it for years.
To improve your confidence, start charting all of the shots that you take in practice. Its easy to do
and youll be absolutely amazed at how much it helps.
After every practice session, keep track of what kinds of shots you took, the number of shots taken
and the number of shots that you actually made.
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Why does this help?

It seems so trivial, but the greatest shooters in the world have discovered this secret and will all
tell you the same answer.
Their chart continually reminds them of how great they are. They can see on paper that they shot
65% for all of their 10 foot jumpers. They can see that they shot 90% for free throws.
Then what happens?
You start believing both at a conscious and deep subconscious level that youre an awesome
shooter!
And you have the proof right there on paper. It shows you that youve made thousands of shots.
And you wont soon forget how to shoot because youve done this thousands of times and you can
knock em down!
Take our advice. Start charting your shots, especially the shots that you groove.
The chart doesnt need to be complicated. It just needs to make sense to you and be easy for you
to carry around, like a notebook, journal, or a binder.
Heres a simple example of a shooting chart, but you should come up with one that makes sense to
you:
Date
3/21/2008
3/21/2008
3/21/2008
3/21/2008
Shot Type
Form shooting
6 grooves
12 catch & shoot
Free throws
Attempts
50
50
100
10
Makes
40
38
62
8
Percentage
80%
76%
62%
80%
PRACTICE
This alludes to an obvious technique to improve your confidence
Practice!
We all know that practice improves confidence.
If you're reluctant to shoot, not confident, and hesitant, then you're probably going to miss. Even
though confidence is the mark of a great shooter, you can't invent confidence out of thin air. It has
to be based on some evidence and experience.
This comes from practice. You will be able to relax and shoot with a confidence that has been
earned.
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No tricks or tactics here. You just need to get it done. For a little motivation, you might want to
recruit a good partner. You can also set goals. Do whatever it takes. A high school player should
be taking around 400 shots a day and charting them all.
We suggest that you implement all of the techniques above. You should groove your shots every day,
chart your shots, and practice ALL the time.
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Requirement #4: Mental Attitude

Your mentality relates to your confidence level, but this topic is SO important that we decided to take it a
step further.
The reality is
You can have the most superior physical attributes in the world, but without the proper mental attitude,
its all for nothing!
By developing an effective shooting mentality, you can expect to boost your shooting percentage by 20%
or more!!
HOWEVER, very few players and coaches look into the mental aspect of shooting because the subject
seems so mysterious...
Fortunately, its really not that difficult... But it IS critically important -- important enough that we've
devoted an entire chapter to the mental aspects of shooting!
Just as there are mechanical fundamentals that you can check on in order to develop a more effective shot
motion, there are mental fundamentals that you can check on in order to develop focus and confidence.
Understanding negative impacts
Before going into the details of how to develop an effective mental approach, let's take a look at what
often happens if you have NOT devoted enough (if any) attention to the mental aspects of shooting. If
you think about your shooting slumps in the past, this will probably sound very familiar to you.
Here's how it unfolds and how your mind can really become almost like an enemy:
Say you have one of those days where you miss a couple of shots. Suddenly, you start thinking,
"Geez, maybe I'm OFF today!"
You tighten up and miss another shot. Then you start getting worried because you don't want to
lose the game for your team, or you don't want your teammates to get mad at you for missing so
many shots.
With each missed shot, your anxiety increases, your muscles tighten up more, and you get farther
and farther out of the zone.
You become more and more frustrated and wonder why your shots arent falling.
Your mind is focused on whether or not you'll make the next shot. Or perhaps you're thinking
about your mechanics while you shoot
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Either way, youre thinking WAY too much and in counter-productive ways! By this time,
everything has snowballed and you're in a HORRIBLE shooting slump!!!
Does this story sound familiar?
That's how your mind can work AGAINST you!! Sometimes a slump is really short - maybe only for one
quarter of a game. Other times, it can last an ENTIRE season!
Its important for you to understand what physically happens when you get in those shooting slumps.
You may not even notice it, but your body and muscles become physically tight when you start to worry
about missing your shots.
Anxiety hinders your performance at a physical level. Thats why
THINKING IS YOUR ENEMY!
THE FEAR OF FAILURE IS YOUR ENEMY!
MIND CLUTTER IS YOUR ENEMY!
Now that you understand some of the negative effects that your mind can have on your shot, lets break
things down so you can discover what to do about it.
HOW TO DEVELOP THE RIGHT MENTAL ATTITUDE AND IMPROVE YOUR SHOOTING PERCENTAGE
To get yourself in the zone, you should master three key areas. Study and apply the following aspects and
youll be on your way
1) DONT THINK WHEN SHOOTING.
Youll see this many times in this book because its important
THINKING ABOUT YOUR SHOT IS FOR PRACTICE, NOT FOR GAMES!
In fact, you should only think during certain parts of your practice. Its ok to think during a form
shooting session or when learning a new skill, but once you start developing rhythm and get
further into practice, dont think!
The absolute WORST THING you can do during a game is to start thinking about the mechanics
of your shot. Train yourself to think about other things or nothing at all.
Thinking about your shot during a game does NO good! Youre going to miss a few. So what!
Dont think, just shoot the damn ball!!!
If you adopt this mentality, your shooting percentage will go UP.
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You might want to come up with your own method to stop thinking during games. Often times,
simply being aware of the common problem can tremendously help players.
But if you want a technique to eliminate thinking, you can also try this little trick
Before each game, practice, and shooting session, tell yourself that you don't care if you make any
baskets. Say it out loud or in your head several times.
THEN, when you go to shoot (right as you're catching the ball), say something to yourself like,
"Nice shot. I can do better." In other words, try not to care if it goes in or not.
This simple little trick helps you to relax into the process and not think about the result. Using this
technique will be enough to break you out of mini slumps and restore your confidence.
2) ELIMINATE THE FEAR OF FAILURE.

