Last year my daughter attended her first Breakthrough camp. When I looked over the camp schedule, I saw that shooting was a major emphasis. I was excited to see what they worked on.

When I showed up to watch, the campers were working on proper shooting footwork coming off of screens.

Each player started on the baseline, simulated setting their defender up, then popped out to receive a pass and shoot.

After simulating using various types of screens, they worked on shooting in transition.

On every rep, campers were challenged to go full speed before shooting. 

At first, most campers, including my daughter, struggled. Practicing shooting at FULL SPEED was clearly something most had not done.

In today’s game, most kids feel comfortable catching and shooting. Of course, being able to do so at an elite level is a separator. But so is being able to shoot off the move!

Very few kids can do it, largely because very few kids practice it! 

The Missing Pillar Of Shooting Workouts

Game shots. Game spots. Game speed.

At the Breakthrough Camp, I saw all 3 elements. That is rare!

As I watch players perform shooting workouts, game speed is the pillar that is commonly neglected.

Even though players know they should go game speed, very few actually do.

Why? Because it’s hard.

If you really sprinted into every shot, you would get tired. You wouldn’t be comfortable. It might not even be that much ‘fun’ - in the moment.

But you would get better!

Look at it this way. Let’s say you train at 60% speed but have to play at 100%. Will the training you did translate to the game? Doubtful.

Is shooting off of a jog different from shooting off of a sprint? Way different!

• When you sprint, you have to be able to decelerate and get on balance.

• When you sprint, you have to be able to get into your proper mechanics immediately, while moving fast.

• When you sprint, you have to be able to shoot while experiencing fatigue.

If you don’t train those attributes, they won’t be there on game day. 

Shooting Less = Shooting Better?

Some players judge their shooting workouts solely by their quantity of shots. Don’t do that.

Quality matters more. If you really push yourself, you won’t be able to shoot 500 shots. Maybe you only shoot 150.

If those 150 are at 100% effort, they are likely to have more carryover than the 500 at a comfortable pace.

Starting today, make sure your training truly incorporates game speed. How will you know? If you’re uncomfortable (especially at first).

Most players can’t or won’t deal with this discomfort. That’s why they stagnate. If you embrace it, your game will reach new heights.

The Man In The Glass & The Power of Self-Reflection

The famous poem the Man In The Glass is about being able to self-assess and being honest with yourself.

When you train, you are responsible for the effort you put in. If you train like most people train, you’ll get their results. If you want exceptional results, you have to train in an exceptional way.

One way to do that is by putting maximum effort into your shooting workouts.

Another way is by attending one of our shooting camps!

While all 467 of our camps focus on shooting in some capacity, we also have130 camps that specialize in shooting. 

These specialized camps—such as “Shooting & Offensive Skills” and “Shooting & Ball-Handling” camps—focus heavily on the techniques, drills, and confidence-building needed to develop elite shooters.

This season, I’ve seen my daughter shoot much more effectively off the move. That is one of the skills that has given her a leg up on many of the girls she competes against. I would attribute much of that to the learning she had at camp.

Take advantage of the same opportunity and take your shooting prowess to the next level!

>>>Check out our upcoming 2025 Shooting Camps and find one near you

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