If you’re just starting to learn how to make jump shots, begin by practising on your own — in other words, don’t have a friend “cover” you until you’ve made a few shots on your own or it’ll be hard to make progress.
Shoulder-width or narrower foot positioning is important for your shooting speed and balance. Keep your feet closer together and you’ll be fine. Keep them too wide apart and you won’t be able to give your jump enough power or react quickly to changes on the field. [2] X Research source Keep your legs balanced and stable whenever you do a jump shot. [3] X Expert Source Taylor RochestieProfessional Basketball Player Expert Interview. 13 July 2021.
Your non-shooting hand is just as important for your shot as your shooting hand, so don’t neglect it. Though it won’t give your shot any power, it’s largely responsible for shot control and balance. To see how important your non-shooting hand is, once you’ve gotten the hang of your jump shot, try shooting one-handed!
For the greatest accuracy, as you flex, keep the forearm (ulna) aligned vertically, so that the hinged motion is always in line with the hoop. Think of shooting as a smooth hinged motion with your elbow as the hinge. Ideally, the forearm should be aligned pointing at the hoop. If your elbow moves out of alignment as you shoot, it will change the direction of the ball, so get in the habit of keeping it tucked in. In order to do this, turn your feet towards your opposite hand.
Many coaches recommend looking at a certain part of the hoop as you make your shot. Some coaches recommend targeting the back of the hoop (especially for players who tend to under-shoot), others recommend the front of the hoop (especially for players who tend to over-shoot), and others coaches actually recommend visualizing the spot the ball will need to go for a “swish”. The last option requires the most concentration, but some individuals claim that it achieves the best results. [5] X Research source
Try to get in the habit of releasing the ball at the top of your jump. Though you can make shots if you shoot earlier or later, doing so tends to make your shots jerky and inaccurate. [7] X Research source Also, releasing at the top of your jump gives you an advantageous shooting position — it’s harder for defenders to block you when you’re high in the air.
In general, you’ll want to eventually be able to hit shots from anywhere inside the three point line and, ideally, just beyond it. You’ll almost never be expected to shoot from more than a few feet behind the three point line during a game, so you don’t have to worry as much about shooting these long-bomb shots. In order to shoot longer shots, jump forward further and turn more. This will give you more power. There are lots of different jump shots out there. Try to understand your own play style so you can practice the jump shots you’re most likely to take in game. [8] X Expert Source Taylor RochestieProfessional Basketball Player Expert Interview. 13 July 2021.
Believe it or not, there has been actual scientific research done on this aspect of shooting a jump shot. The results indicate that the best angled shots tend to hit the backboard at a spot in the top middle section of the square behind the hoop. As the angle of the shot becomes more pronounced (that is, as a player shoots from further to one side), the “ideal” backboard spot moves up and away from this central point in a diagonal direction (in other words, someone shooting from the right side of the hoop should try to hit the backboard above and to the right of the top middle of the square). [9] X Research source
One head-on shot you’ll want to practice plenty is the one you make from the free throw line. Free throw shots are some of the only shots you’ll get to take without being guarded by a defender, so it’s important to practice to the point that you can make most of them. On average, NBA players tend to make about three-quarters of their free throws; for high school players, this statistic is closer to one-half. [10] X Research source
Some basic research has been done on the effectiveness of various shooting arcs. Based on this research, the minimum arc for a shot to be able to make a “swish” shot is about 32o — with a regulation-size hoop and a men’s ball, making a “swish” with this arc requires basically a perfect shot. On the other hand, high-arced shots (like, for instance, 55o) are very tough to control — even a tiny error can send the ball off-course. [12] X Research source From this research, a happy medium of about 45o seems preferable for most shooters.
Don’t forget to move around the court as you practice your three-pointer. Some of the hardest shots of all in basketball are three point shots from the side of the hoop. These shots force you to make a “swish”, since you can’t hit the backboard from this angle. If you can master these shots, you’ll be a major shooting threat on the court.
Shooting around a dogged defender can be seriously challenging — you’ll need good dribbling and ball-handling skills to get your defender to slip up long enough for you to squeeze in a shot, so you may want to practice these skills separately.
To make a pull-up jumper, start off by dribbling at a fast jog or run down the middle of the court. As you near the free throw line, flare out a few feet to the side. Come to a balanced stop in rhythm with your steps as you bring the ball up into both hands. Without hesitating, immediately get low, jump, and shoot. Practice until you can pull this move off quickly without stopping at any point.
To shoot a turnaround shot, start with your back to the hoop and a defender guarding you closely from behind. Back towards the hoop as you dribble and stay low until you’re a comfortable shooting distance away from it. Take a step in the direction of your throwing hand as you drop your non-shooting foot back slightly. Quickly pivot around on your non-shooting foot and make your jump shot immediately.
To make a fadeaway, start an ordinary jump shot or a turnaround shot as you normally would. As you jump, push yourself upward and backward, putting space between yourself and the player behind you. Lean back with your spine for extra space. Square up with the hoop in the air and hold the ball just above your head. When you reach the highest point of your jump, shoot the ball with a snapping motion of the wrist. Note that fadeaways require much more wrist strength than ordinary shots because much of the power from the legs that would ordinarily be used for the shot is spend propelling the shooter backwards.
To make a pump fake, get low as you normally would just before taking a shot. Bring the ball up in front of you and prepare to jump. Start to rise up, but stop yourself just short of actually jumping. If your defender falls for your fake and jumps, either quickly dart around him or time your own jump so that you shoot just as he’s hitting the ground to give yourself a free shot. It’s important to stay in contact with the floor during your pump fake. Taking even a small hop without shooting constitutes an “up-and-down” penalty in basketball.
