The Critical Importance of Shooting

As you no doubt know, among the factors that make the most difference in the game of basketball, shooting percentage has to be at, or very near, the top of the list.

Consider these FOUR points:

1 - A very small improvement in shooting percentage will win more games!

Teams that shoot at a higher percentage give themselves a tremendous competitive advantage. All other factors being equal, it's clear as a bell that the better shooting team will win.

Let's look at a statistical scenario: taking 78 points as a target example, how many made shots are needed?

Well, you'll need to make 39 two-pointers. If your team shoots 40%, then you'll have to generate about 98 two-point attempts. But suppose your team shoots only 30% from the field. For two-pointers, you will now need to generate 130 shot attempts to reach 78 points - That's 32 more attempts than you needed with the team shooting at 40%!

As you can easily see, if your team's shooting percentage falls by 10%, then the team will have to increase rebounds or forced turnovers dramatically to reach the same point total. Obviously, shooting at a higher percentage makes winning easier.

2 - Good shooters will completely change the dynamics of your offense and make it easier to get lay ups!

Offensive minded coaches know that a few good shooters on the floor can work wonders for your offense, even if they don't score.

Just by having the threat of a good shooter stretches out the defense and causes them to cover more ground.

Think about it...

Good shooters open up driving lanes for everyone on the team and make it easier to score.

However, if nobody on the floor can shoot, the defense will pack things in and make it more difficult to score.

Great shooters STRETCH out the defense.

3 - Good shooting can get you more playing time!

Similarly, all other factors being equal, players who shoot at a higher percentage usually get most of the playing time!

It's simple; coaches want great shooters on the court. Of course they want good defensive players, passers, and rebounders on the floor too.

But great shooters are hard to come by and coaches are always on the look out for them. Great shooting can make you a super valuable player that the coaches want on the floor as much as possible.

4 - Great shooting can take you a long way in basketball and can even get you a college scholarship!

History proves that countless players have made Division I college teams for one simple reason...

They can shoot the lights out!

Some of these players are slow, short, can't play defense, and can't rebound. Of course all those other skills are nice to have, but shooting is SO important that this one skill alone can literally earn you a college scholarship.

With determination and enough practice, any player can learn how to become a good shooter. You don't have to be tall, fast, or even smart to be a great shooter.

Bottom line...

From both perspectives, team and individual, shooting at a relatively high percentage is a critically important goal. As a coach, player, or parent, you will want to do everything possible to build up your team's, your own, or your youngster's shooting percentage.

Now that we've taken a quick look at how important shooting at a high percentage is, you are probably anxious to learn all that you can about developing this vital skill.

Check out these basketball shooting resources to improve your shooting percentage.




Comments

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Kramon C. says:
3/24/2015 at 11:50:25 AM

In response to kurian. Being a great shooter takes write this so here is what I would recommend which I worked on with my son and I coach other players to do. It''s called the 3C''s!

1. Conditioning- in your own spare time and buy yourself only work on shooting mechanics. Work on your balance,release, your follow-through etc. start in close that way you get to see the ball going to the net and then work your self out to about 15 feet no three-pointers--if you can''t consistently knockdown 10 to 15 footers on a regular basis you don''t need to be jacking up three pointers. Do this at least three times a week minimum

2. Completion- you need to take what you practice on and face competition! Not real games but games against your friends and on the playground. Facing competition on the playground makes you better it''s the closest thing to a game like situation. Here is where you want to focus on your mechanics and shooting form that you worked on alone in this situation. You will gain confidence as you make shots if you miss, make your adjustments and get back to focusing on your form.

3. Confidence- as you repeat steps one and two you will gain confidence for your actual games! Confidence in your shot is equally important as having your mechanics and form correct. Steph Curry, Ray Allen, Kevin Durant all have confidence that the shot they take will go in.

You can''t hit shots in games if your confidence is not there. Again, continuing to do steps one and two will give you that confidence to take those shots in the game. So, remember the 3C''s when trying to improve your shot for real game performance.

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Ken Sartini says:
12/22/2013 at 9:40:00 AM

You didn't say what your problem is OR IF you have one, BUT -

"As I talk to a lot of players, they are looking to correct or improvr their shot . there is no quick fix for this, you have probably been shooting that way for a long time and have created a bad habit and its in your muscle memory.

To correct this problem, it is going to take 100s, no, more like 1,000s of shots to create a new muscle memory - so the shot becomes automatic.

The first thing you have to do is correct your form... that can be done by shooting against a wall so you don't have to worry about making the shot... only using correct form - 100s of shots a day until you have correct form.

Then you can go to the basket and do what we called BEEF check going from Block to the Middle to the other Block.

