Showing A Target
When a player is ready to receive a pass in spot up shooting ( 3 pt. shooting ) he or she should show a target with the hands.

Ready Position
Cole shows a ready position before receiving ball in pictures 1, 2, and 3. A ready position is where the body is somewhat erect with a break in the knees. From this position a player times the shot better and in a natural way executes other parts of the shot better.

Hands Close To Body
When showing a target the player should have his or her hands close to the body. It is a bad mistake to show target with hands too far from body before receiving ball. Pictures 1, 2, and 3. show hands close to body before receiving the ball.

Remember, by starting with hands close to body, the player will balance better and also time the shot better. He or she will also execute the over-all shot better.

Also Position Hands At Your Shooting Pocket Level
Show target ( hands ) at your shooting pocket level. Cole is showing two different levels. In picture 1 his hands are higher than in picture 2. As you can see the hands are close to the body at both pocket levels. It is very important to know your shooting pocket level for consistent 3 point shooting

Picture 3
Picture 3 is showing Cole on the opposite side of the floor showing a target with his hands close to the body before receiving the basketball.

Basketball Shooting Camps
We do a great job of teaching all the simple techniques for great 3 point shooting at our Camps. Join us this Summer for a great learning experience.
-- Coach Baumgartner

Shooting Pocket Level
This article is about the correct level the ball is positioned when in a player’s shooting pocket. We have already covered the basic beginning position of the ball and the distance the ball is from the body before it is lifted and thrust to the basket.

The 3 pictures show three different shooting pocket levels. It is very important for a player to start his or her shot with the ball positioned in the shooting pocket at the correct level before lifting it.

Timing
Starting the ball at the correct level in the shooting pocket automatically helps a player to time his or her shot correctly (releasing the ball at the correct time).

Check Out Different Levels
The 3 pictures show different levels. Your shooting pocket level might be the same as one of the three or it might be different. Check out different levels and see which level helps you to release the ball at the correct time. Remember, starting your shot at the correct level in the shooting pocket will help you to become a more consistent shooter.

Shooting Off Pass And Off Dribble
Some player have the same shooting pocket level for all shots and some have a different level for each type of shot. For example: a player can have a higher shooting pocket when shooting a 3 point shot and a lower pocket when shooting a pull-up jumper. The over-all mechanics of a player’s shot determines the shooting pocket level.

Picture 1 shows a high shooting pocket that is the level where several boys and girls start their 3 pt. shot.

Basketball Shooting Camps
We show and drill players at our basketball shooting camps on how to find the correct shooting pocket level. Players who develop correct shooting pocket techniques become much more consistent in their shooting.

-- Coach Baumgartner

Shooting Pocket At Center Of Body
It is very important that a player develop a correct shooting pocket. Pictures 1, 2, and 3 in this article are showing the shooting pocket starting basically at the center of the body. Bringing the ball to the center of the body before lifting it up through the shot line is the most common procedure used by players.

Shooting Pocket A Little Right Or Left Of Center
Some players start with the ball positioned a little right or left of center before lifting the ball up through the shot line. This is also correct.

Levels
Pictures 1, 2, and 3 also show the ball positioned at different levels before lifting it up through the shot line.

Remember, the basic beginning position of the ball (center or left or right of center), plus level and distance of ball from the body are all very important parts of a correct shooting pocket. These shooting pocket parts can vary from one player to another. It depends on how
other body parts are being used.

Correct Shooting Pocket Helps Develop A Great Shot
Since the shooting pocket is very important, we spend the time necessary at our camps to make sure each player leaves knowing what it takes to develop a correct shooting pocket. With a thorough understanding of shooting any part of shooting can be taught. That is why players can be taught to become great shooters at our basketball shooting camps.

-- Coach Baumgartner

Ball At The Correct Distance From Body Picture 1 shows the player holding the ball at the correct distance from the body before lifting the ball and thrusting it to the basket. From this ball position the arms are positioned more correctly. When the ball is positioned correctly in the shooting pocket, a player will automatically execute different parts of shooting a basketball better.

Ball Too Close To Body
The ball should not be too close to the body because this ball position jams the body. Illustration 2 shows the ball too close with the arms back. From this position it makes it very awkward for a player to execute shooting correctly.

Ball Positioned Too Far From Body
As you can see in picture 3 the ball is positioned too far from the body. From this ball position the arms are out too far making it more difficult to execute the different parts of shooting correctly.

August 2008: Gripping Correctly With Shooting Thumb

It is a very common mistake to grip incorrectly with the shooting thumb. The correct way to grip with the shooting thumb is illustrated in picture 1. In this picture the player is touching the outer half of the upper thumb pad. This is the most natural way a player can place his or her thumb on the basketball. This correct placing of the shooting thumb pad allows the player to then in a natural way also touch the pads under the fingers correctly.

Picture 2 shows the incorrect placing of the shooting thumb. As you can see the whole thumb pad is placed on the ball. This pushing directly down with the shooting thumb causes the player to not be able to put the shooting pad under the index and middle fingers on the ball. This causes less control and distance.

Picture 3 shows by correctly placing the shooting thumb pad on the ball, a player is also then able to touch the pad under the thumb which is another very popular way of gripping the basketball.

Support Thumb, Elbow, Wrist
Picture one shows the support hand positioned correctly in the shooting pocket. Remember, players can have shooting pocket positioned differently before lifting ball up through shot line.

In this first picture the support wrist is bent and in. The support elbow is out. The support thumb is up. These parts will vary some with very good shooters. It is also very important to grip correctly with the support thumb for smooth release.

Picture two shows both hands correctly positioned in the shooting pocket. Remember, players can have shooting pocket positioned differently.

Five Essentials When Using Support Parts

1. Start with support hand on side of basketball

2. Support Elbow should be out some and this will vary among players who shoot very well.

3. Support Thumb should be up.

4. Support Wrist Should be in and bent.

5. Grip correctly with support thumb

This Summer in our camps we are going to emphasize why it is so important for players to use their support arm and hand correctly. We will use great drills and techniques so the players attending camp will easily develop proper use of the support hand, elbow, wrist, and thumb. We want all players to leave camp with a "pure stroke" and using the support parts correctly is one of the essentials to reach that goal.

Photographer, Katie Wise

Shot Line and Form
The player in picture 1 is showing the ball being released in the shot line. It also shows perfect alignment and form of the shooting arm and hand on release.

Shot Line
The shot line is a little right of center for a right handed shooter and a little left of center for a left handed player.

When a player lifts the ball to thrust it to the basket he or she should bring it up through the shot line.

Checking a Player`s Shot From the Frontview
You should check a player`s shot from the front to see if he or she releases the ball in the shot line and also see if the form is correct.

Angle Of Shooting Arm
A player`s shooting mechanics will determine the angle of the shooting arm when a player releases the basketball. Picture 1 is showing the ideal angle of the shooting arm on release.

Arc On Player`s Shot
The angle of the shooting arm when releasing the basketball is the most important part in determining the arc on a player`s shot. Of course, there are other shooting mechanics which affect a player`s arc.

Acceptable Arc
When watching good and very good shooters you will often see there are differences in the arc on their shot. Some of these very good shooters will not have what is considered an ideal arc, but still shoot very well.

It is recommended that once an older player is shooting well and has "grooved his or her shot" that they not try to change the arc on their shot. Of course, the extremely flat arc will need to be corrected.