Insider Member?
Login
or Sign Up
New in the Insider Basketball Playbook

3/4 Court Two Long Play
3-Man Weave Rebounding Drill
Jump to the Ball Drill
2-on-2 Competitive Give-and-Go Drill
2-on-2 Competitive Rebounding Drill
Reversal for 3
Get Inside the game instantly! Connect, network, discuss basketball, share ideas, learn X's and O's, and save $$ on basketball products!
JOIN NOW!
 
Recommended
All NBA Tickets and NCAA Basketball Tickets are now available at great prices through Ticket Broker Vividseats.com! Find Lakers Tickets, Knicks Tickets, Heat Tickets, Celtics Tickets, and many more today!
Recommended
This champion sports handicapping service contains winning NFL football picks along with excellent sportsbook reviews.
Recommended
Get College Basketball Picks, NBA Picks, NBA Odds, College Basketball Odds, March Madness Picks, and March Madness Predictions from the National Sports Advisors.

 

 
Basketball Playbook > Basketball Drills > Fundamentals 101
 

Basketball Fundamentals 101

Fundamental Basketball Skill #9 - Shooting

I don't necessarily know if any one fundamental is more important than another.  However, from an individual standpoint, there really is none more essential than shooting.  The main goal in a basketball game is to score more points than your opponent.  There are a lot of methods to help in achieving this goal such as  playing tough defense, employing a stall offense, or even using a fast break offense.  Any method may help, but if you can't shoot, you can't score.

If you can't score - whether you want to average 90 points per game or 40 - you will lose more than you win.  And no matter what any coach tells you, if you can score, you will play!

In this discussion of shooting I am not going to talk about technique. Proper form and technique must be established, but for the sake of shooting as it pertains to this fundamental basketball skill series, I am talking more about certain principles to apply to help you become a better shooter.  For information about form and technique, browse the following articles and/or links (will open in new window):

The 4 "Cons" of a Good Shooter

1)  CONfidence To be a good shooter, you should know that the basketball is going in every time you shoot. If you have doubt, you need not even shoot.
2)  CONtrol On each and every shot, the body should be under control and balanced.
3)  CONsistency The same technique, form, and method should be used on every shot.
4)  CONcentration Focus and concentrate on the target (hoop) from the start of the shot until the ball goes through the rim.
 

What is the one CONstant in all of the 4 shooting rules above?  In order to have confidence, control, consistency, and concentration you must practice, practice, practice!!  If you do not practice shooting, how can you possibly have confidence in your shot?

Good shooters develop good habits through good practice.

Good practice means working on the shots you take within your team offense and at game speed.  Standing around and shooting without movement, jacking up halfcourt shots, and practicing with no focus and goal in mind is wasted time and creates bad habits.

Shooting practice, whether in team drills or individual workouts, should involve competition and concentration.  Competitive shooting drills, for example, are drills in which you shoot against a defender, record the percentage of shots made in an attempt to achieve a preset goal, utilize game and score situations and other types of pressure shots in order to help you improve concentration.  Improved concentration will help the shooter become more proficient in shooting contested shots and in pressure game situations.

 

Drills for teaching the skill of Shooting in Basketball:

1. (coming soon)

 
2.  
3.  
 
< Back to Fundamentals 101
 
 

Follow Hoops U!
Hoops U @ Twitter Become a Fan at Facebook! Connect at LinkedIn

Inside the Rim Newsletter
Sign Up for the FREE Hoops U. 'Inside the Rim' newsletter and get a FREE eBook, bonus tips, strategies, and much more!
Hoops U. Store Spotlight
John Wooden: Thinking Like a Champion
John Wooden: Thinking Like a Champion
John Wooden's 'Thinking Like a Champion' has just been reissued on DVD. In this Q & A with former UCLA great Keith Erickson recorded in 1994, Coach Wooden discusses his philosophies on life and athletics.

Site News (via Twitter)
 
Recommended
Get all your basketball hoops and accessories from Dazadi including basketball backboards and basketball court stencils.