How to Develop Long Distance Basketball Shooting Range

Would you like to make MORE shots from farther back? Would you like to become a great 3-point shooter?

We have some very effective shooting tips for you...

When extending your range, you need to know about some surefire RIGHT and WRONG ways to get it done.

You need to be very careful because all too often players will try to extend their range and acquire some subtle, yet dead-serious shooting flaws!!


The trick is to extend your range while maintaining the EXACT SAME FORM.
There are only TWO ways to increase your range:

  1. INCREASE YOUR PHYSICAL STRENGTH AND POWER.

  2. ADJUST YOUR SHOT MECHANICS FOR ADDITIONAL POWER.

With that said, we'll teach you exactly how to increase your range both ways. It's up to you to decide which method you choose.

Many times, it's best for players to make very small improvements in both areas.


How to increase your physical strength and power for increased range.

The most obvious answer is to start a weight training program. Increasing the strength of your entire body will help. You'll want stronger and more explosive legs, core, wrist, forearms, and triceps.

In addition, by simply practicing more, you will increase the strength of your wrists and forearms. Taking 500 shots a day will increase your strength.

Lastly, you can try using a heavy ball (twice the weight of a regulation ball) and then going back to the regulation size one. Players usually find it easy to shoot from farther out because of the contrast. Wait until at least junior high before working with an oversized or weighted ball.

If you use a weighted ball, be sure to practice away from the basket. Do form shooting with one hand. Put your guide hand in the normal position, but an inch off the ball so you're not touching it. Focus on shooting the ball high and far, but do not sacrifice good form in order to do so.


How to adjust your mechanics for additional power.

This can be tricky because changing your mechanics can throw off your shot. Big changes to your mechanics will require you to retrain your muscle memory and you'll need thousands of repetitions to retrain your muscle memory.

In most situations, it's best to make very minor adjustments to your shot delivery.

  ADJUSTMENT TECHNIQUE #1

A good technique for developing range is to intentionally shoot the ball all the way over the backboard. This kind of power is achieved through using optimum leg power and releasing the ball a split second before reaching the top of the jump motion. If done properly, then generating enough force to shoot over the backboard, even from beyond the 3-point line, is not that difficult.

Once players realize how much power is available through this motion, they can learn to control it for shooting at the rim. Since this takes less force than shooting over the backboard, players have more confidence shooting from long ranges.

It's important to shoot a split second BEFORE you release the top of your shot. You'll lose tremendous power if you jump, hang, and shoot on the way down. Plus, you just give your defender more time to block your shot.

ADJUSTMENT TECHNIQUE #2

Another effective technique is to drop your elbow. If you watch Steve Nash you'll notice that he drops his elbow when shooting three pointers. If you're going to adjust mechanics, this is a good option to consider because it doesn't alter your delivery mechanics too dramatically.

ADJUSTMENT TECHNIQUE #3

Yet another technique to consider is to try to decrease the time that it takes to get the ball from your shot chamber to your release point. This will add power to your shot and increase your range.


The safest way to increase shooting range

If you want to take the safest route, here's a surefire way to extend your range without sacrificing your accuracy.

Let's say you are proficient at mid-range but you want to become a great 3-point shooter...

The obvious answer is to practice. The question becomes what to practice. Shooting revolves around rhythm and form, so that is where the answer lies.

It might sound strange, but to become a better 3-point shooter, you have to practice a lot, close to the basket. Take 100's and 1000's of shots 12' from the basket. The purpose for this is to really ingrain your shooting form from an area that you can shoot comfortably and have some success. It doesn't make a difference what drills you do or how you practice it, as long as the primary thrust of the work is your form.

Once you have your form ingrained, gradually move back. If you get to a point where you feel the rhythm change or your form start to change, that is the limit of your range. Stay at that spot until your shot feels like it did at 12 feet. Once it feels comfortable again, shoot several hundred shots until it becomes automatic again.

Once it feels automatic again, start to move back until you reach the limit of your range and shoot continually from that spot. Once you feel comfortable from behind the 3-point line, you can start shooting drills that will make you more proficient.

Players struggle from behind the arc because they have to change their shot to get the ball to the basket. This not only makes the shooter inconsistent from the 3-point line, but it affects his shot from everywhere else. Remember, to be a good shooter, you have to take the same shot every time, no matter where you shoot the ball.


Related Products & Resources

Attack & Counter Basketball Workouts - Shooting, Ball Handling, Finishing, Footwork, and More

Baden 28.5" Shooting Basketball

Baden Heavy Training Basketball - 29.5'

Baden 35" Oversized Training Basketball

Rapid Fire - II - Basketball Rebounding/Return Device




Comments

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Mr305 says:
12/30/2023 at 12:31:48 AM

What a great write up to really pin point down what one has to do in practice to really improve.

