How to calculate basketball shooting percentage

TS Calculator - Calculate True Shooting Percentage

Created by Maria Kluziak

Reviewed by Bogna Szyk and Jack Bowater

Last updated: Jan 14, 2022

• What is the true shooting percentage basketball statistic?
• How to use the TS calculator?
• How to calculate true shooting percentage?
• Glossary of terms used in the TS calculator
• Why is the true shooting percentage useful?
• TS% values of professional basketball players
• More resources on true shooting percentage and other basketball statistics

Whether you're a die-hard basketball fan or a professional basketball player, this TS calculator will prove to be an invaluable tool for you. If you've ever wondered how to calculate true shooting percentage's value, read this article to learn about this popular basketball statistic and use the true shooting calculator to see how it works in practice.

True shooting percentage is a statistic introduced by the Association for Professional Basketball Research Metrics, widely used both in professional and amateur basketball leagues. Often abbreviated to TS or TS%, this basketball statistic is excellent if you want to precisely assess a basketball players' skill. In particular, it measures a single player's performance at shooting the ball.

How to use the TS calculator?

To determine your own or your favorite player's TS% using this true shooting calculator, follow these simple steps:

• Give the true shooting calculator the overall number of points scored by a player.
• Input the player's FGA value,
• Input the player's FTA value.

Based on the data provided, the TS calculator will return the player's TS%.

How to calculate true shooting percentage?

If you want to give calculating true shooting percentage a go on your own, use the following formulas:

TS% = Points / (2 * TSA)

TSA = FGA + (0.44 * FTA)

Where TSA is the True Shooting Attempts.

Let's go through an example of these calculations. Our hypothetical player will have:

• 1,295 points scored
• across 850 Field Goal Attempts (FGA)
• and 420 Free Throw Attempts (FTA)

First, we calculate the player's TSA value.

TSA = 850 + (0.44 * 420) = 850 + 184.8 = 1,034.8

Once we know the value of TSA, we can quickly figure out the TS%.

TS% = 1,295 / (2 * 1,034.8) = 1,295 / 2,069.6 = 0.6257

The only thing left to do is to convert the TS% value into a percent.

0.6257 = 62.57%

Now we know that if a player scored 1,295 points across 850 FDAs and 420 FTAs, their true shooting percentage i 62.57%.

Glossary of terms used in the TS calculator

Even though you already know how to calculate the true shooting percentage, you may still be wondering what all the abbreviations and values used in this calculator are. Here's a short glossary of the terms used in the true shooting calculator. We hope it clears any doubts:

• FGA - Field Goal Attempts - a field goal is a basket scored on any shot or tap other than a free throw, worth two or three points depending on the distance it was attempted from the basket. Both 2-point field goal attempts and 3-point field goal attempts are taken into account while calculating the value of someones true shooting percentage.

• FTA - Free Throw Attempts - a free throw is an unopposed attempt to score by shooting from behind the free throw line.

• TSA - True Shooting Attempts - TSA is a basketball statistic measured by adding the number of FGAs to the number of FTAs, with the latter multiplied by 0.44.

Why is the true shooting percentage useful?

As with many other sports statistics, such as batting average or net run rate, this basketball statistic can be of great help for players who want to get better. Knowing where you are is the key to improvement, and thanks to the true shooting percentage, a basketball player can assess their skills in a very precise way.

What is more, from the perspective of a fan, it's also good to know your favorite player's chances of winning. Whether you're into sport betting and want to make sure the odds are in your favor, or a casual fan who just wants to know some details about your team, the true shooting percentage statistic will allow you to estimate the skills of your idols as precisely as possible.

TS% values of professional basketball players

Perhaps the most famous basketball player in history, Michael Jordan, in the middle of a shot. According to Basketball Reference, his true shooting percentage equals 56.86%, and places 92^nd on the list below.

If you're curious about the typical true shooting percentage of professional basketball players, take a look at this table of the 10 highest TS% values in the NBA (courtesy of Basketball Reference. )

The lowest true shooting percentage in the NBA ranking belongs to Michael Cooper, who places 250 with a TS% of 54.42%.

While writing this article and constructing the TS calculator, we used several excellent resources you may want to check out if you're interested in the topic of basketball.

• The official website of the Association for Professional Basketball Research Metrics (APRBmetrics)

• Basketball Reference

• NBA's Statistical Analysis Primer

Maria Kluziak

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eFG Calculator – For Basketball

The eFG calculator will help you find the effective field goal percentage for your performance in a basketball game. Did you or your team score a mix of 3-point and 2-point field goals? The effective field goal percentage considers that the 3-point field goals are more difficult and implements that into the formula.

The metric, effective field goal percentage (or eFG%), is used to rate the performance of basketball players and teams in leagues like the NBA and others around the world. This metric can be for a single game or the whole season by adding the data over the season or a bunch of matches.

