Every three-point shot starts from a great shooting form and balance. Hence, the first skill you should master as an aspiring basketball player is shooting. How to shoot a basketball better?

Shooting a basketball is not just releasing a ball; it entails body form, balance, grip, and many more technical skills. Hence, the tip on how to shoot a basketball better is to focus on perfecting these fundamentals rather than on how you can make a point.

To learn more about basketball shooting forms, check out the sections below. The next thing you know, you are already a shooting legend.

Fundamentals of Basketball Shooting

In basketball, there is no shortcut to improving. Every great player from different leagues starts from the basics or fundamentals. This time, you will learn ways to improve shooting by reviewing the fundamentals.

In this video, former basketball legend Allan Houston narrowed down the five basics of fluid and powerful shooting motion—from position to ball release. To learn more about this, we have broken down the key points he discussed in the video.

• Focus On Your Body Posture and Feet Position

Every great three-point legend knows that an excellent shot starts from the form of the feet. The most important tip to remember is to keep your feet width apart, bend your knees slightly, and move forward your dominant foot to improve balance and lower body support.

In shooting basketballs, you must have a solid foundation for swiftly shooting the ball to the aim. Having too much or little distance between your feet will disrupt your shooting momentum. 

Putting the feet in a great position engages more muscle to support your shooting motion. If you do not get what it means, check out this YouTube video that elaborates on the benefits of having an excellent foot position.

• Keep An Eye on Your Aim

The bottom line is to keep your complete focus when releasing the ball. When you have an occupied mind, you will lose your muscle memory in shooting and cannot keep a good eye on the rim.

It would be best to practice this skill regularly to improve your shooting and concentration. You can have a pair training on shooting by making continuous shots, then slowly increase the difficulty over time.

As you can see in this video again, Houston took a short while before releasing the ball. He made sure to keep a good eye on the aim.

• Maximize Your Leg Power

A perfect ball delivery does not only use upper body strength but utilizes the power of the legs. It is vital to maximizing your lower body strength because it allows the transfer of energy from the lower part of your body to the hips until you deliver the ball.

In this case, you can use an exact amount of power and force to hit your aim. This video shows how the players used leg strength to support their balance and ball delivery.

• Have A Good Grip

The secret behind this tip is that it allows you to control the amount of power to deliver the ball accurately. The rule of thumb is to use your dominant hand because it has a better range of motion. As you can see in this video, the player discusses the correct hand placement to improve shooting.

• Make Sure To Master Follow Through

This principle will help you reduce pain in your body. The best way to improve your follow-through is to keep your wrist relaxed while your fingers point in the direction you release the ball.

Lastly, when you are about to deliver the shot, make sure that you will see your fingers on top of the board. Then, maintain this position until you release the ball. To have an idea of what it looks like, check out this YouTube video.

Different Types of Basketball Shots

As they say, there are thousands of ways to kill a cat. There are a few types of basketball shots that you must include in your basketball practice plan. Without further ado, let us check the different types of basketball.

• Jump Shot

First, the jump shot—is the most common and basic one. This technique is used to perform a shot beyond the arc of the court. To do this, you must square your shoulders, keep your feet shoulder-width apart, and bend your knees slightly.

Then, perform a mighty leap. At the peak of the jump, deliver the ball while maintaining a follow-through position. Always flick your wrist instead of pushing the ball to release it.

Check out this video of a player doing a jump shot.

• Bank Shot

The key to mastering a bank shot is to have a great estimation. A bank shot is when you strategically hit the board to make a shot instead of directly shooting it into the rim. 

In other words, the ball bounces off the board and then goes into the rim. In this video, you will see how to quickly and perfectly do a bank shot.

• Hook Shot

A hook shot is such a defensive way to make score. To perform this, you must not face the net directly. Using only one hand while your other hand is doing the defense is the best way to do it.

If you use your right hand to make a shot, jump using your left foot. Your shooting ar has to be slightly bent to make a powerful thrust. If it is still unclear to you, check out this video.

• Free Throw

From the name itself, a free throw is an unguarded shooting attempt granted to a player whose opponent made an illegal contact. The secret to acing a free throw is to position your elbow like an “L.” meanwhile, your fingers have to be spread while maintaining a good balance in the lower body. Check out this video to see how to do a free throw.

• Slam Dunk

This type of shooting needs no introduction. A Slam dunk means delivering the ball by hand instead of releasing it from a distance. In this case, you do not need to apply all the tips to improve your basketball shooting, as it requires seasoned skills and jumping prowess. Here is an example of a slam dunk.

• Layup Shot

Last but not least is a layup shot. It is similar to a slam dunk, except that you will not have to dip the ball into the net. It is a mixture of hook shots and slam dunks. Here is how you can do a layup shot.

How to Improve Your Shooting Accuracy: 3 Drills

There are a lot of drills to be a better shooter in basketball. Now that you are here check out the drills we have listed that you should include in your basketball practice plan.

1. One-Arm Shots

As the name suggests, it is a shooting style that requires a single hand. It is an excellent drill to improve shooting because it helps you have better shooting control and hand techniques. Check out this YouTube video to see how to do a one-hand shot.

2. Single-Leg Balance

This drill aims explicitly to improve your shooting balance and leg strength. Instead of having both feet planted on the ground, you must stand on one leg to deliver the ball. Check out the 0:44 mark of this video to see how to do it.

3. Form Shooting

You can include the last one in your training for shooting, which means you will accurately assess your form before releasing the ball. In this case, you will be able to learn the muscle memory of a great shooting posture. Check out this video to see how to do it.

3 Basketball Shooting Forms and Techniques

Aside from the technical discussion on the fundamentals of basketball shooting, here are some techniques you should know to improve your shooting accuracy.

1. Great Upper Body and Lower Body Force Combination

Instead of isolating these two, there needs to have dynamics between them. It means that you should have a great foundation and balance in your lower extremities, then the energy transfer manifests in the upper body.

2. Correct Your Shooting Form

Even during practice games, you must ensure you have the proper position. Always correct your form whenever you deliver a ball because failure starts with a bad habit.

3. Focus On Smooth Delivery

Instead of rushing yourself to make a point, focus on your posture and balance to have a smooth delivery. It is a vital technique because you might exert too much or too little force when things are not properly executed.

Wrapping Things Up: How to Shoot a Basketball Better

The best tip to shoot a basketball better is to learn the fundamentals, then improve your shooting accuracy with suitable shooting drills. Always remember that there are no shortcuts to greatness.

Always enjoy the process. Slowly and surely, perfect the art and science of shooting by making small steps daily. Talent, mindset, and discipline will always result in success.

We hope you enjoyed this post! If you did, be sure to check out our other basketball FAQ articles here.