Guess what?
The best NBA shooters miss more than half of the time!!
Thats right; they FAIL more than they SUCCEED.
Shooting is an activity of failure.
Guess what else?
Fear of failure can cause you to miss more shots than you can imagine. Coach Don Kelbick
(www.donkelbickbasketball.com) was the first person that taught us about this concept and he
makes a really good point.
Think about this for a moment
Even the smallest fear of missing causes anxiety. Anxiety causes tense muscles and a clouded
mind. Tense muscles lead to missed shots.
You cant worry about missing. Its going to happen. Accept the fact that youre going to miss
shots in every game that you play. If you can accept this, you will become a better player.
Here are a few tactics to help you eliminate the fear of missing. Its not that hard to do once you
understand these concepts:
Remind yourself that the greatest shooters of all time have missed about HALF of the shots
that they've taken.
Develop an understanding of what a good shot is for your range, ability, and specific game
situations. Take good shots only.
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Let the coach coach. It's up to the coach to take you out of a game or to tell you to stop
shooting. Meanwhile, keep taking those good shots.
Before every game, tell yourself that you're more than just a shooter. You can help your
team by rebounding, playing defense, and passing the ball. So even if your shot doesn't go
in all the time, it's OK. You can contribute in other ways. By keeping these realities in
mind, you reduce the pressure on your shot.
Dont get upset and throw fits when you miss. Instead of muttering something negative
after a miss, be calmly aware of exactly why the shot missed. If you've practiced enough
and have solid fundamentals, you will subconsciously realize what you need to correct on
your next shot.
A more direct and active approach is to add a corrective phrase that reinforces the proper
fundamental that was lacking in the missed shot. Do this at practice. In games, you want
to be shooting without extra thinking or stress.
3) CLEAR YOUR MIND AND GET IN THE ZONE.

Have you ever been in the zone?
Do you remember what it was like?
Well bet you a hundred bucks that the last time you were in the zone, you were completely
relaxed and you werent thinking. It probably happened by complete accident.
Well, getting in the zone doesnt always have to be an accident. You can clear your mind to get
there on a consistent basis.
Heres how:
MAKE AN EFFORT TO TAKE CARE OF ISSUES AWAY FROM BASKETBALL IN ORDER TO CLEAR
YOUR MIND OF UNNECESSARY CLUTTER.
If you agreed to clean the floor for your mother, clean the floor and get it over with. Take care of
any prior commitments that youve made.
Cleaning up your life OFF the court will certainly help your mental attitude ON the court.
Another tip to clear the mind clutter that happens away from the court is to make lists. Keep an
up-to-date list of all the things that you need to do. You might have a home to-do list,
basketball to-do list, and school/work to-do list. The key is to get your list on paper or on the
computer where you can easily reference it.
These to-do lists will ease your mind because youll subconsciously know that you have
everything written down, so you wont forget. This allows you to de-clutter your mind with all
these things you are supposed to remember.
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GET IN THE ALPHA STATE.

