Introduction: Creating a Consistent Jumpshot for 30 Minutes a Day
Basketball, personally, is one of the more fun sports to play out there for just about anybody. It provides an exceptional cardio workout and only requires at the very least two people to play. Yet many newcomers are dissuaded from playing due to how other players react when playing with them. They will see the newcomers form while just shooting around and will immediately peg them as bad or not knowing how to play basketball. This was my biggest problem when I began playing pickup basketball for a cardio workout. Being on both sides of this problem, I understand both feelings. That is why I am sharing this set of drills that I used to fix my shot form and create a more accurate and consistent shot. These set of drills will only take about 30 minutes a day and will show an improved shot form in about a month.
Photo Citation: https://basketball91.com/tips/basketball-form-shooting-drills/#.VvCBnfkrKM8
Step 1: Close Range, One Handed, Backboard Shots
This drill is a drill that I try to do every time before I play basketball. This drill will begin to work on your ability to work on what your dominant hand should be doing when pulling up for a jump shot.
- Position yourself underneath the basket with your side facing the baseline
- Take one step backwards so that your body is approximately one to four inches away from the part of the rim closest to you
- Turn and face directly towards the square on the backboard
- Bring the basketball with your dominant hand underneath the basketball and your off hand to the side of the basketball
- Keeping the basketball in front of your face and in your hand, move the ball so that the portion of your arm is facing directly towards the vertical line on the square that is closest to you
- Keep your dominant arm at about a 90 degree angle
- Remove your off hand from the basketball
- Flick you wrist, aiming at the vertical line of the square closest to you
- Make 20 of these shots
- Repeat 1-9 on the other side of the hoop
Photo Citation: http://www.insideyouthsports.org/2013/09/practice-fundamental-sports-skills.html
Step 2: Close Range, One Handed, No Backboard Shots
This drill will really get you to focus on the most important part of a jump shot, the flick of the wrist. The more arc on your shot, the less likely your shot will be blocked.
- Position yourself underneath the basket with your side facing the baseline
- Take one step backwards so that your body is approximately one to four inches away from the part of the rim closest to you
- Bring the basketball with your dominant hand underneath the basketball and your off hand to the side of the basketball
- Keeping the basketball in front of your face and in your hand, move the ball so that portion of your arm between your wrist and your elbow is facing directly towards the part of the rim closest to you
- Keep your dominant arm at about a 90 degree angle
- Remove your off hand from the basketball
- Check the picture above to see if your form is correct
- Flick your wrist at a high enough arc so that the ball will fall directly into the hoop
- Focus on making each shot without touching any portion of the rim. This is not required but will show your progress as you continue this routine
- Make 20 of these shots
- Repeat 1-10 on the other side of the hoop
Photo Citation: http://www.slamonline.com/media/photos/img-basketball-training-series-shooting/#iJxVtZXVloAp7AvV.97
Step 3: Close Range, Two Handed, Backboard Shots
This drill will begin to work on your ability to focus on what exactly your off hand should be doing when pulling up for a jump shot. For this particular drill, I want you to make sure you keep it in your head that your off hand will just sit there on the ball. The purpose of it is to balance the ball on your dominant hand so that your shot is more accurate.
- Position yourself underneath the hoop with your side facing the baseline and then take one step backwards
- Turn and face towards the square on the backboard
- Bring the basketball up to your face with your dominant hand underneath the basketball and your off hand to the side of the basketball
- Keeping the basketball in front of your face and in your hand, move the ball so that the portion of your arm is facing directly towards the vertical line on the square that is closest to you
- Keep your dominant arm at about a 90 degree angle
- Make sure your dominant arm’s elbow is facing in the direction of the hoop
- Flick your dominant hand wrist and aim towards the vertical line closest to you that’s on the square on the backboard
- Make 20 of these shots
- Repeat 1-8 on the other side of the hoop
Step 4: Close Range, Two Handed , No Backboard Shots
This drill is a mixture of drill two and drill three. For this one you want to focus on making sure your off hand stays perfectly on the ball. The only thing making the ball go towards the hoop should be your dominant hand flicking the ball at the hoop.
- Position yourself underneath the basket with your side facing the baseline
- Take one step backwards so that your body is approximately one to four inches away from the part of the rim closest to you
- Bring the basketball up to your face with your dominant hand underneath the basketball and your off hand to the side of the basketball
- Keeping the basketball in front of your face and in your hand, move the ball so that portion of your arm between your wrist and your elbow is facing directly towards the part of the rim closest to you
- Keep your dominant arm at about a 90 degree angle
- Make sure your dominant arm’s elbow is facing in the direction of the hoop
- Flick your wrist at a high enough arc so that the ball will fall directly into the hoop
- Focus on making each shot without touching any portion of the rim. This is not required but will show your progress as you continue this routine
- Make 20 of these shots
- Repeat 1-9 on the other side of the hoop
Step 5: Mid-Range Jumpers From Five Spots Around the Hoop
This drill will work on your overall jumper from around the outside of the hoop. You will use two hands and follow the premise of making sure that the only thing forcing the ball to the hoop is your dominant hand.
- Position yourself in spot 1 in the picture above
- Position the ball at your waist with your dominant hand on top of the ball and your off hand in between the bottom of the ball and the side of the ball
- Raise the ball so that it is directly in front of your face
- Keeping the ball in front of your face and in your hand, move the ball so that your dominant lower portion of your arm is facing towards the hoop
- In one motion, bend your knees to an angle similar to the second picture shown above and rise up and flick your wrist at the hoop
- Make this shot five times
- Repeat steps 1-6 in each of the other four spots in the first picture above