How to Shoot a Basketball
Before learning how to shoot a basketball I suggest you read this if you haven't already done so. It's time to get to the real deal and learn how to shoot. We'll start with the jump shot (and include the free throw in it) then we'll learn how to do a lay-up.
Jump Shot/Free Throw
1. To set up for the shot, hold the ball with your strong hand (using your finger tips) and stand in the triple threat position. Keep your head up looking at the rim and your knees bent.
2. In one motion bring your arm near your forehead so that your strong hand is underneath the the ball (with your index finger aligned to the center) and your other hand on the side. By now your elbow should be about at a right angle.
3. You should start straightening out your knees so that you're body is rising. Once you get on your tippy toes push off floor and jump (so that you’re in the air).
4. Now you should allow your weak hand (the one on the side) to leave the ball just before flicking your wrist (to avoid it from interfering). When you do flick your wrist make sure you should have enough power and the ball has backspin on it. Remember to follow through.
5. During a game what most players do wrong is sit and watch their shot, instead of going to rebound it. So don't develop any bad habits and get your rebound even if it's going in.
What about a free throw? Well as you see in step three, you're suppose to jump off the floor once your reach your tippy toes. Just skip the jump. Follow the rest of the instruction on your tippy toes. Not jumping can be an advantage when it comes to accuracy, but it's only better when it's not long range or when you don't have defensive pressure.
And those are the instructions to a jump shot and a free throw. But those aren't the only things you need to know when learning how to shoot a basketball.
Performing a Lay-up
A lay-up is sort of different (and suppose to be the simplier) then the other shots because it involves two addition things. Taking a few steps foward, and hitting it off the backboard on an angle. But how do you do a lay-up?
Well the lay-up involves you dribbling to the basket on a 45 degree on either side of the net. You also have to use either hand depending what side you're coming from. Here's what you need to do for your approch.
1. After getting close enough carry the ball and take one and a half steps towards the basket.
2. Leap off of one foot (if you're approaching from the right then leap off the left and if you're approaching from the left, leap off the right). And raise your other knee in the air.
3. If you're on the left do this with your left hand (even if it's your weak one) and if you're on the right do this with you're right hand. Just release the ball gently on the backboard (your target is the top corner of the square that's on the backboard). If you do it right it should go in almost 100 percent of the time (again if you do it right).
So that concludes the basics on how to shoot a basketball. Remember everybody has those days when none of their shots aren't going in. To avoid these days just practice everyday, just shoot and keep shooting.
Return to from How to Shoot a Basketball to Basketball Fundamentals