Basketball Shooting Drills

Basketball shooting drills determine how basketball players develop accuracy, consistency, and perfection in shooting at all levels. 

The shooting drills in this blog provide a practice plan for your athletes to build muscle memory with repeat movements, preparing them for gameplay.

Benefits of Practicing Shooting Drills

Mastering shooting drills offers several benefits, which include:

• Better Accuracy: The more regularly athletes practice, the more consistently they can hit the target.
• Improved Confidence: Confident athletes are more concentrated and put more effort into the game.
• Gamed Readiness: Drills allow you to make game-like scenarios and perform in pressure situations.
• Injury Prevention: Proper shooting mechanics lowers strain on the joints and muscles.

What Comprises a Good Shooting Drill

Good shooting drills have some things in common:

• Footwork: Good positioning provides balance and stability on shots.
• Balance: A stable core and steady stance prevent rushed or off-target shots.
• Follow-Through: The finishing motion of a shot directly impacts accuracy.

Fundamental Basketball Shooting Drills

1. Basics Basketball Shooting Drill: BEEF Drill

• What is it: The BEEF drill is the basis of basketball shooting form, it focuses on
  • Balance
  • Elbow alignment
  • Eyes on the target
  • Follow-through
    

• How to do it: Athletes should be stationed close to the basket, maintain a balanced position, place their shooting elbow under the ball, have their eyes on the rim and release with follow-through hand.
  

• Why it helps: This drill instills muscle memory and proper shooting form by isolating and reinforcing core elements of shooting mechanics.

2. Basics Basketball Shooting Drill: Form Shooting Drill

• What is it: A close-range drill to work on shooting mechanics without external distractions.

• How to do it: Stand a few feet from the basket and practice shooting with one hand while the other hand lightly guides the ball. Focus on a soft touch and proper arc.

• Why it helps: Strengthens shooting fundamentals by ensuring form consistency and improving touch and accuracy.

Basketball Shooting Drills for Beginners

Beginners need to concentrate on confidence-building drills that focus heavily on correct form.

1. Beginner Basketball Shooting Drill: Spot-Up Shooting

• What is it: A stationary shooting drill where basketball players practice from pre-selected spots on the court.

• How to do it: Choose five spots around the key, including corners, wings, and the top of the key. Take 5-10 shots from each spot, paying close attention to form and focus.

• Why it helps: It develops comfort and confidence when shooting from in-game high-frequency positions.

2. Beginner Basketball Shooting Drill: Wall Shooting

• What is it: A mechanics-only drill where basketball players shoot at a wall without concerns about distance or scoring.

• How to do it: Stand 5-10 feet from a wall. Focus on shooting the basketball with proper form and releasing the ball so it arcs high and lands softly against the wall.

• Why it helps: Refines shooting form and mechanics without distractions, helping beginners establish muscle memory.

Intermediate Basketball Shooting Drills

Now, intermediate players can add some movement and game-like situations to their practices.

1. Intermediate Basketball Shooting Drill: Close-Out Shooting

• What is it: It simulates defenders rushing to contest a basketball shot.

• How to do it: A partner plays the role of a defender, sprinting towards their opponent from a few feet away as they catch the ball and take a quick shot.

• Why it helps: It builds confidence and composure to shoot under defensive pressure.

2. Intermediate Basketball Shooting Drill: Catch and Shoot Drills

• What is it: This is a drill that focuses on shooting right after receiving a pass.

• How to do it: A partner/coach passes an athlete the ball from all angles. Athletes will catch the ball, square up, and shoot quickly.

• Why it helps: Improves player reaction time and shooting rhythm to convert the pass into a quick shot.

Advanced Basketball Shooting Drills

The next level is advanced basketball drills to push players and simulate real game conditions.

1. Advanced Basketball Shooting Drill: Off-the-Dribble Shooting

• What is it: Practising basketball shooting combined with dribbling.

• How to do it: Make a crossover, between-the-legs, or behind-the-back dribble, square up, then take a jump shot. Switch this up with different combos.

• Why it helps: It creates the ability for basketball players to make their own shots and score in real-game situations.

2. Advanced Basketball Shooting Drill: Step-Back Drills

• What is it: Trains a basketball player to create space for their shot under the pressure of defenders.

• How to do it: Dribble towards a defender of an imaginary line, plant lead foot, step back to create space, and shoot.

• Why it helps: Improves balance, footprint, and how to shoot the ball under contact with a game on the line.

Team Shooting Drills

Team-oriented drills foster collaboration and game chemistry.

1. Basketball Team Shooting Drill: Shooting Relays

• What is it: A competitive shooting team drill for accuracy under the pressures of time.