Have you ever heard of the Alpha state and how much better the mind works in this relaxed
condition? Your mind is actually much more powerful in a tranquil state. Just by teaching your
mind to relax, you can dramatically improve your shooting percentage!!
When your mind is truly relaxed and in the Alpha state, you have an AMAZING clarity and focus.
Your mind is unbelievably sharp and powerful.
Thats why the game seems to be in slow motion and you can shoot with amazing accuracy.
So how do you get in the Alpha state?
Stop thinking and worrying about whether or not youll miss your shot.
There are many other ways to get in a relaxed state, but find out what works best for YOU.
A few good ways to get in the relaxed, Alpha state include:
Meditation. Yes, even Kobe Bryant meditates before games. Meditation is simply a
process of relaxed breathing and clearing you mind. Start by sitting in a comfortable
position, and then take a series of slow, deep breaths-- in through your nose and out
through your mouth. Nice and slow. Follow your breath. Focus your mind on the air
going in and out of your body. Dont think about anything else. Continue this relaxed
breathing for 3-20 minutes. Often times, 5 or 10 minutes is plenty, but dont limit
yourself. Once you quiet your mind, you should be able to feel and hear your own heart
beating. Once you do, you know that you are completely relaxed.
Listening to the right kind of music. Even better, meditate and listen to music at the
same time. Music has the ability to make people angry, happy, sad, and even relaxed by
affecting an individuals rhythmic energy. It may sound crazy, but its true. Perhaps you
listen to rap or rock before games. That may be best for you, but try some classical
music, or search the Internet for relaxing music. Youll find all kinds of peaceful tunes
to help you get to a very peaceful and focused state of mind.
Yoga. Most of you will have trouble doing yoga before games, but this tactic is still
worth mentioning. Consider practicing yoga a few times each week. Its good for the
mind and body as a whole and combining it with relaxing music can get you in the
zone.
Like we mentioned before, you need to figure out which methods work for you. Theres no right or
wrong way. The key is having the knowledge.
With just a little effort, its really not that difficult to dramatically improve your relaxation, focus and
shooting percentage at all!
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Requirement #5: Soft & Sufficient Arc

You just cant cheat the laws of physics!
DID YOU KNOW that a shot with a flat 35 degree
arc only has .6 inches of margin for the ball to clear
without hitting the rim? The shot has to be almost
perfect to get a swish.
BUT a shot with a 45 degree medium height arc has a
3 inch margin of error!
Thats right. Just by increasing the arc of your shot,
your margin of error could increase as much as
500%!
How many shots bounce OUT of the basket because
you missed by just a fraction?
A soft touch and sufficient arc are consistent traits of
the best shooters in the world.
This is simply because the proper arc gives you MORE room for error and increases the odds of the ball
going into the basket.
The only way to effectively control the distance of the shot (not miss short and long) is through your arc.
You want to shoot the ball high enough to give the ball adequate room to make the shot, but not so high
that you lose distance control. Every great shooter in the world has a consistent medium-height arc, not
too high and not too flat.
How do you develop the proper arc?

First, check out the following table to determine your optimal arc:
Height Range
5'0 - 5'9
5'9 - 6'3
6'3 - 6'6
6'6 - 6'9
6'9 - 7'0
Optimal Arc Range

