How to be a great basketball shooter

8 Keys to Becoming a Great Shooter in Basketball

This article was written by Basketball HQ co-founder Kyle Ohman. Coach Ohman is a skill development trainer, high school basketball coach, and camp director/instructor worldwide. Kyle also has a background in playing as well. He was a 1,000 point scorer at Liberty University and was ranked the 19th best shooter his senior year by Fox Sports. After college, he played professionally in Europe. 

 

1. Mental Toughness as Shooter

• Confidence
  • Has the confidence to take and make shots when open
  • Judges themselves on taking a good shot, not whether they made or missed the shot
• Short Memory
  • Realizes that the only shot that matters is the next shot
  • May miss a few shots in a row, but doesn’t keep you from shooting the next quality shot that comes their way
• Fight Through Fatigue
  • Can make shots at the end of the game when tired because they stay mentally engaged and practice great shooting fundamentals
• Desire to Take Big Shots
  • Actively looks to take the big shot at the end of a game
  • Wants the ball at the end of the game and trusts their shot

 

2. Basketball Shooting Fundamentals

• Shot Preparation
  • Down ready to shoot before the ball gets there
  • Comes into their shot the same way every time (muscle memory)
  • Great balance and footwork on every shot
• Shooting the Ball
  • Catches ball in the shooting pocket with the wrist cocked
  • The ball comes straight up the body
  • Shoots the ball in one smooth motion
  • Uses legs correctly to help improve shooting range
• Follow Through
  • Lands in the same area as they jumped from (unless purposely fading away or drifting to get the shot off)
  • Hand in the basket until the shot is made or missed
  • Doesn’t practice poor habits like kicking a leg out

3. Shot Selection

• Quality of Shot
  • Understands the difference between a high and low percentage shot
  • Understands personal shooting strengths and weaknesses
  • Avoids shooting the shots that they are weak in, i. e., step back, hang dribble, etc. (this list is different for each shooter)
• Trust Teammates
  • Is willing to give the ball up early in a possession to get it back later for a better shot
• Heating Up
  • Knows when their shot is falling and how to be aggressive when it is
  • Knows when an easy shot is needed to get going or to get back on track

 

4. Basketball Game Flow

• Time and Score
  • Understands when the ball needs to be moved around and when it is time for a quick shot
• Momentum Score
  • Can make a big shot to answer the other team’s run
  • Can make a big shot to put the dagger into the other team

 

5. Game-Speed Basketball Shooting

• Shooting Drills
  • Practices shooting at game speed and is ready for game shots
• Types of Shots
  • Works on multiple types of shots
  • Doesn’t avoid weaknesses when training

* List of Basketball Shooting Drills

 

6. Move Without the Ball

• Uses Screens
  • Primary Screens: Down screens, back screens, flare screens, ball screens
  • Primary Cuts of Screens: Curl cut, pro-cut, straight cut, fade cut
• Hard Cuts
  • Reads their defender and then makes the appropriate cut to get open
• Spacing
  • Creates a passing lane for the passer by sliding up or down on penetration and post feeds

 

7. Basketball Conditioning

• Transition
  • Beats the defense up the floor for an open shot
  • Catch and shoot shot or rip through/shot fake one dribble shot
• Use screens
  • Can run a defender ragged off of multiple screens
  • Pauses and reads defender before each screen

 

8. Exploits the Scouting Report Defense

• Penetration
  • Can make the defense pay on an over-closeout
• Efficient Use of Dribbles
  • Only uses 1-2 dribbles on penetration to get shot off
  • Can drive and kick if help defender steps up on penetration
• Shot Fake
  • Recognizes scouting report defense and uses shot fake to exploit it
  • Use the shot fake to get past the defender and also to draw fouls

 

 

One of the words that can be closely associated with a great shooter is efficiency. There are many shooters out there that average a lot of points, but they are also averaging a lot of shots. These players are”volume shooters,” and they are rarely associated with winning basketball teams. Great shooters can take and make shots at a high percentage, which helps their team win games. They recognize that this is their “role” on the team, and they do their best to help the team win.

