HOW TO SHOOT A BASKETBALL BY CEDRICK DAVIS

HOW TO SHOOT A BASKETBALL. BY CEDRICK DAVIS

� 1. Face the basket and place your feet shoulder width apart. Point your feet in the general direction of the basket. Your feet should be slightly staggered, with your dominant foot, referred to as your "shooting" foot for these purposes, slightly in front of your non-dominant foot. Take a comfortable and balanced position. There is no perfect stance; the important thing is to find a stance that helps you launch your best shot.

� 2. Position the ball in your shot pocket. You shoot the ball from your "shot pocket, " located on the shooting side of your torso a few inches above your waist. The ball and your shooting eye should form a straight line to the basket.

� 3. Grip the ball correctly. Position your shooting hand so that your fingertips are perpendicular to the seams in the ball. This hand is responsible for launching the ball. Place your non-shooting hand on the side of the ball to act as a guide for the shot.

� 4. Push the ball upward with your shooting hand. Move the ball in a smooth motion from your shot pocket to eye level before launching it.

� 5. Straighten your knees and jump. Use your legs to help propel the ball by jumping upward while your shooting hand launches the ball. Move your legs, torso, and arms together in a coordinated fashion to take the shot.

� 6. Release the ball. Just before you reach the height of your jump, release the ball with your shooting hand aimed at the basket. Straighten your elbow and snap your wrist so that the ball arches, rather than moving toward the basket in a straight line.

� 7. Develop muscle memory. Basketball is a fast-paced game, and you won't have time to think about the mechanics of shooting while the clock is running down and your opponents are trying to steal the ball from you. It's important to practice shooting as much as you can, so that taking a shot - from the stance and grip to the jump and release - feels as natural as skipping and riding a bike.

� 8. Learn how to use the backboard. The backboard can be a useful tool, especially for shots you take close to the basket. Aim for the middle of the target square, which will help the ball drop straight down.

� 9. Practice in a game setting. After you're comfortable shooting on your own, get some friends together to have a basketball scrimmage, or join a league so you can play some games. Shooting during the pressure of a game is a little harder than doing it by yourself in your backyard, since you have to catch passes, dodge steals and be aware of the strategy your coach and the other players expect you to employ. However, if you practice the right form and develop good muscle memory, you'll be racking up the points in no time.