41 degrees - 45 degrees
* Data for this chart came from www.noahbasketball.com
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Here are three ways to develop a sufficient and consistent arc.
CHECK YOUR FOLLOW-THROUGH. The first method is to determine your proper arm position on
follow-through. View the videos on this website to get an idea of what your arc should look like:
http://www.noahbasketball.com/optimal_arc.php
Then, get a coach or partner in the gym and have them stand to the side while you shoot. After
every shot, freeze your follow-through. Once your partner helps you to determine the appropriate
arc, make a strong mental note of the position of your arm and hand on the follow-through.
Generally speaking, your fingers should finish well above the rim in your line of vision. This
promotes proper arc.
TIP: For the average height player, the maximum height of the ball should be at the top of a
standard backboard. Your partner must be standing to the side to gauge the maximum height of
your shot.
Now you can periodically check your follow-through when practicing by yourself. You dont
want to think too much about your arc, but it is very important to occasionally check it. If it gets
too flat or high, youll end up developing bad muscle memory.
You can also have a partner recheck your arc on occasion.
PRACTICE CLOSE TO THE BASKET.
A little trick to improving your arc is to groove your shot close to the basket every day. Close
shots will naturally require you to finish your shot high and perfect your arc.
If your arc is flat, getting lots of reps close to the basket can help.
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Requirement #6: Taking Good Shots

Heres a fact for you
All basketball players with HIGH shooting percentages understand the difference between a good shot
and a bad shot.
This seemingly trivial concept makes a huge difference.
Often times, the players with the best shooting percentages have horrible long range jump shots. This is
because they know their strong suits. They also know what makes a shot good. They work hard to get
lay ups, dunks, and easy shots close to the basket and they forget about shooting three point shots.
Of course, these players would be better if they had more range, but at least they know their limitations.
If you are a great mid-range shooter, LEARN how to get open and take LOTS of mid-range shots. Dont
you think youll score more points and increase your shooting percentage?
Stop to consider the greatest player of all time-- Michael Jordan.
He made a living by making 12-foot jump shots. Sure, he shot some threes, but he scored his 30 points
day-in and day-out by focusing on his strength-- mid-range jump shots.
So, what is a good shot?
Its simply a shot that you can make CONSISTENTLY. If you cant make it consistently, dont take it.
Its as simple as that.
The amazing part is that few players heed this advice. They just shoot from wherever -- and they wonder
why they dont get more playing time. Its because their poor shot selection makes them inconsistent.
This isnt rocket science, but its an amazingly simple concept that you need to be aware of.
Take the time to talk with your coach. Learn your roles on the team. Take shots you can make and that
are within your given role.
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Requirement #7: Practice Plan with

Repetitions
This is the last requirement and its an absolute must!
Why is an actual practice plan required?
Simply put, its nearly impossible to become truly great without a written practice plan.
A PRACTICE PLAN WILL ALLOW YOU TO PRACTICE WITH A PURPOSE AND STAY ON
TRACK.
A PRACTICE PLAN WILL HELP YOU REACH YOUR GOALS AND GET IN SUFFICIENT
REPETITIONS.
A PRACTICE PLAN WILL MOTIVATE YOU.
Developing a great shot is all about getting enough repetitions to develop muscle memory, confidence,
and an awesome stroke.
To get the right repetitions you need a strategic plan that you can stick with. Youll be hard pressed to
find an elite shooter that doesnt use a written practice plan.
What is a practice plan?
A practice plan is simply a written plan that you have strategically devised. We have devoted an entire
chapter to developing a practice plan and workout. Youll learn about that later in the book. The point
here is that you need a physical plan that you can refer to in writing.
How many repetitions do you need?
To develop good consistent mechanics, you need LOTS of repetitions. These repetitions will build
muscle memory.
Muscle memory will allow you to produce the exact same shot motion over and over without thinking.
The movement then becomes ingrain into your muscle memory.
Its a simple fact that all great shooters get in TONS of reps. In fact, many of them became great because
they practice more than everyone else.
TIP: Set goals based on repetitions, not time. Instead of setting a goal to practice for one hour each day,
set a goal based on the number of shots that you take. Time is NOT a good benchmark. You might want
to set a goal to shoot 400 shots a day. Thats a goal. It might take you 45 minutes, or it might take you 2
hours. Either way, you have accomplished enough repetitions to get better.
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Stationary Shooting Mechanics

