How Can I improve my Jumpshot?

[ShAuN]

I play basketball everyday. Usually 1 on 1 and when i go to the park I get a scrimage going usually 3 on 3 to about 5 on 5. Im good with my dribble, thats my best skill, sometimes I get retarded and go too flashy and get it stolen, but Ive learned to stop that. Im 15 years old, 5'4 and I cant really get a jumpshot game going. Im good at taking it too the hoop. But when it comes to jumpers either I backrim, its too short, or I brick it when I shoot a 3 or a 15-18 footer. I have a good release, the cookie jar release shot. I like Tmacs jumper how he bends down swings the ball down to his feet and pulls up. But I dont care about all that, I just want to be able to pull up and hit the jumper. Any good advice???

[Big-D]

some advice is do what feels comfortable, look at the back of the rim and shoot.

[cklitsie]

To learn the technique, you should watch the pro's shoot, then compare theirs to your own technique (eg. by filming yourself). When you feel you have adjusted to a good technique, you should just practice, practice, practice and the % will go up.
That and you should take some growing pills.

[Jan Shane]

I got a question, do you shoot jumpers like you're supposed to? (meaning, do you use your weak hand on the side of the ball to guide it and your power hand to shoot it?) and not like the way 6 year olds shoot by cocking the ball next to their ear and pray it hits the backboard?

Well, if you do shoot properly, then what you'll need is your basketball, a wall where you can repeatedly bounce the basketball against without annoying anyone and some time and patience.

What you do is find a wall where you can bounce it off without having disturbance. Then, stand about 2-3 ft away from the wall while facing it. Then position your body towards the wall as if you were taking a freethrow. Then pick a spot in the wall and "shoot" the basketball in that spot about 20-25 times. It's just to get your tri-ceps warmed up and to get your body to have "muscle memory".

Now, if you want to have a good shooting game, just play by yourself in a court and try this. Go around mid-range and when you're taking the shot, bend your knees. Not to an extreme, but just enough so that when you take your self up, you have more of a spring to each jump. Then, use your arm until the very last moment where you release the ball by flicking your wrist.

And as for hitting a three pointer, my suggestion is to not just try to chuck the ball towards the basket. That's why you're having all these bricks and clangers since you're not having control over your shots. Practise what I've told you to do and once you got that pat, you can use that technique for 3 point shooters, but you have to use more power.

[Rip32]

Dont copy McGrady

Sure he makes them but his form is horendous watch Ray Allen shoot if you want a good example. He has a real quick release which makes him alot more deadly and hes got a midrange jumper, so practice 13ft jumpers first and when you can make those onsistantly then move back farther and farther till your shooting threes.

But from the way you missin i would try to get more spin on the ball. snap your wrist at the end of your jumper and hold it towards where youre aiming its magic where you aim your hands the ball will go. And shoot with one hand not 2...if you do that you should be a bit more acccurate.

[Jan Shane]

good advice rip, but after reading his original post, i saw that he already has a good release going, but I think he's having problems controlling his shooting power. it's like knowing how to swing in baseball, but not being able to make contact with the ball...

here's what i would do. go in the freethrow line and just shoot a couple of bricks against the backboard. Try to get a feel at how strong you're throwing the basketball towards the net, then after that, just ease up slightly and see where it lands. That's how i learned, i always tried to over estimate my shots at an unfamiliar area and when i get another chance, i can just adjust my shooting power and it should come relatively close.

once you get a hang of this, you won't need more than 2 - 3 shots to get a feel for a location and you can be hitting jumpers in no time.

[ShAuN]

Alright thanks alot guys

[Dean]

nice info Rip, Jan Shane. this will help me with my shot also, cheers.

[Its_asdf]

I never get these "help me become a better basketball player" threads. Just practice playing the damn game and you'll get better at it. It's that simple.

