You may remember the moment captured in the picture below:

If not, it’s a picture of Damian Lillard taking a JUMP SHOT from beyond half court (oh yeah, he made it, too)!

Most half court shots are heaves. Not Dame. He is renowned for the range on his jumper.

Many players struggle to add range to their shot. Their form might be solid from 10-15 feet, but as soon as they get beyond the arc, it evaporates.

For young players, that could be a strength issue. If so, don’t worry about your range yet.

For players who are strong enough to shoot with range but struggle to maintain form, there’s good news. With some deliberate practice, you can start increasing your range today!

Why “Use Your Legs” Isn’t The (Whole) Answer

If I had a $1 for every time I heard someone tell a shooter to use their legs, I’d be pretty well off! It’s almost always uttered after a shot misses short.

It’s a well-intentioned statement. Good shooters do use their entire body to generate power. The farther away you are, the more power you need.

However, most range-challenged shooters’ problem isn’t that they don’t use their legs. It’s that they use their legs too soon!

Try this:

• Hold the ball by your hip/ribs where you start your shot.

• Jump and lift the ball at the same time.

What you should notice is that you’ve used the strength from your legs before the ball is ready to leave your hands. The result is a shot that needs extra power from your arms to get to the basket.

If you look at the picture of Dame, you’ll notice that his feet are still on the ground and he still has a slight knee bend even though the ball is above his head.

That's huge... because it means he’s saved the power from his legs for the moment he lifts and releases the ball.

So, should you use your legs when you shoot? Yes, but at the right time!

The “Freeze Drill” for Deeper Range

Here’s a simple drill to work on getting the timing of your leg power correct:

• Start 8-10 feet from the hoop.

• Bring the ball SLOWLY from your start point to your set point.

  

• As you bring the ball up, keep the ball tight to your body. This helps get your shooting elbow under the ball at the set point, giving you more strength.

• Keep your legs slightly bent but frozen as the ball goes from your starting point to your set point.

• Once the ball is at your set point, shoot your normal shot at normal speed. At that point, your legs are unfrozen and can provide power to your shot.

As long as you can comfortably shoot the ball with proper form, following the steps above, continue moving back. When your form starts to break down (or you can’t get the ball to the hoop), stop.

As you continue to practice this drill, your range will improve.

Why Range Is About More Than Just 3s

Adding range provides an obvious benefit to your shooting, giving you the chance to make more shots & score more points.

However, the increased scoring opportunities that more range provides go beyond catch and shoot.

All of a sudden, your defender has to guard you farther from the hoop. That opens up driving lanes for you to attack. Steph & Dame have been taking advantage of this for years!

To learn more ways to become an elite shooter, check out our Breakthrough Basketball Shooting Camps.

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