How to Shoot a Basketball--Ruben

Basketball is a straight forward game. You need to put the ball in the in the hoop. There are several ways of doing this. You can shoot a three-pointer, a mid-range jumper, a lay-up, or a free throw. If you never liked basketball or thought you weren’t good at it, developing a shot might change the way you think about basketball. I will show you how to shoot the basketball from a catch and shoot position. Step 1: Focus on the target. This may seem obvious but this step is very important because if you don’t look at the hoop before you shoot you have a higher chance of missing it. Step 2: Your feet should be no more than shoulder width apart and they should be angled off to the side of the basket. Your feet should be turned about 15 degrees towards your non-shooting foot so that your arm can be aligned straight to the basket. Also, your shooting foot should be in front of your non-shooting foot. For example, I am a right-handed shooter and my right foot is always slightly in front of my left foot. Your knees are also slightly bent at this point too. Don’t stand with your legs locked straight because it reduces your balance. Step 3: When you catch the ball your lower body should be positioned already. As you catch the ball you should dip it to about your waist level before bringing it up and shooting. This helps you develop rhythm and momentum in your shot. Step 4: Holding the ball. Your shooting hand should be more towards the middle of the ball while your off hand should be on the side of the ball. Step 5: Releasing the ball. As you bring the ball from up from the dipping motion in Step 3, it needs to come up to above your shooting eye. Once you bring the ball up you need to extend the shooting arm. Keep in mind that the offhand is only there to guide the ball and your shooting hand is the one pushing it off. As you are bringing the ball up to release it, your legs should also be ready to jump forward. Releasing the ball and jumping are performed almost at the same time. When you jump you should land in front of where you jumped and your shoulders should also lean back a little. Jumping forward and leaning back help relieve tension on your shoulders and it gives you more power in your shot. Step 6: Follow Through. Your arms should be extended and by now you should have landed on your feet. Hold your follow through until the ball has been released. These are all the steps that I think should help you develop and improve your shot. Remember that there is no perfect shooting technique; you have to find a shot that feels comfortable and effortless. Trust the process and never doubt yourself. And don’t forget to have fun!