Improve Your Basketball Shot With These 8 Tips
While some of the best NBA players might have been born with natural talent, there’s no way they became as good as they are overnight. They have spent years perfecting their game in order to make it into the big leagues.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t perfect your basketball shot, too. If you want to make 3-pointers like Stephen Curry, you’re going to have to stick to the basics for a while.
C&C Courts has searched far and wide for the best tips to get nothing but net with your basketball shots!
1. Always Warm Up First
No professional athlete goes into a big game with cold, static muscles. They warm up first, and that’s what you should do, too. Warm up your different muscle groups for 20-30 seconds to help you get into the groove.
Once your muscles are good and loose, increase your heart rate by doing some quick cardiovascular exercises. You're ready for the next step once you feel your blood pumping through your body!
2. Pay Attention to the Small Details
While Stephen Curry makes shooting a 3-pointer look easy, it’s because he’s practiced the basics many, many times. If you’re just starting out or have some experience, it’s still a good idea to take a step back and focus on the small details.
The key is to practice each of these until they feel natural:
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Make sure your grip is spread across the ball properly, which means that your fingers are spread wide enough to balance the ball with one hand.
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Next, keep an eye on your elbow. It should be directly under the ball, and your hand has to line up to the rim for a smooth shot.
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Force is important. Release the ball before you’re at the top of your jump. If you’re shooting correctly, you’ll land in the same spot from where you took off.
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Relax your wrist and point your fingers when shooting the ball. Your fingers should line up with the top of the backboard for a clean shot and follow-through.
Practice these basics over and over until the movements feel completely natural, then, you can move on to the next tip.
3. Practice Your B.L.E.S.H.
Frank Allocco Sr is a seasoned coach with 18 seasons under his belt. He created the Excel Basketball Camp and came up with this method of perfecting your shot. His method is called B.L.E.S.H.
As you work your way through B.L.E.S.H., it should help you eliminate any problems you’re having with your shot.
B – Bend your knees. They generate power to get your ball to the hoop– and hopefully through the net.
L – Lift your legs and arms at the same time, keeping your wrist and elbow at a 90° angle until your extension.
E – Extend your shooting arm up and slightly forward when you leave the ground.
S – Snap your wrist and shoot the ball when you’re at a full extension. The snapping motion creates a backspin, helping the ball land in the net after hitting the backboard.
H – Hold your position after your shot. Your index and middle finger should be in line with the basket.
4. Try Some Basketball Drills
Repetition is key to improving your game. Practice some of these drills to get better and better.
Elbow to Elbow Drills
To perform this drill, stand on one leg. Standing on one foot helps improve your balance and increases the difficulty of the shot. Make sure you switch legs halfway between your drill.
Hold the ball with both hands and make the shot. As you work your way through the drill, change positions on the court to increase or decrease the difficulty. But don’t try to move too fast if you’re not ready.
Nothing But Net
The purpose of this drill is to focus your eye line, which can make you a more successful shooter. Essentially, make several shots over and over, but the ball cannot touch the backboard or the rim. It can only touch the net. Start by taking stationary shots from four different spots on the court, making 5 shots each. Track your progress so you can see your improvement.
One-Armed Shots
One-armed shots force you to improve your follow-through and ensure you are flexing your wrist every time. Start under the basket and make five shots. To increase the difficulty, take a step back and make five more shots, and so on. The power for these shots should come from your legs. Don’t drop your arm after the shot.
5. Slowly Increase the Distance from the Basket
Instead of trying to make a half-court shot on your first try, start by standing up close to the basket and making your shot. During practice, slowly move backward away from the basket to increase distance. Do this until you’re shooting from the 3-point line.
The goal of this method is to identify issues with your shot. Practicing over and over will help you identify and correct those issues. Don’t move backward until you’re confident in your shot.
6. Grip Basics
One seemingly simple way to practice your basketball shot is by balancing the ball in one hand. When the ball is balanced properly, it should sit on the pads of your fingers. Try to aim for minimal space between the ball and the palm of your hand.
7. Limit Air Time
Kobe Bryant, one of the greatest basketball players of our time, could hang in the air like he was suspended from above. However, he was a master at this particular technique, so don’t try to mimic him right away.
Most players try to shoot when they’re about one inch from the top of their jump. As you practice this, you’ll become better, and maybe someday you can hang like Kobe.
8. Practice Your Catch
If the ball isn’t in your hands, you can’t score. A key technique to master in order to make great shots is to catch the ball in a shot-ready position. This means that you are ready to shoot the ball right after you catch it. This can help you improve your speed and accuracy.
A shot-ready position means your knees are bent slightly, and your body is hinged forward over the hips. You should look like you’re about to jump. This helps give you extra power when making your shot.
Practice Your Shot Every Day on Your Own Basketball Court!
If you want to practice your shot any time you want, C&C Courts can help!
We have many ideas for personalized basketball courts that you can build in your backyard:
Design Your Own Indoor or Outdoor Basketball Court
Our unique and interactive “Design a Court” feature will help you visualize your dream court. Use this feature to choose your court size, type, colors, game lines, and more. Once you’re done, share the court design with us, and we’ll give you a call to make your dream court a reality.
Choose the Best Surface Material for Your Basketball Court
Because C&C Courts takes athletic courts seriously, we only work with the best materials when we build your court. One of the most important factors of your personalized basketball court is the surface material. We have special surface materials for both indoor and outdoor courts, each designed with safety and performance in mind.
Our outdoor court surfaces are resilient and safe, providing extra cushion for your joints and better ball control. Our indoor court surfaces are beautiful, modern, easy to clean, and extremely durable. You won’t be disappointed with any of your choices of surface material.
Call Us Today!
If you want more information about building your own basketball court, call us today at 414-377-5294 or send us a message on our website. We can’t wait to talk to you!
