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Basketball Tips - Individual Shooting Work-Out

By Dr. James Gels, From the Coach’s Clipboard Basketball Playbook
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This is an individual shooting work-out that you do on your own. Make sure you are using good shooting form, getting your feet set, good balance, no drifting sideways, etc. Shoot game-style jump-shots, not flat-footed shots that you will never actually get in a game.

See this video (courtesy of Tom Nordland):



Spin the ball back to yourself and rebound all shots. With every miss, rebound and keep shooting until you put it in the basket. We start with 15 shooting spots.

Basketball shooting work-out

  • Start on either side down low about five feet from the basket, just outside the block (spot #1). Make 5 shots and then move to the opposite side and make 5 more there (spot #2).

  • Move directly in front of the basket, five feet from the hoop (spot #3), and make 5 more shots.

  • Still just five feet from the basket, move diagonally on a 45 degree angle (spot #4). Make 5 shots using the glass. Then repeat this on the other side (spot #5).

  • Make 5 free-throws

  • Now repeat the 5-spots drill above but at a distance of 8-10 feet, for each of the 5 shooting spots. Make 5 shots at each spot (spots 6 - 10 in the diagram).

  • Make 5 free-throws

  • Repeat the 5-spots drill at a distance of 12 feet for all 5 spots, making 5 shots at each spot (spots 11 - 15 in the diagram). As you get further from the hoop, you do not have to use the glass on the 45 degree shots.

Basketball shooting work-out

  • Make 5 free-throws

  • Next, starting in the free throw circle, spin the ball back to yourself, catch it, and take one dribble right followed by a jump shot (diagram B). Make 10 shots. Repeat this with one dribble to the left with a jump shot, making 10 shots.

  • Make 5 free-throws

  • Now start at the top of the keep (3-point arc). Spin the ball back to yourself, one dribble right - jump shot. Make 10. Then make 10 going to your left.

  • Make 5 free-throws

Keep a record of your shooting each day. You should gradually see improvement in your shooting percentage (percentage = number of shots made divided by number of shots your actually took). If you are not seeing improvement over a few weeks, have your shooting coach check your shooting form.