Where to Look When Shooting Basketball: Expert Tips & Techniques
Parents often ask about the nuances of basketball. One common question is, 'Where should my child look when shooting a basketball?' It's a great question that requires a proper response.
Shooting a basketball well takes countless hours of practice. It's a skill developed over time. It is difficult to explain it, and after exploring the solution, the real answer ends up sounding abstract.
The Kinesthetic Skill of Basketball Shooting
Shooting is a kinesthetic skill. This means that body awareness helps. The better someone understands their body's position, the easier it is for them to play basketball.
Think about how great shooters shoot free throws. Some NBA players can probably make the shot with their eyes closed. Steph Curry makes his free throws at a very high rate.
Developing a Kinesthetic Feel for the Ball
Good shooters know what making a free throw should feel like. Years of proper practice develop the feel. You need a lot of reps to make shooting feel natural.
Don Kelbick offers shooting tips on his website, Breakthrough Basketball. Don often starts players learning how to shoot with their eyes closed.
Straight Follow Through, Toward the Rim
The follow-through gives you an understanding of how a shot changes direction. Make sure your follow-through goes straight.
It can be difficult for young basketball players to understand this concept because this feels is hard to explain. The distance and angle are adjusted over time with practice.
Guide Hand Positioning - Where Comfort Meets Consistency
New players sometimes need help figuring out their shooting hand. Early in the basketball training process, teaching is best done with one hand.
This helps players develop their shot. It lets them focus on positioning and launching the basketball toward the net.
The guide hand helps position the basketball. Place the guide hand where it doesn't affect the shot mechanics, allowing for a consistent shot.
Comfort is King... To an Extent
Finding the best placement starts with identifying what feels comfortable. However, make sure that the placement is repeatable.
What About Aiming and The Rim
For a new basketball player to improve shooting with one hand, more than encouraging words are needed. Teaching becomes too traditional when using the targets of the front, middle, or back. The concept needs to be simpler.
Where You're Sending the Ball, Why Not Aim There?
Some coaches have new players aim for the hole. This really emphasizes ball shooting.
There are other ways that teach the positioning guide too. Some provide coaching resources by taking the idea behind the middle of the rim. This concept is about shooting the ball through the center of the hoop. Instead, one great shooter is showing the NBA All-Star, Steph Curry, a slightly new idea on how he's thinking about where to look when shooting basketball.
Methods on Where to Aim in Basketball
| Method | Reason | Creator | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle of the Rim | Helps improve chances of success | Traditional | Unknown |
| Rim Hooks | Refines the perfect shot and the arc | Ryan Razooky | MasterClass |
The Steph Curry Way: Rim Hooks
Ryan Razooky, a skills and performance trainer, helped Steph Curry refine his jump shot. Rather than aiming generally, the focus is on a very specific target, the rim hooks.
These hooks connect the net to the rim. Multiple small diamonds connect around the hoop. Focusing on something specific forces shot preparation and improves ball release.
Integrating New With Old
Don't have your players develop a shooting technique based only on others. Trying new methods is important, though. Teach them about Steph Curry's aiming methods and use Don Kelbick's suggestion too.
Breaking Down Basketball Shooting Drills
Developing kinesthetic skills will help you start making shots. There are different types of shooting drills that great shooters use. They help perfect the shot and build shooting motion comfort.
The One-Handed Approach: Start Without the Guide Hand
Sometimes it helps to start with only the dominant hand. This improves shooting form.
A good drill involves lining players along the baseline with their shooting hand near their set point. Players should work on shooting from the front of the rim or around it. This allows players to make consistent movements without the second hand.
Guide Hand In, Perfect the Position
After practicing with just your shooting arm, use your guide hand again. Comfort matters, as do finger and thumb positioning, though those depend on each player and what feels most natural.
Once all players know where each hand should be, continue to improve that feeling. Soon, each person will become more consistent.
Muscle Memory: Making the Most of Practice Time
Muscle memory doesn't develop overnight. Basketball players will not improve at free throws or jump shots without repetition and practice. Good coaching helps players gain confidence.
Don't let players skip basketball drills. Discourage any extra movements during shot preparation that are unhelpful.
Conclusion
When thinking about where to look when shooting a basketball, remember the necessary skill. Mastering small parts is crucial. These include your follow-through and the positioning of both hands.
Consider your focus during a game. Work on a consistent aim with each shot. You may start to improve.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where should I look when shooting basketball?
You can pick the front, middle, or back of the rim. It comes down to feel.
When shooting a basketball, where should your eyes be focused?
Focus on where the ball will go. Look at the center of the rim.
Where do you look when playing basketball?
Try looking at the small hooks holding the net when shooting.
What part of the rim should to look at when shooting a basketball?
Focus your eyes on the middle of the rim. Follow traditional advice. Keep practicing the follow through.