It is also helpful to determine a team's performance and is tied to a team's success. Higher eFG% implies the team is highly successful during the match. You can directly enter the data into the calculator or read on to understand how to calculate effective field goal percentage.

What is efg (effective field goal percentage)?

eFG means the actual percentage of scoring field goals by a player or a team in a single match or season. Considering there are 2-point field goals and 3-point field goals in basketball, the players can score a combination of both. Say, Player A has more 3-point field goals, and Player B has more 2-point field goals. You can estimate the field goal percentage for each type of field goal (FG) using the following equations:

3-point FG %=3-point FG3-point FG attempts2-point FG %=2-point FG2-point FG attempts\scriptsize \begin{align*} \text{3-point FG \%} &= \frac{\text{3-point FG}}{\text{3-point FG attempts}} \\ \\ \text{2-point FG \%} &= \frac{\text{2-point FG}}{\text{2-point FG attempts}} \end{align*}3-point FG %2-point FG %​=3-point FG attempts3-point FG​=2-point FG attempts2-point FG​​

However, they both hold different weightage, values, and difficulty ratings. For instance, a 3-point FG is much harder to score. To consider both types of goals together, you can calculate the effective field goal percentage, which is:

eFG%=All FG+0.5×3-point FGFG attempts\quad\scriptsize \text{eFG\%} = \frac{\text{All FG} + 0.5 \times \text{3-point FG}}{\text{FG attempts}} eFG%=FG attemptsAll FG+0.5×3-point FG​

where:

• All FG\small\text{All FG}All FG – All field goals scored by the player. It is the sum of 2-point and 3-point field goals scored; and
• FG attempts\small\text{FG attempts}FG attempts – Total field goals attempted. It is the sum of 2-point, and 3-point field goals attempted.

The metric for a player would vary depending on the team play and their position. For instance, if a player is more on the offense and plays near the basket, he's more likely to get a higher percentage due to reasonable amounts of dunks, whereas the player away from the basket is more likely to take more 3-point shots which are much more difficult.

How to calculate effective field goal percentage

To find the effective field goal percentage:

1. Enter the number of 2-point field goals scored.
2. Insert the number of 3-point field goals scored.
3. Fill in the number of 2-point field goals attempts.
4. Enter the number of 3-point field goals attempts.
5. The eFG calculator will return the following output:
   • Total field goals scored;
   • Total field goal attempts;
   • 2-Point field goal percentage;
   • 3-Point field goal percentage;
   • Effective field goal percentage; and
   • Total points scored.

Example: Using the efg calculator

Estimate the effective field goal percentage for a team whose players have made a total of 300 field goal attempts, scoring 105 2-point field goals and 36 3-point field goals. Take the number of 2-point and 3-point field goal attempts as 245 and 55, respectively.

To find the effective field goal percentage:

1. Enter the number of 2-point field goals as 105.
2. Insert the number of 3-point field goals as 36.
3. Fill in the number of 2-point field goal attempts as 245.
4. Enter the number of 3-point field goal attempts as 55.
5. Using the eFG calculator:

An eFG% of 53 is very good considering the highest eFG% for the NBA 2021-22 season for a team is 56. 4%.

FAQ

What do you mean by effective field goal percentage?

The effective field goal percentage is a metric used to determine the percentage of field goals scored while considering the difficulty of scoring the 3-point field goals. It is a combined statistic including 2-point and 3-point field goals but with different weightage.

How do I calculate effective field goal percentage?

To find the effective field goal percentage:

1. Divide the number of 3-point field goals scored by 2.
2. Add the number to the total number of field goals.
3. Divide the sum by total field goal attempts to get the effective field goal percentage.

What is a good effective field goal percentage?

A good effective field goal percentage varies as per a player's position; a player who plays closer to the basket may score at a rate of about 50% or higher, which is considered a good percentage. However, if a player mostly takes 3-point shots, 40% is still regarded as good given the difficulty of 3-point FG attempts.

Which team has the best effective field goal percentage in NBA 21-22 season?

Utah Jazz has the best effective field goal percentage in the 2021-22 season of 56.4%. Other teams in the top 5 include have their season-wide effective field goal percentages between 53.9% and 55.4%, which are:

Betting on three-point shots in basketball, the difference between the NBA and other basketball leagues, the pros and cons

In basketball, more and more shots from behind the arc. Experienced bettors know how to use this. Classic centers like Shaquille O'Neal are a thing of the past. The NBA has finally turned into a league of snipers, the trend for three-pointers has reached European basketball. Today we will talk about how to bet on long-range hits.

What is a three-point shot when it appeared

A three-point shot is a shot taken in basketball from behind the three-point line. He brings the team three points, while a field goal from any other point is only two.