I find that watching a good shooter isn't always the best way to learn because one might not necessarily know what they are looking at or looking for, but in a written form, one can be more accurate.

myself I've always had trouble with 3 pointers because it feels like I don't have enough strength to shoot accurately, but then some little kid who weighs 85lbs can shoot 3's accurately. So it has to be a form and technique issue.

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Kevin Murray says:
7/22/2022 at 8:58:05 PM

Using the safe method, how long would it take to get to the free throw line and eventually threes? Also, what are some shooting errors that people develop when trying to increase their range?

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  1 reply  

Info says:
7/25/2022 at 9:11:35 AM

Great questions. Each player is different, so there is no specific timeline. Just stay consistent in practicing and the shot will develop. Having great shooting fundamentals will help in avoiding any shooting errors that you think may develop as the range is increasing. This will require you taking 1000s of shots and working hard. Below is a link for Proper Basketball Shooting Technique, Fundamentals, and Form https://www.breakthroughbasketball.com/fundamentals/shooting-technique.html. Hopefully that will be helpful to you.

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Easton says:
10/12/2020 at 3:04:15 PM

I need to add certain shots to my arsenal... any ideas which is best

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Easton says:
10/12/2020 at 3:04:13 PM

I need to add certain shots to my arsenal... any ideas which is best

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  1 reply  

Hudson says:
8/27/2024 at 4:46:17 PM

Fadeaway jumper

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Aaron Roy says:
6/3/2019 at 11:06:15 PM

So I understand that you want to maintain the same form at all distances. My question is if you maintain the same form how does the jump shot change as distance changes? Is it the power in the legs that increases as the distance increases? Or is it the release speed that quickens when the distance is increased?

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  1 reply  

Jeff Haefner says:
6/4/2019 at 8:40:01 AM

Honestly, I don't know exactly... and I don't think I want to know! The body is a complex system and it just figures it out...

My understanding is that your the muscles in your feet, calves, quads, glutes, core, arms, wrists, and hands all adjust both the speed and force at which they propel the ball toward the basket.

The jump might decrease in some players. High jumpers might release the ball a little later (thus using less upforce). I really do not get that technical.

I just want players shooting with the same technique each time, holding their following through, getting sufficient arc on their shot, and then gets LOTS of smart repetitions. If you get the right type of reps and do those things, the body figures it out. Getting too technical I think can sometimes cause more problems than help. But every shooting coach has their own way of doing things and getting results... I take the less technical approach and use coaching cues to get results.

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Tweet tweet says:
6/2/2019 at 8:56:54 PM

Hi, I can’t seem to generate enough power to even shoot a three, anybody know something I can do (exercises technique changes etc...).

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  1 reply  

Emma Richardson says:
10/1/2020 at 4:06:08 PM

I have a few techniques to shoot farther.

Make sure to have a one motion shot. instead of stopping the ball near your face, don’t stop at all keep going.

If you’re right handed make sure your right hip is closer to the hoop than your left. If you’re left handed make sure your left hip is closer to the hoop.

When you’re doing your shot make sure your torso is angled to the ground and bend your knees.

When you jump in your jumpshot, make your feet closer to the rim, if you’re shooting a three, your feet should be at about 18 feet and not 19 (three point range).

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Wardell Stephen Curry says:
2/22/2019 at 2:26:28 PM

Thanks, Breakthrough Basketball. Appreciate it!

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Brayden Roberts says:
11/2/2017 at 12:13:47 PM

hey i am tall but i cant do a layup to safe my life what can I do

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  1 reply  

Robby says:
7/13/2018 at 10:22:58 AM

practice fucking layups its not that hard. Just shoot layups till u can make it. If you cant then dont play baskeball

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  1 reply  

Jevin says:
2/3/2021 at 1:25:11 PM

chill out man, some drills you can do is the mikan drill, look it up

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zane says:
8/6/2016 at 12:24:49 PM

im 12 years old an have past nba range
im a star on a team and average lmost 20 pts a game
how do i develop range for 30+ ft

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  2 replies  

Robby says:
7/13/2018 at 10:23:54 AM

Haha sure. You definitely sound like ur trash and ur just trying to impress. I doubt you can if you really do then u would be ranked in the nation. And no ranked player would say something so immature like this.

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Emma Richardson says:
10/1/2020 at 4:13:41 PM

I believe you. I’m 17 and i can shoot full court shots without a problem. I would change your shooting form when you get to about 5 feet past half-court. i was splashing NBA three’s when i was 13. I don’t know why this Robby person don’t believe you. Its really not that hard.

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Steph curry says:
3/3/2016 at 3:20:47 PM

Make sure u often watch videos of great 3 point shooters shooting. I recommend Reggie Miller steph curry and Ray allen

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