How to Improve Your Basketball Jump Shot
The purpose of this document is to inform the audience of the proper techniques
required to increase ones jump shot for the optimal accuracy. This document will break
down steps of what each area of the body should be doing while the act of a jump shot is
being performed. These areas of the body will consist of the shooting arm, none shooting
arm, shooting hand, knees, and feet. Moreover, if the audience has a basic understanding on
the game of basketball, this document will be easily understand and grasp the concepts that
are presented. This document should be no more than a guide to improve ones jump shot.
Introduction
The most commonly used shot in basketball today, the jump shot is a fundamental art form
practiced on all levels of the sport. Within the game of basketball, many different types of
jump shots have developed through the years. This list of jump shots consists of the fadeaway jump shot, where the shooter is off-balance when they jump into the air to create
space to perform a jump shot; the step-back jump shot, where the shooter uses a dribbling
maneuver to create space by backing up before they proceed to perform a jump shot; pullup jump shot, where the shooter uses a dribbling maneuver to create space by moving
forward before they proceed to perform a jump shot; or the set jump shot, where the
shooter doesnt need to create space to perform a jump shot by dribbling or jumping away
from their defender. The more accurate jump
shot is the set jump shot since no prior
movement is required which additionally will
improve consistency.
This set jump shot is an art form that
revolutionized the sport of basketball in the
1950s and 1960s with the invention of the
three-point line. This invention allowed the
offensive team to score more points than the
traditional free throw and two-point basket, so
the art form of the jump shot was needed to be
perfected to allow for basketball teams to fully
take advantage of this new invention. Those
athletes, like Kyle Korver of the Atlanta Hawks
or J.J. Redick of the Los Angeles Clippers, who
have mastered the art of the jump shot have
gone to lead very successful careers within the
sport.
The set jump shot is a technique for an
offensive player to use when his defender(s) or
the offensive player, himself, has created enough space for the offensive player to have the
ability to rise (or jump) and shoot the basketball without the defender affecting his jump
shot in anyway.
Vocabulary Terms
Offense is determined by the team who has
physical possession of the basketball.
Defense is determined by the team who does not
have possession of the basketball.
Triple Threat is the position with which the
offensive player has the basketball in a crouched
position. In this position, the offensive player has
the options of shooting, dribbling, or passing the
basketball with each option capable of being
accomplished easily.
Square Your Body is the position where the
offensive player aligns their body so that the
center of their body is linear to the basketball
hoop.
Shooting Hand is the hand that you will shoot the basketball with.
Materials
Item
Basketball
10 Foot Basketball Hoop
Quantity
1
1
Instructions
Initial Position
1. Make sure you always catch the ball in a triple threat.
2. Square your body to the basketball hoop by pivoting.
Tip: Your feet should be approximately should width apart
from each other.
Shooting Position
3. Slightly bend your knees.
4. Bring the basketball slightly over your head.
Tip: You should still be able to view the basketball hoop. If
you cannot view the basketball hoop then you should raise
the basketball higher.
5. Hold the basketball with just your fingertips.
Tip: Your fingers should be comfortably spread wide
across the basketball for security.
6. Move your elbow on your shooting arm so that your
shooting arm is aligned with your knee on your shooting
side.
Tip: Your shooting arm should be at approximately 90 for
the most accurate shot.
Release Position
7. While maintaining steps 1 through 6, jump into the air.
8. At the peak of your jump, flick your wrist with a gentle
touch releasing the basketball into the direction of the
basketball hoop.
Tip: As you release the basketball make sure the basketball
flows from your fingertips and the basketball rotates as it
flies threw the air.
Tip: Your off-shooting hand should not provide any force
to shoot the basketball. This hand serves solely as a guide
for the basketball.
9. Hold your shooting arm extended out with your wrist still
bent from releasing the basketball.
Note: This position will ensure that you do not forget to
flick your wrist and will help ensure that the basketball will
rotate in the air.
Land Position
10. After shooting the ball, land in relatively close to the
position where you initially jumped into the air.