As you can see from this list, a great shooter is comprised of many different things. Some good shooters check off some of these points, but only great shooters have really mastered all of these different areas. If you desire to be a great shooter, look through this list and figure out which areas you are strong at and which areas you are weak at.

After this, it is up to you to spend time working on these different areas. Don’t avoid your weaknesses when you go to the gym to do your basketball training. You want to maximize your strengths as a shooter, but you also want to limit your weaknesses. The only way to do that is by spending time working on your weaknesses.

If there is one thing that you take away from this basketball article, take this. GREAT SHOOTERS ARE MADE IN THE GYM. Some shooters are more naturally gifted, but there has never been a great shooter in the history of the game that hasn’t put countless hours into their shot.

 

 

3 Basketball Drills to Become Better at Shooting

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Although it may often be considered a recreational activity, shooting buckets and practicing your basketball shot is a skill that often makes the difference in any game, from school leagues to the pros. It takes practice, repetition, and consistency to ensure you're comfortable with hitting your shots when all eyes are on you.

During the shooting motion, the placement of your hands and feet are crucial. With IMG Academy’s How-To Become a Better Shooter drills video, hear directly from the team’s coach, and learn how to set yourself up to shoot nothing but net! 

In this video, you will be introduced to three basketball shooting drills to become a better shooter. Watch how student-athletes perform each drill with instruction on stance, follow through, and balance to control the ball and make the shot. Each of these drills will allow you to enhance your skills: 

• Form Shooting
• Quick Feet
• Transition Shooting 

The keys to Form Shooting are good balance and follow through, keeping your elbows in, and properly judging your power - don’t miss short. To master Quick Feet and set yourself up to score, take three steps to get behind the three-point line, pivot to catch, and get the shot off before it’s contested. Transition Shooting is all about maintaining good balance and your follow through being stuck to ensure your shot finishes strong.    

Ready to impress the crowd when you step on the court? Press play below to get started!
 

IMG Academy basketball has created a library of basketball training drills that you can refer back to any time! Check out our other News stories as well as our YouTube channel (@imgacademy) for all of our How-To content.

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Jun 10, 2021

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20 interesting games for the company

Leisure ideas / Master class

Have a good time in a cheerful company of friends, arranging an unusual championship. Games are important not only for kids, but also for adults, because they can unite us even more. In addition, this is a great way to help new friends join the team, and not stand alone all evening at the wall.

We have selected quite a few popular games that will allow you to have a good time. In our article you will find a variety of entertainment that trains the mind and develops the flexibility of the body. So, we offer you to have fun playing the following games...

Content:

1. Mafia
2. Twister
3. Question or Wish
4. Crime Scene
5. Who Am I?
6. "Black Box"
7. "Keeper of the Secret"
8. "Crocodile" with a frame
9. "Find a way out of the room"
10. Literball
11. "Two facts, one lie"
12. "I never..."
13. "Creepy Guessing Game"
14. "Guess the Melody"
15. "Do as I do!"
16. Limbo
17. Writing a bestseller
18. Noah's Ark
19. Tug of war
20. Treasure map

1. "Mafia"

Age category: 6+.
Game type: intellectual psychological detective.
Number of players: 5 or more.
When it comes to games for a large company, many people first of all remember the "Mafia", which conquered the whole world and won a lot of fans. To play intelligent detective, you will need a deck of special cards that you can purchase online or draw yourself. You can also create your own card templates and order their printing in any edition. Well, if the above options are not suitable, take the most ordinary cards and agree with your friends what roles you will give them. For example: Spades - Mafia, Ace of Spades - Mafia Boss, Jack of Hearts - Doctor, King of Hearts - Commissioner and so on. To prevent players from peeping at each other, it is advisable to wear masks or bandages as soon as the city falls asleep.