Until the 60s of the last century, three-point shots were not provided in professional leagues, all hits from the field were estimated at two points. In the NBA, a three-point arc appeared in the 1979/1980 season, now it is impossible to imagine a basketball game without it.

Gradually increase the number of long throws. In the modern NBA, the average team attacks from behind the arc about 35 times, and the indicator of the leading clubs has exceeded 43 attempts. The average NBA team makes about 12-13 three-pointers per game. Although ten years ago, the best clubs in the league could not reach the mark of 10 hits from behind the arc!

The reason on the surface is the cost of the throw. Four 3-point hits from ten attempts will bring the team 12 points, and five two-point hits from the same ten shots - only 10. But if teams love three-pointers so much, then this can certainly be used in sports betting?

Betting on three-pointers in the NBA: pros and cons

Of course. But you need to take into account the peculiarities of such rates. Betting on three-point shots in basketball is referred to as small markets, that is, unpopular markets for betting. Therefore, the advantages and disadvantages are quite traditional. Let's start with the cons:

1. Small painting. As a rule, the choice in betting on statistics is noticeably lower than when betting on the result, totals, handicaps or intervals;
2. Increased margin. The coefficients will be slightly lower than usual, this allows operators to insure themselves against additional losses;
3. Small limits. Usually, bookmakers limit the size of the maximum bet; it will not work to hit a big jackpot with one bet on three-pointers;
4. Long shot bets are only available on top leagues. First of all, you can bet on three-pointers in three tournaments - the NBA, the Euroleague and the VTB United League.

There is only one plus here, but it is noticeable. Bookmakers very rarely make mistakes when evaluating the main outcomes, since they have a whole staff of analysts and various experts. But in betting on statistics, missteps occur much more often.

The fact is that the volume of bets on statistics is quite low. The operator does not consider it necessary to closely monitor these markets, preferring to spend the main resources on more popular markets.

Increased margins and limited limits provide bookmakers with insurance against big losses, even if errors in the line become more frequent. This is exactly what sophisticated players use. With proper work with sources, it is much easier to find value bets on three-pointers than on popular betting markets.

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Where to look for statistics on three-point shots, which sites to trust

No problems. The entire amount of necessary data is available on the official websites of the leagues. NBA, Euroleague and VTB United League promptly update statistics. After a short period after the end of the game, its results are processed and appear on the site.

This data is publicly available. For example, on the NBA website you can find not only regular, but also advanced statistics: offensive efficiency, defensive rating. The Euroleague and the VTB United League can boast of the same.

Statistics section on the official NBA website: https://www.nba.com/stats/

Statistics section on the Euroleague official website: https://www.euroleague.net/main/statistics

The statistical section on the official website of the VTB United League: https://vtb-league.com/ru/teams-statistics/

Note that both personal and individual statistics are available on the websites of all three leagues. That is, with a couple of clicks you can find the number of three-point shots made, the number of hits and the percentage of hits by a club or an individual taken basketball player.

How to choose the type of bet for betting on three-pointers

Even bets on one component have enough types. In bets on three-pointers, these are:

1. Outcomes: who will hit more three-point shots;
2. Handicap: who will score more shots from behind the arc, taking into account the handicap;
3. Total total of teams: how many three-point hits the opponents will make by joint efforts;
4. Individual total of three-pointers by one of the teams;
5. Individual total of three-pointers made by one of the players. It is usually offered to bet only on leading basketball players or recognized scorers;
6. Odd/even: whether the number of three-point hits will be divided by two without a remainder;
7. Double Chance by Number of 3s: Selected team win or tie results in win.

The principles of calculation in each of the types also do not differ from the usual ones. It is important to remember that, as a rule, the total is set not for the total number of attempts, but only for hits.

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Things to consider when betting on long shots in the NBA

Coaches often tell beginner basketball players that the long shot is a dangerous ally. After all, even recognized snipers have bad days when the ball refuses to go into the ring. With dunks, passes and shots from close range, this happens much less frequently.

In addition, teams have different attitudes when playing defense. Statistics have long permeated basketball. And she says the least effective shot is the middle-range shot. Since a hit from afar is worth three points, and from a short distance the ball hits the target more often.

That's why some teams are ready to sacrifice the opponent's open throws from an average distance. If only to not let him throw a three-pointer without resistance. Before making a bet on hits from behind the arc, check the statistics of not only the team (player) you have chosen, but also the opponent.

Several sports statistics websites can be used for this purpose. For example, data is available on teamrankings.com on opponents' shots and hits, as well as on the share of three-pointers in total field goals. With this information, it will be possible to calculate the expected number of hits from behind the arc even more accurately.

