Introduction
Michael Jordan, Lebron James and Steph Curry are some of the world’s biggest names in professional basketball. Everyone envisioned themselves to be as good as them yet often fell short. So, what exactly sets us apart from these talented basketball professionals? The answer: athleticism, hard work, technique and many more. These players put in a lot of time training, polishing their technique and perfecting their craft. Unfortunately, no one is perfect and even the best can fall short. One area that sets a good basketball player from an average player is shooting technique. To develop a good shooting technique, there are no textbook answers one can follow. Even players like Lebron James have been criticised many times for having technical flaws in his technique. A good shooting technique is simply just a technique that a player is most comfortable in accurately shooting the basketball into the hoop. Let us analyse a few shooting techniques from the professional players.
Finger placement
Finger placement during a basketball shot is the most important aspect of any technique. Having proper placement of fingers helps position the basketball in the correct angle and trajectory towards the hoop, increasing the chances of it scoring points. There are two main positions your hand should take: shooting and guiding hand. The shooting hand is the main hand that is used in positioning the basketball while the guiding hand supports the shooting hand while making a shot. Also known as the dominant hand, most players rest the basketball-only on their fingertips and not their palms. Ideally, the basketball should not rest on the palms and all fingers should be moderately spread out to create a stable form. After holding the ball in this position, pivot your wrist backwards and hold the ball slightly above your face while bending your elbows to create a stable form. Additionally, your elbows should ideally be in line with the basketball. However, Lebron James does it slightly differently by positioning his elbows slightly out of line. Now for the guiding hand, place your non-dominant hand on the side of the basketball and use your fingers to cup loosely around the ball. Ensure that the guiding hand does not exert any force that can intervene with the trajectory of the basketball.
Stance
Image Credits: Dick's Pro Tips
Apart from finger placement, it is also important to have a proper stance when making your shot. Having a proper stance helps to increase the accuracy of your shot. First, position your legs shoulder-width apart to ensure the best balance. Do not position your legs too narrow or too wide. Next, position your dominant leg slightly in front of your non-dominant leg and line with your shooting hand. For right-handed individuals, the right leg should be placed in front and line with the right hand. Next, bend your knees to increase balance and get ready to jump and shoot the ball. In addition to bending your knees, you need to bend your hips. Lastly, bend your back and arch slightly forward to create a well-balanced stance.
Shooting motion
The last but not the least aspect of a proper shooting technique is the motion of the shot. Once you have created a stable form, you need to angle the basketball in the correct trajectory to land it into the hoop. Let’s review the concept of the shooting and guiding hands. A basketball shot is made solely from the force exerted by the shooting hand and none from the guiding hand. Imagine yourself making a proper shot; you have followed the aforementioned proper finger placement and taken the correct stance. To release the ball, you must extend your previously bent knees, hips and elbows all at once to deliver a smooth trajectory for the basketball. Keep your eyes on the ball at all times until the point of release and extend out your arms to follow through with the shooting motion. Now that you have released the ball, keep practising this motion until you become comfortable with shooting the ball.
Developing a proper basketball technique goes a long way. Without a proper technique, you cannot play to your fullest potential in basketball. Hence, everyone needs to learn the basics of a shooting technique. Sign up for private basketball lessons to learn the proper basketball techniques and have fun!