[COOLmac©]

not to brag about my self and all but i am a jumpshooter. i play the SG/SF and i usually fire up 20+ shots during official games [whenever i played on one] lately i have been slashing a bit since i am playing with much older group class. but when i was in college i have this habbit of dribbling twice then pulling up for the shot. whatever works. i dribbled sideways and pull up. i dribble front step back and pull up. i do a quick jab step and pull up. i do a step back and pull up. my elbows and biceps do feel sore after but i guess i shoot about 200+ shots per day. since i have my own back yard basketball goal to pratice at. i do miss a lot. but i do scorch the net a few times. then it came game time. i put to test my new found skills, it works i usually hit 9/13 or 8/14 jumpshots without counting the 3's. the drill of shooting everywhere inside the arc works


to sum it all up. dont get your self too comfy and settle for that set shot. dribble, pull up whatever the circumstances during practice/warmups/scrimmage. build your arms and legs coordination to set up a jumpshoot which works for you. practice achieves semi-perfection dude ggoodluck

[Indy]

I never get these "help me become a better basketball player" threads. Just practice playing the damn game and you'll get better at it. It's that simple.

So true. Go to a gym 3 days a week (minimum) and shoot. Just take like 1000 jumpers. You will figure it out. Its like driving. They waste so much time trying to teach you 23398 steps on how to do everything. You just have to get out there and do it.

[cyanide]

Study Allan Houston's jumpshot (or Mike Miller, or any one of the players with the sweetest shots. Not Ray Allen or Peja, though). Make sure you use your legs to jump with the flow of the release in the arm. Make sure you flick your wrist upon release, and to know you're doing it right, watch the ball spin backwards (faster, the better, imo) Shoot fairly high (Not Reggie Miller high, but again, Allan Houston high). G'luck!

[Kobe101]

Can Houston still shoot?

[Rip32]

Mike Miller, or any one of the players with the sweetest shots. Not Ray Allen

Why no love for Ray Ray Cy?

[cyanide]

Why no love for Ray Ray Cy?

Don't get me wrong, he can knock them down, but he actually has an unconventional form. He shoots like Tim Hardaway - a knuckleball effect, no fluid backspin on the ball, really.

[Cable]

I improved my shot with just repetion. I spent the spring/summer in my driveway, shooting all types of shots (I painted the court lines on my driveway, I have a space a bit larger than the 3 line). I also played around a bit until I found a stroke that felt good, it helps sometimes to make the motion without a ball and see what you like to do; I tend to cock my wrist way back when I shoot, that's just what feels good. So, basically, it's repetition and practice, all you need is a hoop

[Drex]

You should use punctuation

And to ShAuNCx9, just practice...practice until you feel you have the right shooting form and strenght

[kevC]

Don't listen to them, make a reputation of yourself using the ugliest shooting form ever and still hitting them down ala Shawn Marion.

[COOLmac©]

or bill cartwright

[J@3]

That's the thing though, Marion isn't a bad shooter but he has a fucking ugly shot. You don't really have to copy someone elses style or have a textbook jumper for it to go in. Just find the style that you're the most comfortable with and practice alot until it starts going in consistantly. It never happens overnight, you've gotta work at it whether you're Mike Miller or Shaq.

[Laxation]

I have a space a bit larger than the 3 line

god dam your lucky... my driveway is 4metres high and 8 wide...

as for shooting, dont try to copy someone elses shot, just practice with your current one until you feel comfortable with it, and it works.

practice makes perfect.
but noones perfect, so why practice

[The X]

I'd agree with Jae....find your own style and who knows, one day you might be as good a shooter as me but seriously, just practice from midrange, where you are comfortable with, make sure to get a lot of loop on your jumper, set your feet, spread your fingers around the ball, shoot hundreds of jumpers a day....as you get more comfortable move out further until eventually being able to consistently knock down the 25 footer....start with the 12 footer first though

[cyanide]

Even though one can develop his own style of jumper, like Marion's, one can be good at it with lots and lots of practice, but imo, if I had a textbook jumper to work at and develop my own style from there, shots would be more consistent and having a higher probability of going in.

[Hotshot]

http://www.basketball-drills-and-plays.com/basketball-shooting-tips.html

It's a pretty lengthy read but it has everything you need to know about developing a proper jumpshot. I have a shit looking jumpshot myself.. I don't do anything the way they tell me to but it still goes in most of the time so I don't really care.
And no matter how many tips you can pick up from anyone, there's really no point unless you go out and practice. It's cliched but it's true.

[Chris.]

hey ShAuNCx9 welcome to my world but anyway i have recently imroved my shooting just by practicing my own style of shooting