The essence of the game
There are conditionally three parties in the game: Mafia, Civilians and Maniac. The goal of the mafia is to kill players at night and execute during the day, posing as goodies. The goal of the Citizens is to find and execute the Mafia. A maniac is a self-willed person who kills everyone indiscriminately.
Characters
The classic version has active and passive characters. The host is a passive character, does not affect the course of the game, but coordinates the actions of all its participants.
Evil characters: Mafia (consists of the Boss and his henchmen), Maniac.
Good characters: Commissar, Doctor, Civilians.
Peaceful Citizens are passive players: they sleep at night, but they can vote during the day, sending objectionable people to death.
Mafia wakes up at night.
The Mafia Boss selects a victim to be stabbed. In the event of the death of the Boss, his post is taken by another mafia.
Maniac hits any player at night.
Commissioner can check any player at night. If that player has been visited by the Mafia or the Maniac, the Commissar's check scares away criminals, saving the player's life.
The Doctor also makes his move at night and can heal anyone (one player) by canceling the killing move of the Mafia or Maniac.

Game progress

The game is divided into periods - day and night. On the first day, the Host distributes cards to the players, after which the first night begins. On the first night (at the command of the Leader), the players wake up in turn, letting him know who has what role. The mafia get to know each other and find out who got the role of Boss. All players wake up during the day. The host briefly describes the events of the previous night. For example: “The mafia struck, but the visit of the Commissar frightened off the bandits. The maniac brutally mocked another victim all night, but the Doctor managed to save the poor fellow. These hints allow players to identify the opponent. This is followed by a vote, during which each player can propose a candidate for execution. By carefully examining the arguments and the suspects, one can spot the mafiosi, as they tend to be unanimous in daytime voting. However, dexterous players know how to splurge, blaming each other during the day (but only if the execution of the ally is clearly not in danger). After the execution, the dead man's card is revealed and everyone sees his role. Then night falls on the city and the active players make their move again. The game ends with the victory of the Peaceful, if all the Mafs and the Maniac are killed. The mafia wins when it remains in the majority. With a successful combination of circumstances, the Maniac can win, left alone with a passive player.
In addition to the classic story, there are many different options for the game. We advise you to choose the most creative friend with an excellent sense of humor for the role of the Lead. You can use references to various books and films in your competitions. So, for example, the story about vampires and werewolves has become popular, where the role of the Boss is played by Count Dracula, Dr. Frankenstein heals from ailments, and the Commissioner turns into Helsing or Buffy. The more friends you have, the more characters you can bring into the game, making it even more fun!

2. "Twister"

Age category: 3+.
Game type: sports competition.
Number of players: 2 or more.

The exciting game "Twister" will give you a reason to laugh at the awkward poses of your friends, and at the same time - go in for sports, because during the game you will have to bend, stretch your arms and legs to colorful circles and try to keep your balance.

Game progress

The host spins a special arrow, giving each player a certain position (for example, left hand on a green circle, right foot on a yellow one, etc.). The winner is the player who manages to stand on the field, following all the orders of the leader. If a player touches the surface of the field in the wrong place, he is automatically out of the game.

3. Question or Wish / Truth or Dare

Age category: 5+.
Game type: recreational competition.
Number of players: 2 or more.

One of the most popular youth entertainments abroad is the game "Question or Wish". To determine the queue of players, you can use pointers (for example, a bottle) or pass the turn clockwise.

Game progress

Player A offers player B one of two options: a question or a wish. If player B chooses a question, then player A can ask him anything. If player B chooses a wish, then player A can order anything. It is better for married couples not to play, because the questions may turn out to be too personal and tricky. Best of all, this fun is suitable for single guys and girls.

There are different versions of this game, depending on who you play with: you can buy a game for a group of friends

4.

Crime Scene Age category: 16+.
Game type: intellectual detective.
Number of players: 2 or more.

Detective quiz, which develops ingenuity and fantasy, is a variation of the popular game "Danetki".

Game progress

The host describes a situation (most often it is a robbery or murder), and you, using logic and imagination, try to figure out what happened. The key to the solution is always in the problem itself.

Examples of riddles

1) The body of a man was found in the middle of the desert, next to which lay a backpack. The man was absolutely healthy, neither hunger nor dehydration caused death. What did he die from?
Answer: the key to the solution is the backpack in which the parachute was located, and the poor fellow died because the parachute did not open.