Step 1 - We started this with the SHOOTING HAND ONLY.... maybe 12 shots in all.

Step 2 - Then you can bring your guide hand up but NOT on the ball and do the same thing. 12 more shots.

Step 3 - - 12 more shots with your guide hand in the proper position. ( your guide hand has nothing to do with the shot other than to keep the ball in the proper position on your shooting hand.)

The next thing to do would be to step back several feet... 6-7 feet? Now repeat Step 3, don't move any further back until you have mastered this distance.

Once you are shooting with a good percentage, you can move further back. Don't move to the three point line if you are shooting 30 percent from 10 - 15 feet.



Don Kelbick says that a good shooting percentage is around 46% and in game situations that is good... in practice, from short range, I would like to see it a little higher.

From the free throw line... depending on your age and ability level, 60 to 80 percent is what I had my kids try to achieve.

To explain BEEF for those who haven't heard that term.

B - Balance ( staggered stance, one foot slightly in front of the other )

E - Elbow under the ball ( the elbow might be SLIGHTLY out )

E - Eye on the target (keep your eye on the target until the ball goes in)

F - Follow through..... ( keep your arm extended until the ball goes in)

It takes a lot of practice to become a good shooter, 1,000s of repetitions - So start practicing.

I hope this helps.

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alka suza kurian says:
12/22/2013 at 9:16:16 AM

i wonder how to shoot really great because everytime i try to shoot in a match it doesnt go in so i usually have to defend

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James D says:
7/11/2013 at 3:45:59 PM

Agree with Ken, if you are a young person who is still growing than as you continue to practice you will naturally get stronger. You do not need to lift weights to be able to shoot from distance. You do, however, need to work on your form from shorter distances and gradually move further away as you improve. If you are older, I would suggest doing the same drill mentioned above only with a light medicine ball. Nothing too heavy which you have to throw...something light enough to shoot from about 5 feet away with proper form. You will learn that shooting from distance has more to do with arc and technique vs strength.

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Ken Sartini says:
6/9/2013 at 8:34:35 PM

How old are you? Age and maturity have a lot to do with how well you shoot.

A lot of your strength for your shot comes from your legs.

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Sabelo says:
6/9/2013 at 4:34:36 PM

Thank you for the BEEF, as regards muscle development, which are the most critical muscles to work on for effective shooting

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Ken says:
6/24/2012 at 1:18:21 PM

You didn't say what your problem is OR IF you have one, BUT -

"As I talk to a lot of players, they are looking to correct or improvr their shot . there is no quick fix for this, you have probably been shooting that way for a long time and have created a bad habit and its in your muscle memory.

To correct this problem, it is going to take 100s, no, more like 1,000s of shots to create a new muscle memory - so the shot becomes automatic.

The first thing you have to do is correct your form... that can be done by shooting against a wall so you don't have to worry about making the shot... only using correct form - 100s of shots a day until you have correct form.

Then you can go to the basket and do what we called BEEF check going from Block to the Middle to the other Block.

Step 1 - We started this with the SHOOTING HAND ONLY.... maybe 12 shots in all.

Step 2 - Then you can bring your guide hand up but NOT on the ball and do the same thing. 12 more shots.

Step 3 - - 12 more shots with your guide hand in the proper position. ( your guide hand has nothing to do with the shot other than to keep the ball in the proper position on your shooting hand.)

The next thing to do would be to step back several feet... 6-7 feet? Now repeat Step 3, don't move any further back until you have mastered this distance.

Once you are shooting with a good percentage, you can move further back. Don't move to the three point line if you are shooting 30 percent from 10 - 15 feet.

Don Kelbick says that a good shooting percentage is around 46% and in game situations that is good... in practice, from short range, I would like to see it a little higher.

From the free throw line... depending on your age and ability level, 60 to 80 percent is what I had my kids try to achieve.

To explain BEEF for those who haven't heard that term.

B - Balance ( staggered stance, one foot slightly in front of the other )

E - Elbow under the ball ( the elbow might be SLIGHTLY out )

E - Eye on the target (keep your eye on the target until the ball goes in)

F - Follow through..... ( keep your arm extended until the ball goes in)

I hope this helps.

Like
   

guest says:
6/23/2012 at 11:59:41 PM

I need to work on my shooting.

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Steven says:
9/25/2009 at 4:35:40 AM

Im a shooter in london, thank you for the good advice, im the finest sharpshooter in my college

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william matt says:
8/28/2009 at 6:26:08 AM

i LOVE BASKETBALL!!!!
I wish to be a great basketball player!
i am from Myanmar,Mandalay
Myanmar horizon basketball player

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