Basic Fundamentals of Shooting - The Beef Method
Balance
Feet should be shoulder-width apart, shooting leg slightly in
front of the other (if player is right handed this is the right
leg ). Knees should be bent as the power from the shot starts
with the straightening of the legs.
Eyes On The Target
The shooter should focus his/her eyes on the target for
the duration of the shot. Focus on the rim or if you are
shooting a bank shot, your target should be near the tip
of the box on the backboard. Players should not watch the
flight of the ball is a bad habit for shooters.
Elbow
The shooting forearm and elbow is in line to the basket.
As the elbow extends to shoot the bail, it remains in a
straight line pointing to the basket. The left hand steadies
or guides the ball on the side. The guide hand is not involved
with pushing the ball.
Follow Through
The wrist should be bent back holding the ball. Power comes
from straightening the legs, up through the body, to the
straightening elbow, the wrist flexes, with the ball rolling
off the fingertips. A nice follow through will have the
arm fully extended, wrist flexed, with fingers pointing
to the floor.
Proper "Arc" in important also. Players should be shooting up rather than at the rim. The shooter should try to drop the ball into the rim.
Coaching Tips
To teach the right mechanics or technique, have beginners start
by shooting at a target on the wall, or by standing about 10 feet
from a partner and attempting to drop the ball on their partners
head.
Once the players have the right technique, graduate
to shooting at the basket. Have them start from close in. Gradually
increase the distance of the shot as players gain more confidence.
When the basic mechanics of the shot have been mastered,
players should practice shooting at speed and with pressure to simulate
game conditions.