Now that youve discovered the 7 Unconditional Requirements to Developing a Great Shot, you know
that good mechanics are a necessity in becoming a superb shooter...
A consistent and dependable jump shot doesn't happen by accident. It requires careful attention to key
fundamentals and dedication to proper practice.
In this section, we will give you the raw mechanics of shooting. We skip the theory and reasoning behind
each step so you can use this section as a reference. .
Heres a quick roadmap of the stationary shooting mechanics that well be covering:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Eyes on Target
Stance and Balance
Shot Pocket
Grip
Balance Hand
Delivery
Upforce and Landing
Follow Through
Correct Shot
P a g e | 22
EYES ON TARGET
To improve accuracy, locate the target (rim) as early as

possible.
Keep your eyes on the target and do not follow the

flight of the ball.
Keeping your target focus is very important!
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STANCE AND BALANCE
Feet are shoulder width apart for good balance.
Feet should be in a slightly staggered stance that is consistent

and comfortable for you. Your shooting foot is slightly ahead of
the non-shooting foot in a comfortable position.
Point your feet in the general direction of the basket, but not
necessarily directly at it. We prefer an open stance, but you can
also use the closed (squared) stance if thats more comfortable
for you. With an open stance, your feet point towards one side
of the basket. For example, a right handed shooter will point his
or her feet just to the left of the rim for a more natural position
and shooting motion.
Once you develop a comfortable stance, line up your feet the

exact same way on every shot. Whatever stance you use,
consistency is critical.
Flex/bend your knees on every shot.
P a g e | 24
SHOT POCKET
As you catch the ball, move it quickly into the shot pocket.
Line everything up so the ball and your shooting eye form a

straight line to the basket. This is VERY important.
Position the ball several inches above your waist.
Grip the ball properly and be ready to shoot.
Position the ball in your shot pocket the SAME way every time
you catch it.
P a g e | 25
GRIP
Place the air hole between the middle and index fingers.
Line up your fingertip pads parallel to the long seams of the

ball, so you can monitor the back spin.
Leave space between the ball and the middle of your palm.
You should be able to insert a pencil between the ball and
your palm area.
Spread your fingers far enough apart to comfortably balance

the ball in one hand.
The ball should sit on your finger pads.
P a g e | 26
BALANCE HAND
Your non-shooting hand should be on the side of the ball.
Your balance hand should not add force or spin to the shot.
Your non-shooting hand should not move on delivery and

should ALWAYS come off the ball FIRST.
P a g e | 27
DELIVERY
The ball should start motion directly upwards from the shot
pocket (no dipping of the ball).
Your elbow should be positioned comfortably under the ball.
The ball stays in front of you and should not go behind your
head.
Uncoil your body with your legs, core, and arm power all
coordinated.
Your elbow and wrist should extend in a straight line to the

basket.
P a g e | 28
Your shooting hand should extend in a straight line to the rim.

Hand position on delivery is very important. The ball should
come off the hand with perfect symmetrical backspin.
As shown in the picture to the right, your guide hand stays to

the side and does not influence the flight of the ball.
P a g e | 29
UPFORCE AND LANDING
Release the ball on the way up, just before the top of your
jump.
Use your legs to generate upforce.
You should land in the same spot that you jumped, which
shows that you have good balance on your shot.
P a g e | 30
FOLLOW-THROUGH
Your wrists should be floppy (relaxed).
Fingers should be pointed at the target (rim).
Finish high. You should see your fingers at the top square of
the back board.
Hold your follow through position until the ball hits the rim.
P a g e | 31
CORRECT YOUR SHOT

If needed, immediately correct your mechanics. For example, if you notice that you didnt followthrough; reposition your arms for a proper follow-through right away.
Why?
This technique will quickly break your bad habits. By immediately correcting yourself after each
practice shot, you train your mind to do it correctly the next time.
P a g e | 32
Shooting Mechanics Checklist

EYES ON TARGET Locate the target as early as possible and keep your eyes on it. Do not follow
the flight of the ball.
STANCE AND BALANCE Keep your feet shoulder width apart and aligned consistently. Knees
should be flexed. If you prefer the open stance, the non-shooting foot trails in a comfortable
position. If you prefer a squared stance, both feet point directly at the basket.
SHOT POCKET The ball should move quickly into the shot pocket. The ball and your shooting
eye should form a straight line to the basket. The ball should be several inches above the waist.
GRIP Spread your fingers far enough apart to comfortably balance the ball in one hand. The air
hole should be between the middle and index fingers. The ball sits on the finger pads. Leave
space between the ball and the middle of your palm.
BALANCE HAND The non-shooting hand is on the side of the ball. Your non-shooting hand
should not move on delivery and should always come off the ball first.
DELIVERY The ball should start motion directly upwards (no dipping of the ball). Your elbow
should be positioned comfortably under the ball. Your shooting hand should extend in a straight
line to the rim. The ball should stay in front of you and should not go behind your head. Your
body should uncoil with your legs, core, and arm power all coordinated. The elbow and wrist
extend in a straight line to the basket.
UPFORCE AND LANDING Release the ball before the top of your jump. Use your legs to generate
upforce. You should land in the same spot from which you jumped.
FOLLOW THROUGH Your wrist should be floppy (relaxed). Fingers should be pointed at the
target. Finish high. You should see your fingers at the top square of the back board. Hold your
follow through position until the ball hits the rim.
CORRECT SHOT If needed, immediately correct your mechanics.
P a g e | 33
RECOMMENDED SHOOTING AIDS,

