How Many Shots to Take (Per Day) to be a Better Basketball Shooter
In basketball, having a deadly, precise, and accurate shot can be the difference between a won game and a lost one. And as basketball players, we are always looking to perfect our shot. One way to perfect your shot is to, quite simply, practice your shooting drills.
However, have you ever wondered how many shots you should take per day to be a better basketball shooter? Below, we’re going to discuss the ideal, and perhaps minimum, number of shot attempts you should be taking day-in and day-out to practice and better your basketball shot.
The Short Answer
The short answer is that if you are looking to become a better basketball player and shooter, you should look to take a minimum of 250 shots per day.
These shots do not have to be done in one practice setting and can be spaced throughout the day.
However, for consistency’s sake and the sake of repetition, it is preferred and ideal to segment and divide the number of shots taken to approximately 50 per round.
Not only is 50-shots a relatively easy number of shots to attempt but it is also an easy number to remember and to keep track of. While attempting all 250 shots in one sitting is admirable, you may lose track of the number of shots you’ve taken and the number of shots you made.
How to Practice Your Basketball Shot
While 250 shot attempts per day is an ideal number, it is important to not get lost in numbers.
Although you should attempt as many shots as possible per day to improve your shooting ability, it is more important to take shots utilizing proper form, technique, and fundamentals.
Taking, and practicing, poor shot form will not only harm you in real-game situations but can also lead to a variety of arm, elbow, and hand injuries. Therefore, while you should attempt to shoot the full 250 shots, you should only do so once your form is perfected.
How to Shoot a Basketball Properly (and Perfectly) Every Time
The basketball shot is one of the deadliest weapons an offensive player can deploy. It can catch a defender off-guard, can break the opposing team’s streak, and can be the nail in the coffin at the end of the game. A clutch shot at the end of the game can also be a direct blow to the opposing team’s confidence and morale.
But learning how to shoot effectively, and to do so with every shot, takes practice.
When it comes to learning how to shoot a basketball properly and perfectly, simply follow these steps outlined below.
Begin with your stance. You should keep your feet no further than shoulder width apart and they should be slightly staggered. In addition, you should keep your shooting foot, that is the foot that is aligned with your shooting hand, slightly ahead of your non-shooting foot.
With proper stance, you should also have your shoulders, hips, and elbows aligned to the basket. This will make the shot easier and give you more direction as to where you should shoot the ball.
While in a shooting stance, never keep your knees locked. Doing so will not only lead to a higher chance of you falling but also won’t give you the force from your lower body to propel the shot.
As you begin your shot attempt, keep your body turned to the air and jump forward with the ball.
Speaking of the ball, you should also ensure that the ball is properly positioned for a shot. Holding the ball down by your waist, your hands should be holding the ball neatly and snugly.
Lift the ball up near your face, with your dominant hand slightly cupping the underbody of the ball. Your non-dominant hand should maintain control of the ball and keep it aligned to the basket.
Once in a shooting motion, focus on the basket or backboard where you want to shot to land. You may opt directly for the rim or the backboard for a bank shot.
As you release, flick your dominant hand’s wrist with the ball and maintain follow-through by keeping your arm in the air as the ball floats towards the rim.
Land squarely on your feet. Watch where the ball lands and either hustle to grab the offensive rebound or back to a defensive stance. Ideally, you will have time to get back on defense with a made shot.
Where to Practice Your Shot
When it comes to practicing your shot on a daily basis, you will want to do so on a court or with a basketball rim that is similar and comparable to one that you will face during a live game.
However, also practicing on double-rims can be helpful to your overall game due to the increased difficulty in making a basket on a double-rim.
Not only should the rim be comparable, but it should also have a comparable backboard.
In addition, be sure to only practice your shot on a rim that is properly positioned to a regulatory height. Typically, this will be ten feet off the ground.
The reasons you should only practice on a rim, backboard, and regulation sized height hoop is because doing so will better prepare you for an actual game.
If you practice on a hoop that is vastly different from the one used in a regulation game, you will be putting yourself at a disadvantage come game time.
Where to Practice Your Shot on the Court
Perhaps the most important aspect of shooting 250 shots per day is understanding where to take those shots.
On an open court, you have a plethora of options when it comes to a shooting position. However, practicing your shot means taking those shots from a variety of different spots.
Ideally, you should look to mix-it up during your shooting practice. Dividing 250 shots by 5 gives you 50-shots per spot.
Look to start at the free-throw line, moving then to the wings of the court within the two-point shot perimeter, before finally moving to the three-point line.
As you continue to practice and keep a tally of your made shots, see where your most missed shot opportunities are coming from. Is it at the free-throw line or the corner three?
Wherever it may be, double-down your shooting attempts from that location until you start hitting 70-80% of those shot attempts.