BASKETBALL SHOOTING

Proper Basketball Shooting Techniques Explained

The basketball shooting drills and basketball shooting exercises on this website are specifically for your shooting arm and proper basketball shooting form and will teach you how to shoot a basketball.  If you need guidance on pre-game/pre-practice warm up and stretching check this page.  

My favorite basketball shot is the lay up, and after practicing these basketball shooting tips the lay up should be your favorite basketball shot too.  Not only is the lay up the most accurate shot on the basketball court, it is the most repeatable.  The shooting mechanics for lay-ups are the basic shooting mechanics for most of your basketball shooting arsenal.  So as you're practicing that measly little lay up you are actually reinforcing muscle memory for your entire basketball shooting arsenal. 

Why, you may be asking, is muscle memory so important?  When you're in the flow of a basketball game thinking is actually the last thing you want to be doing.  You need to be relying on instinct and muscle memory to be controlling your actions.  Normally the pace of the basketball game does not afford a basketball player time to stop and actually think about how to shoot a perfect basketball shot, this is the reason basketball coaching staffs repetitively drill you and drill you and drill you over and over and over on the same issues.  A basketball coach wants learned behaviors ruling your play during basketball games.  Your basketball coach wants you to predictively react to situations presented during basketball games.     

A basketball shooting coach will tell you he wants you to shoot free throws at the end of practice while you're tired.  To simulate basketball game conditions some coaches actually prefer you shoot these free throws two at a time or shoot these free throws three at a time.  Your basketball coaching staff keeps a real close eye on the basketball shooting form you display during this time because this specific basketball shooting exercise is when perfect practice makes perfect.  The best advice I can possibly give on how to shoot a basketball is study my NEW FREE Basketball Shooting Book, "Basketball - It's All about The Shot," offered FREE on this website.  When a shooter understands the 'Mental Side' of shooting a basketball that shooter is not thinking at all.  That is the proper way to shoot a basketball; 'In The Zone' and not thinking.  This is so easy to learn it's silly; read my NEW FREE Basketball Shooting Book, "Basketball - It's All About The Shot."  

Finally, many athletes, basketball coaches, and athletic trainers ignore the importance of warming down, or cooling down after basketball practice or a basketball game.  While your body is warmed up is the perfect time to stretch, cool down, and relax.  This time must be taken to reduce chances of serious bodily injury while helping to insure proper health, flexibility, and stamina.