In basketball, shooting is one of your most important skills. A good shooter can take their team to the next level, whether playing in the park or the NBA. If you’re new to the game or looking to improve your shooting, here are some tips to help you shoot like a pro.
1. Use Your Fingers, Not Your Palm
When you grip the ball, use your fingers instead of your palm. This will give you more control over the ball and help you keep it steady as you shoot. Place your middle finger on the ball, then position your other fingers around it. Don’t grip the ball too tightly—you should be able to feel it against your fingers, but it shouldn’t be so tight that your hand hurts.
2. Get in a Low Stance
When you’re in a low stance, it’s easier to balance yourself and stay steady as you shoot. Bend your knees and get into a squatting position—this will help you stay balanced and prevent you from moving too much as you shoot. If you’re taller than average or have long arms, you may need to get into an even lower stance so that your shot doesn’t get blocked by a defender.
3. Extend Your Arms
As you shoot, extend your arms fully so that the ball has a chance to leave your hand without being obstructed by your body or by defenders. As you release the ball, snap your wrists, so it spins forward—this will give it extra momentum and make it more likely to go in the basket. If you’re shooting from long range, aim for the back of the rim so the ball can fall through, even if it doesn’t hit anything but the net.
4. Follow Through
Once you’ve released the ball, don’t forget to follow through with your shot by snapping your wrists and extending your arms until they’re above your head. This will help ensure that the ball has enough power and spin to make it into the basket. As you follow through, keep your eyes on the rim to see if your shot is going in or not.
5 Practice From Different Angles
Practicing from different angles will help you become a better shooter overall because it forces you to adjust to different situations that may come up during a game. For example, if you typically shoot from the free throw line but are forced to take a jump shot from further away, knowing how to adjust your form will be crucial if you want to make the shot. Practicing from different angles also helps improve muscle memory so that shooting becomes second nature when game time comes around.
These are just a few tips that will help improve your shooting ability the next time you hit the court. Remember to use your fingers when gripping the ball, get in a low stance for balance, extend your arms fully when shooting, follow through with each shot, and practice from multiple angles often! With these tips in mind, there’s no reason why YOU can’t become a great shooter too!
