How To Make Long Basketball Shots

Learning how to make long basketball shots takes a great deal of practice and dedication. You essentially have to train your entire body to work together to make long basketball shots. You’ll spend a lot of time working on your shooting form in order to make long basketball shots. Not even Michael Jordan knew how to make long basketball shots through instincts alone. He had to practice just like anyone else. So, if you want to shoot the lights out with your long basketball shots, you’ll have to shoot until the lights go out. Here’s how to shoot long basketball shots correctly. Though everything is being described in a step by step process, when you actually do shoot the ball, it should be done in one fluid motion.

1. Holding the ball. You can’t make long basketball shots without the proper form on your jumpshot. Your shooting hand should holding the ball, with your fingers spread. Your guide, or off hand should be on the side of the ball to help push the ball in the right direction when you shoot it. So, if you shoot with your right hand, the fingers of your right hand should be spread over the ball. The ball should be held slightly to the left of your belly button. Your left hand should be supporting the ball on the side.
2. Cocking the ball. Raise the ball up, while still holding it as described before, towards the sky. Your shooting hand should be firmly under the ball. Fingers spread. The elbow of your shooting hand should be directly under the ball. Push the ball upward.
3. Jumping. In order to shoot long basketball shots you need to jump while shooting. Make sure your legs are shoulder length apart to give you a good base for jumping. Quickly bend and thrust your knees pushing off the ground. This should be done simultaneously while cocking the ball as described before.
4. Releasing the ball. You don’t release the ball until you reach the very peak of your jump. Timing is everything. While jumping, you should be pushing the ball up as described earlier. By the time you reach the peak of your jump, you need to push the ball off of your fingers towards the basket in a flicking motion. Remember to keep your form as described earlier. The guide hand should be helping to lead the ball straight in the right direction. When flicking the ball, point your shooting fingers in the direction that you want the ball to go. That’s how you shoot a long basketball shot.
5. Practice. Reading this piece isn’t going to show you how to shoot the ball. You have to get out there and practice. Remember, your jumpshot is about timing and fluid motion. You have to practice the mechanics of jumping and shooting until you get your personal timing down. You also have to learn to judge exactly how much strength you’ll need to use in order to shoot the ball farther and farther. The only way to do that is to practice… constantly. Focus on your shot form first. Get comfortable with releasing the ball at shorter distances, then gradually move back. Eventually you’ll be bombing the basket from three point range.