Basketball Shooting Technique, Fundamentals, and Form

Basketball Shooting Technique, Fundamentals, and Form
If you want to be a superb shooter, you MUST HAVE very good shooting form and technique. However, you don't need "perfect" shooting form.

In other words, your shooting form will never be 100%, and you don't want to be robotic.

With that said, you'll never be a great shooter unless you have "satisfactory" form and mechanics.

It's very common for players to have fatal flaws in their approach, and frankly they have no chance of becoming consistent shooters.

Stationary Basketball Shooting Form and Technique
In this section, we give you the raw form and mechanics of stationary shooting. In other words, this section does NOT address the fundamentals of shooting on the move and more advanced footwork you'll need for game situations.

Here's a quick roadmap of the stationary shooting fundamentals that we'll be covering:

1. Eyes on Target
2. Stance and Balance
3. Shot Pocket
4. Grip
5. Balance Hand
6. Delivery
7. Upforce and Landing
8. Follow Through
9. Correct Shot

EYES ON TARGET

• To improve accuracy, locate the target (rim) as early as possible.
• Keep your eyes on the target and do not follow the flight of the ball.
• Keeping your target focus is very important!

STANCE AND BALANCE

• Feet are shoulder width apart for good balance.
• Feet should be in a slightly staggered stance that is consistent and comfortable for you. Your shooting foot is slightly ahead of the non-shooting foot in a comfortable position.
• Point your feet in the general direction of the basket, but not necessarily directly at it. We prefer an open stance, but you can also use the closed (squared) stance if that's more comfortable for you. With an open stance, your feet point towards one side of the basket. For example, a right handed shooter will point his or her feet just to the left of the rim for a more natural position and shooting motion.
• Once you develop a comfortable stance, line up your feet the exact same way on every shot. Whatever stance you use, consistency is critical.
• Flex/bend your knees on every shot.

SHOT POCKET

• As you catch the ball, move it quickly into the shot pocket.
• Line everything up so the ball and your shooting eye form a straight line to the basket. This is VERY important.
• Position the ball several inches above your waist.
• Grip the ball properly and be ready to shoot.
• Position the ball in your shot pocket the SAME way every time you catch it.

GRIP

• Place the air hole between the middle and index fingers.
• Line up your fingertip pads parallel to the long seams of the ball, so you can monitor the back spin.
• Leave space between the ball and the middle of your palm. You should be able to insert a pencil between the ball and your palm area.

• Spread your fingers far enough apart to comfortably balance the ball in one hand.
• The ball should sit on your finger pads.

BALANCE HAND

• Your non-shooting hand should be on the side of the ball.
• Your balance hand should not add force or spin to the shot.

• Your non-shooting hand should not move on delivery and should ALWAYS come off the ball FIRST.

DELIVERY

• The ball should start motion directly upwards from the shot pocket (no dipping of the ball).
• Your elbow should be positioned comfortably under the ball.
• The ball stays in front of you and should not go behind your head.

• Uncoil your body with your legs, core, and arm power all coordinated.
• Your elbow and wrist should extend in a straight line to the basket.

• Your shooting hand should extend in a straight line to the rim.
• Hand position on delivery is very important. The ball should come off the hand with perfect symmetrical backspin.
• As shown in the picture to the right, your guide hand stays to the side and does not influence the flight of the ball. 

UPFORCE AND LANDING

• Release the ball on the way up, just before the top of your jump.
• Use your legs to generate upforce.
• You should land in the same spot that you jumped, which shows that you have good balance on your shot.

 














 
FOLLOW-THROUGH

• Your wrists should be floppy (relaxed).
• Fingers should be pointed at the target (rim).
• Finish high. You should see your fingers at the top square of the back board.
• Hold your follow through position until the ball hits the rim. 

 source : http://www.breakthroughbasketball.com/fundamentals/shooting-technique.html

Basketball dribbling tehnique

Basketball Dribbling Fundamentals
1) Basic Technique
Cup your dribbling hand with your fingers spread comfortably with the dribble being a push-pull motion of your arm, wrist and fingers. You'll initiate the dribble with an elbow extension and flexion of your fingers and wrist. As the ball bounces back up, meet it with your fingers, with your wrist absorbing the force. Control the ball with your fingers and pads of your hands, not the palms. Keep your non-dribbling hand up for protection.

