How to Get Better at Shooting the Basketball at Home

Keeping up on your shooting game is essential to growing as a basketball player. When at camp, in practice or during games, coaches and teammates make sure everyone's shooting game is on target. However, practicing shooting exercises at home can improve your shooting game even in the offseason.

Things You'll Need

• Basketball
• Basketball hoop
• Measuring tape
• Sidewalk chalk

Instructions

Around the World

1. Measure four feet from the base of the basketball hoop to the right, left and straight out in front.

2. Mark the spots with sidewalk chalk. From each spot, measure another four feet outward. Continue this until there is no more driveway or pavement to mark.

3. Start at the closest mark to the right of the hoop. Shoot the basketball. When the shot is made, advance clockwise to the next chalk mark.

4. Continue shooting, trying to make every shot at every chalk mark. The difficulty of each shot will increase after each shot is made.

5. If a shot is missed, the game has to be started over at the very first chalk mark.

Laying Down

1. Lay down on the floor.

2. Bring the basketball to your chest, and raise the ball to just above your nose.

3. Position the ball correctly. For right-handers, the right hand should be under the ball, and the left hand touching the side of the ball as a guide. For left-handers, the left hand should be under the ball, and the right hand slightly touching the side of the ball as a guide.

4. "Shoot" the ball into the air. If the shot is perfect, it will go straight up and fall right back into your hands.

5. Practice this while listening to music or watching TV. Continuing to do this will help perfect your shot for game time.

References

• Coaches Home

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Basketball drills and plays