2) The body of a security guard was found in the middle of the supermarket. The man was not attacked, he did not die from an illness. There was only a sign next to it. What happened?
Answer: you must have noticed signs in stores that say "Wet floor". Obviously, the guard slipped on the wet floor and hit himself as he fell.

3) A man was found near the sports ground, who died under mysterious circumstances. There are no visible wounds on his body. Detectives spotted a ball nearby. What happened?
Answer: A heavy basketball went out of bounds and hit the poor guy in the head.

5. "Who am I?"

Age category: 6+.
Game type: intellectual quest.
Number of players: 2 or more.

This game has many names and you are probably familiar with it. She gained particular popularity after the release of the film Inglourious Basterds.

Game progress

Each participant writes a name (literary character, movie character or real person) on a sticky note. The sheets are distributed to the players (the player should not see the words on his sheet) and are fastened to the forehead. When asking questions to other participants, the player must guess his character. Questions can only be answered with “yes” or “no”.

Sample riddle
Player 1: Am I human?
Player 2: None.
Player 1: Am I the hero of the movie?
Player 2: Yes.
Player 1: Am I spitting fire?
Player 2: Yes.
Player 1: Am I the dragon Drogon?
Player 2: Yes.

The player who gives the correct answer by asking the fewest questions wins the round.

6. Black Box

Age category: 18+.
Game type: intellectual quiz.
Number of players: 2 or more.

"Black Box" is a variation of the game "What? Where? When? ”, where a black box is used instead of the classic black box. The peculiarity of the game is that all questions and answers are somewhat frivolous: they are related to sex, drinking, etc. In the television version, you would not hear such questions.

Game progress

The facilitator asks a question related to the item in the black box. After a minute, the players must answer the question. By the way, it is not at all necessary to use a black box, it can be conditional.

Sample question for "CHS"
Actors from the popular musical "Cats" attach microphones under their tights. Artists often dance and (to protect against sweat) they put THIS on the microphones. Attention to the question: what lies in the black box?
Answer: condoms.

7. Secret Keeper

Age category: 5+.
Game type: intellectual quiz.
Number of players: 2 or more.

This quiz will test your erudition and compete in the speed of thinking.

Game progress

One of the players (missing this round) makes a well-known popular expression, proverb or saying to the host. The host reports the number of words in a given sentence. Players must guess the phrase by asking the host as many questions as there are words in the phrase. Questions and answers can be absolutely anything. However, each answer can consist of only one sentence and must contain 1 word of the hidden phrase.

An example of a riddle
Moderator: The phrase contains 3 words. The player can ask 3 questions.
Player: What time is it?
Host: Look at the wall where the clock is hanging.
Player: Is there life on Mars?
Narrator: Scholars disagree on this issue.
Player: Who is to blame?
Host: The root of the problem is hidden from our eyes.
Answer: the aphorism of Kozma Prutkov "Look at the root" is guessed.

8. "Crocodile" with a setup "Striptease"

Age category: 18+.
Type: intellectual sadism.
Number of players: 3 or more.

Surely you are all familiar with the Crocodile game, during which one participant silently shows the hidden word to a group of guessing players. In the fake Crocodile, the rules are somewhat different.

Game progress

Take an unsuspecting victim and ask her the word striptease. The rest of the participants already know about the hidden word and that there are forces in it . .. they don’t guess. Calling any words you want, you need to make the player dance a striptease. However, having removed 2-3 things, the victim (according to the malicious laughter of others) begins to understand that she was set up. In "Crocodile" with a double set-up, the host tells the guessing players the word, but the victim knows about the set-up in advance and puts on a whole performance with a funny striptease, after putting on as many things as possible or choosing funny underwear.

9. "Find a way out of the room"

Age category: 6+.
Game type: intellectual and detective quest.
Number of players: 2 or more.

Fascinating quests in the style of "Find a way out of the room" have become one of the most fashionable entertainment. In almost every city there are quest rooms where (for a moderate and not very moderate fee) they will put on a whole performance for you.

