How to Shoot a Basketball with the Left Hand

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This exercise can be done to strengthen your inside shot with your left hand or non-dominant hand. The ability to shoot a short jumper with your non-dominant hand can often be a game-winning shot or the chance to over take a defender. By strengthening the skills of your left hand with both dribbling and shooting, you leave your defender wondering which way you are going to go and doesn't allow them to trap you as easily.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

10-foot hoop
Open space such as a gym, driveway or open court
Basketball
Space on the floor
Basketball

Learn to Shoot Left-Handed

Step1

Perfect the left-handed layup. If you can do this without thinking, it means you can take a step back and further strengthen your shot.

Step2

Start at the bottom of the key slightly to the left of the hoop. Keep your right hand behind your back and start shooting with your left hand. This should feel slightly easy as it is almost the same motion as a layup.

Step3

When this starts to feel natural, add your right hand to guide the ball. When this starts to feel natural, add a jump stop shot at the bottom of the key. Make sure to keep your left hand as your dominate hand.

Step4

Continue practicing this until you feel you can shoot a close shot with your left hand during a game.

Step5

To continue strengthen this shot, step farther back and start at Step 2 again. This will allow you to start making hook shots or jump shots in the key.

Get More Left-Handed Shooting Practice

Step1

Laying on your back, bring the ball up to a shot position with your left hand.

Step2

Keeping your elbow in and directly above your shoulder, extend your arm and flick your wrist as if you'd be shooting.

Step3

To see if you are shooting the ball correctly, if the ball has a backspin it means it came off your hand correctly.

Tips & Warnings

Start small and close. You'll be more accurate when you are closer to the hoop then when lobbing up a shot.
If you have a stubborn right hand that likes to overtake the shot, literally tie it behind your back.
Use this to practice when you can't get to the gym or a hoop.

Comments

CoachKerry said

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on 1/24/2008 Great article. Thanks for sharing. It is awesome to see a player that uses both hands. I was recently at a youth game where a right-handed girl had the ball at the top of the key...she faked her defender to the right and dribbled with her left hand for a lay-up with her left hand. The defender was fooled because she assumed that she would go to her right. Also, the help defense did not have a chance to block the shot as she shot it with her left hand, protecting the ball with the right side of her body.
I hope a lot of young players read this article and learn to use both hands.