Shooting: Part 3 (Perimeter)

To begin, we will focus this Driveway Skills segment on detailing the proper components of footwork, lower body, upper body, head, arm and hand as it relates to the Release Shooting position from the perimeter position. Take this time to study each detailed component and work on implementing the fundamental structure into your free throw shooting development. The more consistent you are in executing proper shooting fundamentals the better you are going to be at yielding the desired result of more made baskets.

From the Cocked and Flexed shooting position where the player in on the balls of the feet when swinging into the shooting motion, the player will fully extend the legs in one smooth motion, jumping into the air with the feet leaving the ground.

The knees will go from bent and flexed in the cocked and loaded shooting position to fully extended into a jumping position. This will fully complete the swing, sit, and extend motion needed to generate power for the shooters shot. The lower body should remain square to the basket when executing this motion.

The upper body will extend into the upright position with the shoulders square to the basket.

With the release of the basketball the shooter should remain focused on the front lip of the rim with the head up, facing forward. The shooter should not follow the flight of the basketball with their head or eyes.

As the body extends from the cocked and loaded shooting position into the shooting release position the arm will fully extend matching the same rhythmic motion. The extension of the shooting arm from the cocked and
loaded “L” position into the shooting release position will help produce a 45 to 55 arc on the basketball as it heads straight toward the basket. The guide hand arm will remain up with the elbow still positioned out in
front of the pivot foot causing the shooting arm to remain straight as it is extended toward the basket.

As the body extends into the shooting release position the shooting hand will match the same rhythmic motion snapping over at the peak of the extension. It is important to remember that the basketball should rest on the pads and fingertips of both the shooting and off hand with the fingers spread providing good support without the ball resting on the palms until the ball is extended and released. The off-hand will remain in the support position with the fingers pointing toward the ceiling. This insures that the off-hand will not provide any influence on the basketball as you extend with your shooting hand. The off-hand should remain on the basketball until the ball is extended toward the basket with the shooting arm and hand. When the ball is being extended toward the basket with the shooting hand the off-hand will remain stationary in the support position. Upon release of the basketball with the shooting hand the ball will roll off of the fingertips of the index and middle finger of the shooting hand as you extend your arm and snap your wrist at the top of the extension; this is known as follow through,. This extension and snap of the wrist will help produce back spin on the basketball and cause the ball to rotate. The fingertips of the shooting hand should come to rest pointing toward the floor at the end of your extension. This allows the shooting hand to have total influence on the basketball as dictated by the release and rotation produced from the follow through of the index and middle finger.

From the shooting cocked position (where everything is loaded and flexed together) the body will begin to extend together in one smooth rhythm to produce the shooting release position. The body should contract (cocked position) and release together (release/shooting position) producing one smooth rhythm. (Fold together, release together) [From the cocked position the shooter will extend and release in one smooth motion.] When a shooter swings the basketball into position and sits he/she is generating power. As the shooter now extends the lower body and jumps from the floor, power is generated. As the upper body extends with the lower body the shooting arm and hand matches the rhythm and extends the ball by lifting the ball toward the basket in a 45 to 55 degree arc with backspin rotation. This smooth rhythmic motion combined with proper fundamentals will produce the necessary mechanics needed to yield a true shooters touch and thus produce the intended result: a made basket.

The Release Shooting position components and its detailed phases highlight the proper position for each key body segment as it relates to proper fundamental shooting technique from the perimeter. Focus on executing each segment as detailed and make the necessary adjustments needed to build a good release shooting position foundation.

The three phases (Shot Prep position, Cocked and Flexed Shooting position and the Release Shooting position) and their outlined components are vital to the development of proper shooting mechanics. When players repeat the outlined shooting rhythm while maintaining the fundamental foundation on a consistent basis they will see improved shooting results. Development of these three phases and their components takes time and effort but the results that stem from your dedication will be well worth the time you invest.

Bookmark this page and join us in our next segment (Fundamentals of Shooting – Shot Prep Shooting Position from the Perimeter) as we detail and outline the proper components of footwork, lower body, upper body, head, arm and hand position as it relates to the proper Shot Prep Shooting position from the perimeter.