Game progress

The team is closed in an unfamiliar room, from which it must get out in a certain period of time. Players are looking for riddles and clues to various secret boxes with new keys. Having solved all the problems, the team finds the master key that unlocks the door to freedom. If you have a spacious room and an inexhaustible imagination, you yourself can come up with a scenario for the quest. Call your friends, leave tips for them and see how they cope with the task.

10. Literball

Age category: 18+.
Game type: alcohol contest.
Number of players: 2 or more.

"Litrball" - an adult game in the style of "who outdrinks whom." Historians argue that its various analogues have existed for centuries in all corners of the planet. Those who want to measure their ability to outdrink an opponent appeared as soon as mankind invented alcoholic beverages. They say that the ancient Greeks and Peter I especially liked such games. In the CIS countries, the so-called. "Drunk checkers", in which instead of white and black checkers they use glasses with vodka and cognac or glasses with light and dark beer. As soon as you "eat" the opponent's checker, you need to drink the contents of this glass and remove it from the board. More advanced players prefer Drunken Chess. For a game, silhouettes of chess pieces are drawn on the glasses with a marker.

However, Drunken Checkers and Drunken Chess can only be played by 2 people, so we will consider the option for a larger group. It's about student fun called "Beer Ping-Pong" (or "Beer Pong").

How to play

You will need plastic cups, a table, a ping pong ball and beer. Lots of beer. Participants are divided into 2 teams. The judge pours beer into glasses and places them equally on both sides of the table, lining up the glasses in a triangle shape. Competitors take turns throwing the ball into the opponent's glass. If the ball lands in a glass, the hit player drinks beer from this glass, removes the empty bowl from the table and gets the right to re-throw. The team with the most accurate wins, having devastated all the opponent's glasses.

Warning: students' favorite pastime can lead to alcohol poisoning. We advise you to take smaller glasses, so that later it would not be excruciatingly painful for the aimlessly killed liver.

Why basketballs are orange and how they differ

It would seem that choosing a basketball can be difficult. We all imagine a heavy orange ball with a relief structure and a characteristic dense sound when rebounding. But not everything is so simple. Today there are many manufacturers and types of basketballs. We will tell you how they differ and what you should pay attention to when choosing a ball that is right for you.

Destination, or on what court you are going to play

First you need to decide exactly where you are going to play. Outdoor or indoor, in other words, indoors or outdoors. Indoor parquet courts are perfectly smooth, and an expensive basketball with good grip, made of genuine leather or high-end synthetic materials, is suitable for them.

But these balls are absolutely not suitable for open areas with asphalt or other types of coverage: from frequent hits on a rough surface, they will wear out and quickly become unusable, and you will waste a lot of money and will not get any pleasure from the game. For outdoor areas, special balls are made from coarser materials: rubber or hard synthetics.

There is another type of ball: universal. They are usually made from high-quality synthetics, which provide good adhesion to smooth parquet, but do not wear off after a couple of games on a rough asphalt surface. Finding a quality versatile ball is not an easy task.

What color to choose

We are used to the fact that all basketballs are orange. For a long time this was true, because it was a requirement of the official league.

The first leather balls were brown and got lost on the court, so they were painted bright orange. But now the rules are not so strict. Manufacturers are experimenting with different colors of balls, and you can already find red and blue, as well as black models in sports stores.

What you need to know about basketball sizes

We have decided on the court and color of the perfect ball for our game, and now the most important thing is to choose the right size.

Basketballs, although they look the same, differ in diameter and weight. Each team and league has its own variations. Let's figure it out. It's not all that difficult.

• Seven: diameter - 749-780 millimeters, weight 567-650 grams
• Six: 724-737 millimeters, 510-567 grams
• Five: 690-710 millimeters, 470-500 grams
• Three: 560-580 millimeters, 300-330 grams

Which balls are standard

The largest balls - "sevens" - are suitable for adult men's teams. They are considered standard according to the FIBA ​​(International Basketball Association) classification. The “sixes”, which women's teams play in official matches, are also considered standard.

For junior teams, adult balls are too heavy and voluminous: they are uncomfortable to hold in the hand, and a good shot into the basket requires a lot of effort, so “fives” are ideal for children, which are smaller in volume and noticeably lighter.

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