Control is the key. Practice dribbling with your hand the following areas of the ball: directly on top, in front, behind, right side and left side.

2) Control, or Low Dribble
Use this when you're closely guarded. Keep your body between the ball and the defender. Dribble the ball at knee level or lower and slightly away from your body so it's harder for the defender to knock it away. Advance the ball with a step and slide movement. Keep your free hand up to protect the ball while keeping you dribbling arm close to your body. If you keep you head up and eyes off the ball, you'll be able to spot open teammates or openings for you.

3) Speed, or High Dribble
Use this type of basketball dribbling when you need to advance the ball quickly: quick drives to the basket, fast breaks or following a steal in the open court. Keep your body nearly erect, leaning forward slightly. Extend your dribbling arm fully, pushing the ball out in front of your body. Keep the ball near waist level or higher to help maintain maximum speed. Be sure to develop your confidence in doing this technique without looking at the ball and dribbling well with either hand. Once this fundamental is mastered, getting up and down the court quickly will be a breeze.

4) Crossover Dribble
This technique is good to use when you're being overplayed. It helps you change direction quickly. When your foot on the dribbling side contacts the floor, push off hard toward your opposite foot and bounce the ball across your body with a quick flick of your wrist and fingers (flick the ball with your dribbling hand by pushing from slightly outside the ball). The lower you bounce the ball, the quicker your crossover. Take a step with the foot on the receiving side as your receiving hand gets the ball on a short hop. Quickness is extremely important with this basketball dribbling fundamental. A good advantage is you always maintain visual contact with the game action. The disadvantage is it's easy to expose the ball to your defender if you're not careful.

5) Spin, or Reverse Dribble
Another change of direction technique. It's good if the crossover isn't available because you're guarded too closely. Advantage: You keep your body between the defender and the ball. Disadvantage: You lose sight for a moment of your teammates and the basket. If you're dribbling right and need to go left - stop, plant your left foot and pivot on it as you spin in the opposite direction with your back to the defender. Keep the ball close to your body as you spin and switch it to your left hand. As you complete the turn, dribble with your left hand and keep your head up to see the floor.

6) Change-of-Pace
The idea here is to make your defender think you are slowing down and then, as they relax, you speed right by them. As you slow down, straighten slightly, plant your lead foot and bring your head up a bit. This creates the illusion that you are about to stop and your defender will relax. Then accelerate quickly and use a low dribble to get by the defender. Practice this going from slow to fast and back to slow again. It's very difficult to defend once you perfect it!

7) Behind-the-Back
Another way to change direction and you'll always maintain visual contact with game action with this basketball dribbling fundamental. If you're dribbling with your right hand, slide your hand to the outside of the ball as you put your weight on your right foot. Flick the ball behind your back above the back of your knee and across the back of your thigh as you move your left foot forward. Catch the ball with your left hand and continue dribbling. Make sure to get your left leg forward so the ball has room to come under your left hand for a smooth transition.

8) Pull-Back Dribble
This will give you space you're double-teamed or the defender tries to run and jump at you. Retreat two steps back as you use the control dribble. Use a step-slide movement by pushing off your front foot and sliding back with your rear foot. As always, keep your head up and keep dribbling until you can pass it off.

9) Between-the-Legs Dribble
basketball dribbling This works well when you're being overplayed. If you're dribbling with your right hand, keep the ball low and switch it to your left hand. Bounce the ball through your legs with a quick flick of your wrist, fingers and lower arm.

How to Dribble a Basketball Between the Legs


source : http://www.basketball-plays-and-tips.com/basketball-dribbling.html