RESOURCES AND DVDS
We have personally reviewed dozens and dozens of shooting products. Some are VERY helpful and
some are not.
Since new products come out all the time, we have listed all of our reviews and recommendations on this
webpage, which is continually updated:
http://www.breakthroughbasketball.com/fundamentals/shooting-resources.html
Comments and questions

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact us:
http://www.breakthroughbasketball.com/contact-us.asp

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BREAKTHROUGH BASKETBALL SHOOTING

TIPS & TECHNIQUE

Limits / Disclaimer of Warranty

Copyright 2013 Breakthrough Basketball, LLC

Copyright 2013 Breakthrough Basketball, LLC

The Critical Importance of Shooting

Copyright 2013 Breakthrough Basketball, LLC

Copyright 2013 Breakthrough Basketball, LLC

Copyright 2013 Breakthrough Basketball, LLC

Requirement #1: Consistent Mechanics

Copyright 2013 Breakthrough Basketball, LLC

Copyright 2013 Breakthrough Basketball, LLC

Requirement #2: Good Mechanics

Copyright 2013 Breakthrough Basketball, LLC

Requirement #3: Supreme Confidence

So how do you develop supreme and unwavering shooting confidence?

Why does this help?

Copyright 2013 Breakthrough Basketball, LLC

Copyright 2013 Breakthrough Basketball, LLC

Requirement #4: Mental Attitude

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2) ELIMINATE THE FEAR OF FAILURE.

Copyright 2013 Breakthrough Basketball, LLC

3) CLEAR YOUR MIND AND GET IN THE ZONE.

GET IN THE ALPHA STATE.

Requirement #5: Soft & Sufficient Arc

How do you develop the proper arc?

Optimal Arc Range

* Data for this chart came from www.noahbasketball.com

Copyright 2013 Breakthrough Basketball, LLC

Copyright 2013 Breakthrough Basketball, LLC

Requirement #6: Taking Good Shots

Copyright 2013 Breakthrough Basketball, LLC

Requirement #7: Practice Plan with

A PRACTICE PLAN WILL MOTIVATE YOU.

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Stationary Shooting Mechanics

Copyright 2013 Breakthrough Basketball, LLC

To improve accuracy, locate the target (rim) as early as

Keep your eyes on the target and do not follow the

Keeping your target focus is very important!

Copyright 2013 Breakthrough Basketball, LLC

STANCE AND BALANCE

Feet are shoulder width apart for good balance.

Feet should be in a slightly staggered stance that is consistent

Once you develop a comfortable stance, line up your feet the

Flex/bend your knees on every shot.

Copyright 2013 Breakthrough Basketball, LLC

Line everything up so the ball and your shooting eye form a

Position the ball several inches above your waist.

Grip the ball properly and be ready to shoot.

Copyright 2013 Breakthrough Basketball, LLC

Line up your fingertip pads parallel to the long seams of the

Spread your fingers far enough apart to comfortably balance

The ball should sit on your finger pads.

Copyright 2013 Breakthrough Basketball, LLC

Your non-shooting hand should be on the side of the ball.

Your non-shooting hand should not move on delivery and

Copyright 2013 Breakthrough Basketball, LLC

Your elbow should be positioned comfortably under the ball.

Your elbow and wrist should extend in a straight line to the

Copyright 2013 Breakthrough Basketball, LLC

Your shooting hand should extend in a straight line to the rim.

As shown in the picture to the right, your guide hand stays to