Questions From Subscribers...

how do i use my legs in basketball everytime i shoot i mess up my shot by not getting enough power can u give me some tips

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I dont use my legs to generate enough power can u give some some really helpful tips to kepp in my mind that will helpo me how to use my legs and when to release the ball

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Ann,

The height for the rim of high school, college and pros is all the same (10ft).

Jeff

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What is the regulation hoop height for high school? is it the same for College and Pros???Can someone tell me where to find out??

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Al,

To get your shot off quicker, the key is to have your knees bent and feet ready before catching the ball. So all you have to do is move the ball into your shot pocket and jump.

It's all about eliminating unnecessary movement.

Reggie Miller was great cutting off screens with his knees bent, and then beginning his pivot before he caught the ball. So he could then start his shot motion upwards right as he caught the ball.

This technique should be practiced with ALL shooting drills, whether it's off the dribble or pass. So really, all shooting drills will help with this.

The other aspect is to have the ball in your shot pocket and ready at all times. That way you quickly pop the shot at any time.

We have dedicated an entire chapter about "how to get your shot off quicker" in our upcoming basketball shooting ebook. I’m not sure if we included any drills specific to “shot quickness” so I’ll have to check into that. The book will be released in December and we'll announce it to everyone on our newsletter list.

Jeff Haefner

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We have a 7th grade girl. Any drills that will help speed her shooting?

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In trying to develop a quicker shot, you should start by analyzing your current shot motion to make sure that you are not losing time with poor mechanics and wasted motion. Many players have hitches in their motion that are remnants of poor habits formed when they were young and not strong enough to get the ball up to the hoop with proper form.

As much as possible, players should cradle the ball in the shot pocket with hands in position to shoot if the opportunity presents itself. This is often reinforced by drills centered on the concept of the triple threat position. The body stance and ball placement allow for rapid transition into driving, passing, or shooting. Economy of motion is the goal. The shot motion should be one fluid motion from shot pocket up to the set point (ideally, just above the forehead) and up and through into the follow-through. Any movements downward or sideways or any pauses in the motion add time to the delivery and make it harder to get shots off. The knee, elbow, and arm should be on a line with the target. Shots delivered earlier in the jumping motion are quicker. In other words, if you wait until you are at the very peak of your jump before launching the shot, you are allowing more time for the defender to close up and deflect it.

Another factor to consider when trying to get shots off quicker involves footwork. Whether shooting off the dribble or shooting off a pass, proper footwork can greatly improve your chances of getting the shot off cleanly.

Off-the-dribble shooting footwork can be practiced very simply by starting just above the top of the key and dribbling to the elbows, taking care to initiate the shot motion on the inside foot. In other words, when dribbling to the right, the left foot is the pivot foot, and when dribbling to the left, the right foot is the pivot foot. For right-handed shooters, getting the ball quickly and smoothly into the shot pocket when shooting from the left elbow off the dribble is an important key. The left hand should deliver the ball into the shot hand rather than using the shot hand to reach over to get it off the dribble.

Off-the-pass shooting footwork involves having the feet set in ways that allow for catching and stepping right into the shot. Having the hands in shot position when catching is another time saving habit. That is the target you should be providing to passers. Any time spent bringing the ball from somewhere else into the shot pocket or shot delivery position will definitely slow your shot. Passers need to keep this in mind when delivering passes. As much as possible, passes need to be delivered to players so that they can fluidly go right into a balanced shot motion.

One obvious bad habit to get rid off when trying to develop a quicker shot is always dribbling before shooting your shot. When you have this habit, you are crippling yourself and aiding the defense.

Hope this helps!

Paul Giacomelli
Editor, Breakthrough Basketball.com

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