How to Develop the Ideal Jump-Shot

The jump-shot is an essential tool in the game of basketball, especially for guards. A good jump-shot can be used to fight zone defenses and also set up the pump fake and drive. You should want to develop consistency in your shot and that starts with goodform. There are several fundamentals in developing the ideal shot. I am going to explain the body part movements from the feet up.

First, when taking a jump-shot it is critical to set your feet and create good balance. Your feet should be spread about shoulder-width and facing the basket. Also, I prefer to have the foot that corresponds with my shooting hand sticking forward about half a foot length ahead of the other foot. Balance is essential for shooting the ball consistently; therefore you should generally land in the same spot from where you took off. It is much more difficult to make a shot when off balance. Next, it's important to understand that most of your power is going to come from your legs, ankles and feet. The more power you can generate with your lower body the farther and more consistently you can shoot the ball as the game progresses and fatigue sets in. Remember, the lower you bend down with your knees the more power and higher arch you will have while shooting. A problem I encounter frequently throughout a game is tired legs and as a result bad shooting. Therefore pushing your tired legs hard is important while shooting towards the end of a game.

Now that the lower body is covered, let's discuss the upper body and hand placement. A simple explanation for hand placement on the ball is that your strong hand propels the ball forward and your weak hand positions or aims the ball for you. You should raise the ball above your head in front of you while bending your knees. Your weak hand should be placed on the side of the ball while your strong hand should be placed behind and slightly under the ball. The palm of your shooting (strong) hand should be facing the target (basket). A split second after you jump, you should flick the ball forward towards your target with only your shooting (strong) hand, creating a nice high arch. The weak hand's role is to hold and aim the ball for you. The weak hand should not interfere with the strong hand before it flicks the ball up and forward. Generally, you want to shoot the ball with a high arch because it's easier to make shots consistently than if you had a lower arch.

The grip on the ball is important as well. Everyone has their own take on how the ball should be gripped, but for me, I think a medium grip should be used with your shooting hand. Medium grip means don't squeeze the ball hard with your fingers tips but also don't let the ball just sit lightly on your palm. You should grip the ball with your finger tips while the ball sits on your palm in order to have good control on the shot. Your weak hand grip should be light and not obstruct the motion of the strong hand. The flick of the strong hand is critical in taking a smooth jump-shot. You should flick the ball with your fingertips and wrist with a high arch while extending your strong arm and elbow outwards towards the basket. Your weak hand and arm should stay place in the aiming position.

A good jump-shot should be fluid and graceful. This is where the follow through at the end comes in. After flicking the ball forward and extending your strong hand and arm with your wrist bent down, you should keep that position in place while landing and watching the result of the shot. A good follow through puts an excellent end on a well taken jump-shot. It contributes to the fluidity and rhythm of your shot, which are essential to shooting well. Try to practice the flow of your shot with these main keys: good balance, jumping for power and arch, flicking the wrist and following through.

Obviously, you need to keep your eyes on the basket while shooting in order to subconsciously analyze how much power is needed for the specific shot. Some people like to look at the front of the rim, some like to look at the back. Try out what's best for you. I personally just look at the hoop as one unit and not any specific area.

At last, these instructions aren't written in stone for shooting the perfect jump-shot. You may create your own techniques and make your own adjustments. Use what works for you. Also, the single most important thing I want to stress about shooting the basketball well is that it takes PRACTICE! Lots and lots of practice. Getting good at anything takes a lot of hard work, and shooting that perfect jump-shot isn't any different. Good luck!