Shooting Drill 1.
One-hand shooting, using either the strong hand or the weak hand, is an excellent way to develop your ability to start and complete a shot with your shooting hand facing the front of the rim. This drill is particularly beneficial if your non-shooting hand tends to interfere with your shot (for example, if you thumb the ball with your non-shooting hand). The one-hand shooting drill allows you to focus on having the shooting hand in the correct position facing the front of the rim. Keep your shooting elbow in. When your shooting elbow is in, the ball is aligned with the basket. Your shooting hand is above your shoulder between your ear and shoulder. Use your non-shooting hand to place the ball in your shooting hand. Do not reach for the ball with your shooting hand. Now lower your non-shooting hand to your side. Balance the ball in your shooting hand with your index finger at the midpoint of the ball. Record the number of strong-hand shots made out of 10 attempts. After making five consecutive shots from 9 feet, increase the distance to 12 feet.
Shooting Drill 2.
Shooting Drill 3. Use the pinky and ring finger of your non-shooting hand to balance the ball and the index finger of your shooting hand to shoot the ball. Balance the ball with your non-shooting hand under the ball. Keep the elbow of your non-shooting hand out. Bring the ball to your shooting hand. Now balance the ball using only the pinky and ring finger of your non-shooting hand. The other fingers of your non-shooting hand should be off the ball.
Shooting Drill 4. Jump Shot Warm-Up
Perform jump shots from that distance, using correct form for each shot. For a jump shot, the ball is held higher than for a one-hand set shot.
Shooting Drill 5. Front of Board
The front of board shooting drill focuses on the fundamentals: shooting hand behind the ball, elbow-in alignment, release off the index finger, follow-through, and catching the ball in position to shoot. Begin with the ball in shooting position above your shooting shoulder. Place your shooting hand behind the ball with your index finger at the midpoint of the ball. If the ball does not return to your starting position, jump behind the ball and catch it in position to shoot. After a missed shot, visualize a successful shot in good form, again saying your key words. Use hands if you caught the ball with your hands on the side.
Shooting Drill 6. Side of Board
This enables you to practice jumping behind the ball to catch it in position to shoot. Catch the ball in position to shoot.
Shooting Drill 7. This drill is obviously more difficult than the side-of-board shooting drill. This enables you to practice jumping behind the ball to catch it in position to shoot. Focus on your target on the point of the board and shoot the ball, emphasizing the release of the ball off your index finger. Catch the ball in position to shoot.
Shooting Drill 8. Use your non-shooting hand to place the ball in your shooting hand. Do not reach for the ball with your shooting hand. The index finger of your shooting hand should be at the midpoint of the ball. Visualize a successful shot with good form. If the shot was short, emphasize the key word through!.
Shooting Drill 9. Toss to Left Elbow Jump Shot
Catch the ball with your shooting hand high and facing the front of the rim. Catch and shoot in one motion. Shoot 10 shots from the left elbow.
Shooting Drill 10. Toss to Right Elbow Jump Shot
Shoot 10 shots from the right elbow. (2005). Basketball Shooting: Confidence, Rhythm and Mechanics.
Few really understand how to shoot “lights out” … all the time! If you see these danger signs, realize your team needs to work on shooting because the flaws I point out are probably going to lead to missed shots. Missed shots at crucial times will lose games.