In today’s basketball landscape, the ability to shoot consistently and play hard can secure you a spot on almost any team. As a basketball coach, one of the most valuable skills you can help your players develop is shooting consistency.Having players that can consistently make shots, creates a more efficient offense, with btter spacing, and more options. Below are the key points that we've used with our players over the last 15 years to help them make more shots. PLAYERS: DON'T FORGET, WHEN IT COMES TO SHOOTING, YOU NEED TO BE YOUR OWN COACH AS WELL AND TAKE THE DEVELOPMENT IN TO YOUR OWN HANDS!!
Step 1: Focus on Shooting Mechanics
Every great shooter starts with solid mechanics. However, we realize that every shooter is unique and shoots the ball differently, even if it's just slightly. We want to help players find their 2-3 Checkpoints. These are the things they consistently do great when they are MAKING SHOTS. To help find this we use the Load, Lift, Finish framework to guide players through their shot:
Load: Teach players to start with the basketball in a controlled, balanced position. This creates a strong foundation for their shot.
Lift: Encourage a smooth, consistent upward motion, keeping the body aligned and balanced throughout the shot.
Finish: Focus on a fluid release, wrist flick, and proper follow-through. Timing and sequencing are critical here—when all three steps align, the result is a clean, effortless shot.
This framework should help the player shoot the ball with EASE and ACCURACY. If you can consistently shoot it straight, with enough power, you will eventually make shots!
ADD MOVEMENTS: After we lock in our mechanics, we need to add movement, bc in games we are rarely stationary on our shot. We want to focus on our LAST 2 STEPS in to our shot. This helps us build our rhythm and bridge the gap between moving and getting in to our stance. Usually our last 2 steps are 1,2 , Hop, Toe Taps. Lastly, we'll focus on Body movements to get in to our shot. Our body moves 4 ways to receive the ball. Step Ins, Turn Ins, Drifts (Slides), Fades (Back Pedals).
Step 2: Build Repetition Through Basketball Workouts
Once your players understand the mechanics, the next step is getting in the necessary reps to make their shot second nature. The more players see the ball go through the hoop, the more confident they will be. As a coach, structure their basketball workouts to balance form-focused practice with game-like scenarios.
Isolated Shooting Drills: These are repetitive drills that shoot similar shots over and over again. Some will argue this isn't effective, but as a former player I am a huge believer in repetition to build confidence and consistency. These can be stationary shooting drills or movement based shooting drills.
Varied Shooting Drills: The more we can vary the distance and angle of a shot during a players workout the more in increases the skill of putting the basketball in the hoop during games. We can do this using a pattern (Player knows the 2-3-4 shots they are getting) or completely varying the each shot for the whole drill (Player does not know when and where they are getting their next shot).
Live Reps: Once your players are comfortable with form and movement, challenge them with live reps. Use one-on-one, two-on-two, and three-on-three drills to help players practice shooting under defensive pressure. Each shot in a game comes with a read and decision. We need them to have the ability to process reads and make decisions then make shots in training as well.
Varied Shooting Drill during NBA Pre Draft
Step 3: Strengthen Mental Toughness
Coaching a great shooter goes beyond mechanics and drills—it also requires developing their mental game. We often think of the best shooters as being mentally tough, with a short memory for misses and unwavering confidence in their ability to make the next shot. This can be true, but it is also true that really good shooters still struggle with their confidence when they aren't making shots, and then their decision making when they aren't making shots.
Here’s how you can help your players build mental strength:
Introduce Challenges or constrants: Set goals that push players to focus under pressure. For example, require them to make a certain number of consecutive shots (some times they are easily achievable and other times they can be almost impossible), or Reset scores based on results we don't want to see (Back to 0 if they miss short or miss 2 in a row)
Simulate Game Pressure: Use time-based drills or competitive live scenarios to replicate the stress of a real game.
Shooting Resilience: Shooters need to be resilient. Ok, you missed a couple in a row, how do you BOUNCE BACK and get back to making shots. It is ok for them to LOSE A SHOOTING DRILL. Do they have the ability to then come back and beat the next drill.
Final Thoughts: Getting Results
There is a reason why every player isn't a good shooter. Shooting Development can be boring. It can be repetitive. It can be time consuming. It is really hard to be a good shooter if you don't Understand your mechanics, are focused and engaged trying to make every shot when you are in the gym, and if you don't put in the hours. So for Coaches trying to help their players shoot better it helps to really have a framework and put your players in a position to get better when they are in the gym with you, and more importantly to help themselves when they are getting reps in on their own. Don't forget, players aren't going to shoot great every day. How do we help players get through their tough days to still be effective and confident?
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