9 Ways to Improve Shooting Without Messing With A Player's Mechanics
by Jay Wolf - Basketball Shooting Specialist

Generally speaking, it is not a good idea to make changes to a players shooting mechanics during the season simply because the change tends to lower scoring efficiency. So what can be done to improve accuracy in-season? Here are a few proven suggestions.

Improving Short Range Shots and Lay-ups

1. Demand that all short shots on either side of the basket be bank shots with a focus point.

This makes the shooter get in position to use the backboard. The top half of the vertical line on either side of the backboard is the point of focus when shooting these type shots. The ball should gently strike the line and fall through the basket. Misses generally occur in this area due to lack of concentration. To reinforce the point of focus during practice, 1) put dollar signs on a piece of masking tape and secure it to the line, and 2) with a laser pointer, make the beam either go back and forth across the upper half of the vertical line or up and down. While shooting, the athlete must verbalize what the beam is doing - either "cross" for back and forth or "up" for up and down. Have players partner doing this to speed learning.

2. Practice NO IRON lay-ups and bank shots from the blocks.

"NO IRON" refers to the ball not touching the rim as it falls through the basket. To achieve NO IRON results with these type shots, the ball must strike the backboard very gently. This demands much more concentration and arc. To increase consistency, make 5 lay-ups or bank shots in a row and 3 of the 5 need to be NO IRONS. Increase the goal as needed to make it challenging.

NOTE: It is important to adjust goals to fit the talent. A goal must be challenging to create greater concentration but not so difficult as to seem impossible.

Improving Medium Range, Spot Up and Pull Up Jumpers, & 3-pt Shots

3. Practice NO IRON shots and make 5 in a row from the same spot.

This type of practice develops awesome accuracy because it demands great concentration and consistency. Five in a row from the same spot improves accuracy because all that makes up the shot - form, force, and arc - must be the same and repeated again and again, back to back, and from the same distance. No Iron shots automatically make the player use more arc. Shots with more arc are blocked less and also fall in more when the ball does hit the rim. In a game, adrenaline is flowing and shots often tend to be long. If NO IRON shots are habitually performed in practice, the ball may still hit the back of the rim in the game BUT, the higher arc increases the chances to go in. Also, with increased arc, the misses tend to produce shorter rebounds thus increasing the chances for put-backs.

IMPORTANT: If 5 NO IRON shots in a row is too difficult, reduce the NO IRON factor but not the 5 makes in a row. Also, vary shooting set-ups - curls from L/R, pull-up jumpers, etc.

Coaching Point: Players whose shots consistently strike the back of the rim when they go in live on the brink of disaster. There is no margin for error. To correct, explain why and begin NO IRON shots the first day of practice and encourage its use in the off season.

4. Make ten free throws in a row before leaving practice.

This demands consistency of all aspects of the shot and creates overall confidence. Each shooter must rebound their own shot to make them move from the line to break their rhythm. Also, stress the importance of establishing a consistent routine to follow before each shot. A deep breath at some point will help relieve stress. To vary this drill and add more game like stress, set a time limit. Those who don't make it must run, etc.

5. Shoot 200 free throws a day for 5 days or 200 in one day and 100 the next four days. Goal: 25/25 with 15 being NO IRONS.

This will develop great overall confidence and extremely consistent form, release, and arc. Yes, this does increase 3pt accuracy as well. Give rewards for: 25/25, the most in a row, and the most NO IRONS in a row.

NOTE: It takes about 15 minutes to shoot 100 shots.

6. Specify the locations that continually produce shots during games and practice making at least 5 in a row from each location.

This builds confidence and forces consistency. When a player gets a shot from one of those areas in a game, they feel very comfortable and confident because they have been so successful from that very same spot so many times in practice.

7. Do all shooting on a marked court with a properly marked backboard. Court should include lane, blocks, and 3pt line.

A marked court is an important factor in reducing misses that are too long or too short because the player knows exactly how far they are from the basket. This also builds confidence for the same reason. The marked backboard gives the shooter an aiming point for bank shots and lay-ups.

8. Hold the follow-through until the ball gets to the basket.

This causes the shooter to take a more controlled shot thus increasing accuracy.

9. Disciplined shot selection

A good shot is any shot that can be made 60% of the time in practice, unguarded. Stress the importance of knowing your limits. "Good shooters shoot good shots."

Final Thoughts

How one views their ability to score is very closely linked to ones actual scoring potential. By forcing the athlete to score consistently time after time, confidence can't help but elevate. They know that no one can stop them because their practice has proved that.

Jay wolf is a basketball shooting specialist, camp clinician, author, and owner of the Star Shooter Company - producer of the Star Shooter Program: Basketball's #1 selling program that helps athletes of all ages improve their shooting skills.