Best Drones for Basketball Players

Drones, in recent years, have not only become more popular but also more affordable for the general populace. Once seen as a novelty item meant for the wealthy and for professional photographers, drones have become more mainstream and can be purchased for as cheap as a couple of a hundred dollars.

However, the idea of utilizing a drone for basketball use may seem like an odd one. After all, what exactly is the point of utilizing or needing a drone for your basketball needs?

Below, we are not only going to review the best drones for basketball players but we are also going to review how purchasing a drone can make you a better basketball player. And while purchasing a drone isn’t exactly necessary, if you have some disposable income and are looking to further your basketball talents, then a drone is a great option to do so.

What is a Drone?

For those of you who may not have a clear understanding of what a drone is, we’ve included a quick description of what a drone is below. Understanding what a drone is will further help in understanding how utilizing one for basketball can be beneficial.

Drones, traditionally, have been referred to as unmanned aerial vehicles or UAV’s. These aircrafts do not require a pilot, crew, or passengers to be operated. Rather, the aircraft is controlled by an operator on the ground, with sensors and cameras attached to the drone to allow for remote control of the aircraft.

Originally developed for use in the military, drones first began entering the commercial and recreational space in the late 1990’s and have become more affordable, popular, and easier to control over the last two decades.

Similarly, amateurs in several fields, including photography, agriculture, real estate, and insurance, utilize drones for more complete, aerial footage of the subject they are looking to view and are better able to have a bird-eye view of the subject with a drone flying overhead.

How Can a Drone Be Useful for Basketball?

While many basketball players dismiss the idea of utilizing a drone for their basketball needs, it should not be dismissed so quickly. Rather, drones provide a plethora of useful and real-world use cases that can assist in a basketball players development and success on the court.

Below, we’ve listed some of the top reasons why utilizing a drone can be useful for basketball and basketball players.

• Record every shot – we’ve previously discussed the importance of recording every shot you take in a basketball practice or personal shoot around. One of the main reasons you will want to record all your basketball shots, particularly during practice and while you practice your shot, is to have comparison photos and videos.  While you may feel that your shot has improved, only by having previous shots and videos of you shooting around can you verifiably prove that. And with a drone, you will be able to have a better angled view of your shot and shooting form, allowing you to more accurately pinpoint where you need to improve.

• Perfect for a basketball resume – a basketball resume is an essential piece of information that up-and-coming basketball players utilize to showcase their basketball skills and expertise. Typically sent to college coaches and NBA scouts, a basketball resume can better showcase and explain your accolades and basketball skills. By utilizing a drone, you will be better able to record shots, dunks, and highlight plays to include in your basketball resume. In addition, with many drones shooting near professional quality photos, you’ll also look more presentable and professional in your basketball resume.

• Great for highlight videos – times have changed and finding the “next big player” can happen much more organically then in previous decades. Nowadays, anyone can post their highlight videos on social media platforms in the hopes that it reaches a prominent basketball coach or scout. As such, if you are looking to upload your own highlight videos, utilizing a drone to do so will not only look more impressive but will also look more professional.

Top 3 Drones for Basketball Use

If you’ve decided to purchase a drone for your basketball needs, we’ve listed our top three recommendations below. Of course, we also recommend trying a few out before making a final decision to ensure you are comfortable with the control mechanisms and quality of the photos and videos.

• DJI Mini SE – the DJI brand is the best brand for amateur drone enthusiasts. A bit pricier than some of the other options, this drone is known for its quality, high resolution images and videos, and lightweight. Extremely capable once in the air, the DJI Mini SE can withstand higher levels of wind speed, so if you are planning on utilizing it outside it should not be an issue. However, our only complaint with this particular model is that the flight time with a fully charged battery is just 30-minutes.

• Holy Stone HS720 – personally, we have not tried the Holy Stone drone brand and have generally stuck with the DJI brand. However, in our research, we’re seeing that Holy Stone is really making an impact in the space and providing high-quality drones for amateur and professional use. With an attached 4K camera, 52 minutes of flight time, and GPS return home, the Holy Stone HS720 really should not be overlooked. But what we really like about this drone for basketball use is its optical flow positioning, which allows for the drone to fly overhead and focus on a single object.

• DEERC D20 Mini Drone – if you’re looking for an affordable and capable drone, then the DEERC D20 Mini Drone is your best bet. Capable of taking HD photos and videos, the drone is easy to control and provides you with the basic functionalities of a drone to meet your needs. That is, you’re not going to get all the latest-and-greatest features, but if you just want to get the job done, then DEERC does it well.