Strategy for betting on three-point shots in the NBA

Let's analyze the strategy that is suitable for the selected type of bets. We are talking about strategy of averages . Let's say one of the teams, on average, hits from behind the arc 12.5 times per game, but for several matches in a row it did not reach the usual value, although it played in the optimal composition. Let's say it hit 8, 10 and 7 times.

In such a situation, experienced players recommend betting more on an individual total, because at a distance the indicator will roll back to the average value. Players have not forgotten how to throw in a few days. If in a couple of matches they attacked with a percentage below average, then at some point the pendulum will swing in the opposite direction.

The most important thing in basketball - Ball For Life - Blogs

A well-known American basketball analyst who worked for the NBA teams Denver Nuggets and Seattle SuperSonics, author of the Basketball on paper basketball statistics book Dean Oliver identified four key factors in game that have the most impact on the final result.

These four factors refer to four different basketball skills and they are fairly independent of each other.

The first and most important factor in the game is getting the ball into the basket. From the very first days, as soon as basketball was invented by James Naismith, his main task was to get the ball into the basket and not let the other team score. In this regard, nothing has changed since the invention of the game. However, simply counting the percentage of hits from the game is not entirely correct. For example, if a player made 6 field goals and all 2-pointers and scored 3 times, then he scored 6 points with a 50 field goal percentage. 6 points for 6 attacks, but his field goal percentage is only 33. Therefore, the effective field goal percentage was taken as an estimate of the field goal hitting factor, which is calculated by the following formula:

Eff. SP% = ( P + 0.5*ZB _{3 points} ) / SI, where

P - total number of field goals

SB _{3 points} - three-point goals scored

SI - total number of shots from the field.

The second factor that affects the game is the careful attitude to the ball and minimizing the number of ball losses in the game. This factor can be very important, especially in children's and youth matches, where dribbling and passing are not yet fully learned elements of the game in the arsenal of young basketball players. It is possible that some very young players are not able to get the ball across the half court, which means there is no way to even shoot in attack. In professional basketball, this problem is not so pronounced due to the fact that each team has several players who are able to pass the ball to the opponents' half, so pressing all over the court at the highest level is far less often successful than in children's or youth competitions. . However, even at the highest level, the number of ball losses can play a decisive role in the success or failure of a team. Since losses deprive the attacking team of even the opportunity to make a throw in the attack.

This factor is best expressed as the ratio of total turnovers to total possessions in the match.

% PT = PT/W, where

PT is the total number of losses in the match,

Vl is the total number of team possessions in the match.

The number of possessions can be calculated by watching the matches live or on video, or using the formula:

Vl = SI - PdN + Fri + 0.4* STV, where

SI is the total number of shots from the field;

PdN - the number of offensive rebounds;

PT - the total number of losses in the match;

ШТв - the number of free kicks taken.

The third factor that influences the result of a match is offensive rebounds. If a team is able to recover the ball after misses, then by and large it is able to solve the problem of the first factor - the effective hitting percentage. It is clear that with offensive rebounds, the goal remains to score the ball into the basket, but the possibility of re-attacking the ring can serve well in matches when the shot simply simply “does not work”.

Dean Oliver looks at a team's offensive rebounding ability by calculating the ratio of offensive rebounding to total offensive rebounding.

PdN % = PdN / (PdN + PdZ _prot ), where

PdN - the number of offensive rebounds;

PdZ _prot - the number of rebounds of the opponent's team on his shield.

The fourth factor is the ability to get on the free throw line as often as possible. It is the ability to shoot free throws, and not “score free throws” or show a high percentage of hits from free throws. Teams that line up on the free throw line are more likely to be more effective than teams that score higher free throw percentages. There can be exceptions to the rules in any match, and teams can lose matches without hitting free throws, but in the long run, the ability to get on the free throw line often allows teams to win more matches than a few misses from the penalty line lose.

The Free Throw Factor can be calculated in two ways:

1) The ratio of FTH/SI is calculated, where

FTH is the total number of free throws made;

SI - the total number of field goals made.

2) the ability to hit free throws ShTz/SI is calculated, where

ShTz is the number of free throws scored;

SI - the total number of field goals made.

In the book, an analysis of statistical indicators was carried out, where Dean Oliver determined that not all factors are equally equal. A team can outperform rivals in three of the four factors and still lose. A team can stand out in three categories, but be weak in the fourth and achieve an average result. Determining the value of each of these factors is very important and helps determine the strategy for building a successful team.

If we evaluate the importance and value of factors on a 10-point scale, then:

1. The effective hit rate is 10 points.

2. The ratio of losses to the total number of possessions - 5-6 points.

3. Percentage of offensive rebounds – 4-5 points.

4. The ability to often shoot free throws - 2-3 points.

As a percentage of importance, these factors will be arranged in the following form:

1.

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