• How to do it: Split the team into groups. Each player in a group shoots from a certain spot. The team with the most shots made within a given time wins.

• Why it helps: Encourages teamwork, focus, and shooting consistency under pressure.

2. Basketball Team Shooting Drill: Five-Spot Shooting

• What is it: Players will rotate through five positions on the court in this shooting drill.

• How to do it: Arrange five stations, or corners, wings, and the top of the key. The players will go to each spot for a shot and then rotate after each attempt.

• Why it helps: It will build shooting versatility and consistency from all areas of the court.

Drills to Improve Shooting Accuracy

Perfecting accuracy will take time, repetition, and concentration.

1. Accuracy Basketball Shooting Drill: Target Shooting

• What is it: A drill that focuses on precision by aiming at smaller rim sections.

• How to do it: Place a mark on, or simply envision a portion of the rim. Attempt to hit that target precisely with each shot.

• Why it helps: Sharpens focus, accuracy, and precision.

2. Accuracy Basketball Shooting Drill: One-Handed Shooting

• What is it: Emphasizes shooting mechanics and hand strength.

• How to do it: Players should shoot with their dominant hand while placing the other behind their back. Go for a soft release and follow-through.

• Why it helps: Strengthens the shooting hand and fine-tunes shooting form.

Shooting Speed Drills

Quick release makes the difference between scoring a basket or not in fast-paced games.

1. Shooting Speed Basketball Drill: Quick Release Drill

• What is it: Develops the ability to release the ball quickly after catching it.

• How to do it: Have a partner pass their partner the ball. Catch it, square up and release the shot as quickly as possible.

• Why it helps: This enhances shooting speed, which is important in fast-paced game situations.

2. Shooting Speed Basketball Drill: Rapid Fire Shooting

• What is it: This is a high-repetition drill for building endurance and shooting rhythm. 

• How to do it: Players will shoot continuously from one spot for a pre-determined amount of time, such as 1 minute. A partner or coach rebounds the ball and passes it back to them. 

• Why it helps: It will build stamina and consistency under repetitive shooting conditions.

Three-Point Shooting Drills

For players seeking to extend their range, these drills are indispensable.

1. Three-point Basketball Shooting Drill: Corner Threes

• What is it: This focuses on perfecting basketball players’ shots from the corner three-point line.

• How to do it: Take repeated three-point shots from both corners of the court. 

• Why it helps: Sharpens accuracy and confidence in a high-value scoring zone.

2. Three-point Basketball Shooting Drill: Around the World

• What is it: A progressive drill that covers all three-point positions.

• How to do it: Shoot from five designated three-point spots (corners, wings, and top of the key), progressing to the next after making a shot.

• Why it helps: Builds mental toughness and focus under game-like pressure.

Free-Throw Shooting Drills

Basketball free throws are for accuracy and critical for scoring during high-pressure moments.

1. Free-throw Basketball Shooting Drill: Pressure Free-Throws

• What is it: Simulates the pressure of high-stakes free throws.

• How to do it: Set a scenario (e.g., down by one point with two free throws left). Players will take free throws,

• Why it helps: Builds mental toughness and focus under game-like pressure.

2. Free-throw Basketball Shooting Drill: 21 Consecutive Free Throws

• What is it: A consistency-focused basketball drill where players aim to make 21 in a row. 

• How to do it: Take 21 consecutive free throws; if a player misses, they must start over.

• Why it helps: Develop focus, patience, and a consistent free-throw routine.

How SkillShark Elevates Shooting Drills

SkillShark is an innovative tool that simplifies athlete evaluations by providing robust performance tracking and reporting. With its user-friendly platform, coaches can assess players during beginner shooting drills in basketball and effectively track individual progress. Additionally, SkillShark can seamlessly generate comprehensive player reports to guide skill development.

1. Accurate Performance Tracking

SkillShark also allows coaches to track shooting percentage, time to release, and even accuracy from various zones. Detailed tracking provides insights to help players capitalize on their strengths and improve their weak areas.

2. Custom Evaluation Templates

Coches can add custom criteria to their evaluation template, like shooting under pressure, contested shots, or timed shooting challenges.

3. Real-Time Insights

With SkillShark, coaches can gain immediate player insights after an evaluation. This enables coaches to make quick adjustments to positions and rotations on the court.

4. Player Report Cards

SkillShark provides in-depth analytics and reporting, giving basketball players, coaches, and parents a clear picture of how they are improving their shooting skills over time

Conclusion

Basketball shooting drills are the foundation of a player’s skillset. From foundational practices to advanced techniques, applying a range of drills can completely change how they shoot. The key is practice, consistency, and focus; patience will be rewarded with long-term results.