| There really is so much information out there when it | | | | feet underneath you for every single shot in game |
| comes to shooting a basketball that it is difficult to | | | | situations is equally important. |
| take in. If you read an article and try to | | | | I was an average-sub average athletic player in high |
| micro-manage all the advice like keeping your | | | | school, but had one of the quickest shot releases of |
| elbowing in, and snapping your wrist and following | | | | anyone I knew. Was it because I just had some rare |
| through with two fingers you will be too | | | | fast-twitch muscles? Definitely not. |
| over-whelmed to figure anything out. | | | | I spent as much time working on my footwork as I |
| I personally went through a long process of trial and | | | | did physically shooting the ball. |
| error to go from an average shooter, to one of the | | | | One of the simplest things you need to know is both |
| best shooters during my senior year of high school. I | | | | feet need to be facing the basket every time. This |
| had some of the best resources and teachers around | | | | means if you are running at 75% you need to make |
| me during that period, and spent a tremendous | | | | your last three foot steps lead into your shot. This is |
| amount of time to figure out how to become an | | | | how the best players can come around a screen, set |
| excellent shooter. With all this information in mind I | | | | their feet, and launch a perfect shot with |
| believe that you don't have to spend countless hours | | | | consistency. |
| in the gym. There is a better way. | | | | I would love to go extensively into this but it's almost |
| My goal is to simply give you the most basic and | | | | impossible to describe it with words. Watch videos, |
| foundational information possible. I will give you 4 | | | | ask coaches and even watch a college basketball |
| concepts that you need to remember on your way | | | | game to see how their feet line-up every time and |
| to help you achieve the results you want. If you are | | | | they get their legs underneath them. Then spend |
| looking for an extensive program of the exact | | | | about 25% of your practice time working on |
| mechanics of a perfect jump shot, I have provided a | | | | stepping into your shot until it feels comfortable. |
| link at the bottom of the page as an awesome | | | | Again the link at the bottom has a great list of drills |
| resource. | | | | to help your footwork. |
| Jump shooting is a skillful art form that does not | | | | 3.) Being Patient - Everyone, and I mean everyone |
| require amazing athletic talent. Trust me on this one, | | | | wants to be a 3 point shooter. The problem is that |
| I am clear evidence of this. I've played basketball for | | | | you are actually ruining your mid-range jump shot if |
| over 10 years and went from a tall, un-athletic kid | | | | you move out to the three-point line before you are |
| who barely got playing time (in the beginning of my | | | | ready. |
| career), and transformed into a tall un-athletic kid | | | | Why? Because your shooting form should be identical |
| with a smooth jump shot and started every game of | | | | whether you are shooting from 5 feet, 10 feet, or |
| my senior year of high school and ended up playing in | | | | 22 feet (approximately where the 3 point line actually |
| college after that. One of the best ways to find | | | | is). |
| playing time in ANY sport is to excel at one area of | | | | Does this mean you cannot shoot from the 3-point |
| the game. If you can learn to master shooting, | | | | line ever? No absolutely not. However, it would be |
| coaches will be forced to play you and even pick up | | | | wise to limit practicing your 3 point jump-shot until |
| games become easier. | | | | you have some consistency with your mid-range |
| As I said before, this is NOT a how-to article. There | | | | jumpshot (i.e from 10-15 feet) |
| is a massive amount of information about the | | | | It always comes back to your legs, and once you |
| intricacies of shooting. This is meant to guide you and | | | | learn to generate power with your legs (through lots |
| maybe even find an efficient shooting form yourself | | | | of repetition, of course) you will be able to move out |
| (like I did). | | | | to the three point line and find a ton more |
| What is the most confusing is that when you watch | | | | consistency. |
| some of the best pure shooters in basketball, each | | | | 4.) Repetition - In my 10+ years of basketball I have |
| usually has a different style and approach to shooting. | | | | seen some of the worst shooting forms in the |
| Some shoot the ball above their head, some shoot | | | | history of the world. I've seen guys who whip the |
| from their chest. But they all have some things in | | | | ball like a rubberband or who shoot granny style |
| common. Almost all great jump shooters let their legs | | | | free-throws. Ironically enough, some of the worst |
| do the work, have great footwork, have a method | | | | formed-shooters could shoot better than those who |
| to practice and have spent time practicing. | | | | had perfect form. |
| Let me break that down for you. | | | | They difference? The guys with bad form had shot |
| 1.) Your legs | | | | over and over and over with bad form so much that |
| If I could only explain one the four principles in depth, | | | | they were able to get some sort of consistency out |
| this would no doubt be the one. | | | | of it. They could never be in the top 5-10% of |
| Shooting a basketball with consistency, especially in | | | | basketball players, but it worked enough to get them |
| games, is reliant on your legs, and using your leg | | | | by. |
| strength. Our lower body has a ton more strength | | | | And while form is very important, it is more like the |
| than our upper body, and so you have to learn to | | | | icing on the cake. The real key is repetition. |
| use your legs in synchronization with your hands. | | | | Larry Bird would spend endless and endless hours in |
| The metaphor I use is this. Look at shooting a | | | | the gym to be one of the greatest pure shooters |
| jumper like a space shuttle flying through space. On a | | | | that basketball has EVER known. Thankfully, the |
| space shuttle there is a huge engine on the back that | | | | average Joe does not have to do this because of |
| is used for powerful thrusts, while there are a bunch | | | | the knowledge we have today on how to shoot. |
| of little tiny thrusters lining the side of the shuttle to | | | | However one thing is just so important: If you want |
| help make minor course corrections. | | | | to improve your skills you have to be practicing |
| If you want to get from here to the moon using the | | | | consistently (i.e. 3-6 times a week, for 1-2 hours at a |
| tiny side thrusters it would seem rather inefficient | | | | time). And even more important, when you are in the |
| right? Instead they use both, together. Your legs are | | | | gym make workouts fun and EFFICIENT. |
| the main engine in the back and your hands are the | | | | Making it fun is easy. Being efficient isn't always. The |
| side thrusters, just making minor corrections. Your | | | | best way is to set a specific time plan for your |
| hands are NOT where the force and power come | | | | workouts. Don't be like every other average guy |
| from. It's the legs baby! | | | | who practices and just shoot and retrieve over and |
| If you get in the gym 4-5 days a week and spend | | | | over for two hours. It's a waste of time. Get in and |
| the first 20 minutes 5-10 feet in front of the basket | | | | out and do what your supposed to. |
| just working on using your legs to create the power | | | | That means spending a little time warming up, other |
| and snapping your wrist in synchronization, you can | | | | time working on specific game drills and staying within |
| find yourself finding the perfect timing in less than a | | | | your comfortable range. |
| month. | | | | There might be significant gains at the beginning but |
| Remember, LEGS = IMPORTANT | | | | you will slowly notice, week after week that |
| 2.) Your feet | | | | progress is slower and slower. This is good. It means |
| One of the most overlooked and least talked about | | | | you're getting better. Just keep setting and making |
| parts of a great shooter is how a good a shooters | | | | goals. If you are in it for the long-haul you will begin |
| foot work needs to be. If the legs are the most | | | | to be amazed at how easy it is to get the results |
| important aspect of your shot, then getting your | | | | you want. |