Improving Basketball Shooting

If you're about to play a game of basketball, in addition to your shorts, sneakers, wristbands and sports drinks, make sure you don't forget your shot. For all the amateur basketball players who log hours and hours on the court, many of them shoot inconsistently because they lack the proper mechanics to shoot the ball the correct way.

What are some tricks for improving my basketball shooting?

Ball Handling:

One of the first things to remember is to hold the ball on your fingertips so that you have proper control of the ball when you release your shot. Make sure to keep your elbow in, pointing to the middle of the rim. The same goes for your middle finger on the follow through, your shot should finish as if you were dipping your hand into the rim. Many shooters do not fully extend their arm as they should on the release, so make certain to snap your elbow as you reach the peak of your shot. The moment you release your shot, your elbow should be above your eyes instead of pushing your arm out toward the basket in order to get enough distance on the ball.

Posture & Momentum:

Proper follow through on your shot entails your arm finishing straight, with the wrist loose and fingers hanging down naturally. And when you've done that, hold, or "freeze" your follow through because that will help your body get used to the motion of following through so that you can repeat the same motion each time you take a shot. You should be landing in front of where you started when you finish your shot, so make certain that your momentum is going toward the basket every time you catch a pass that you are going to turn into a shot. Some basketball experts believe that when you practice shooting you should use a multi-colored basketball so that you are better able to see the rotation of the ball.

Mental Preparedness:

Other shooting fundamentals that can help you improve your accuracy are not physical fixes, but mental ones. Try to stamp negative thoughts completely out of your head. In fact, stop thinking--at least about shooting. Don't think about what your shot is supposed to be like in a game. Just dribble it and shoot it, or catch it and shoot it. The more you think, the more you are likely to think yourself right into a slump. Whenever you practice, and before every game, face the basket and attempt 50 simple shots from close to the basket, no more than 10 feet away. This will help you establish proper shooting mechanics and it might also give your confidence a boost. Seeing shot after shot go through the net is a nice image to carry with you into a game.