Master the Art of Shooting a Ball: 7 Proven Techniques to Improve Your Accuracy

Let me tell you something I’ve learned after years of coaching and playing: shooting a basketball isn't just about talent; it's a craft. A precise, repeatable art form that separates the good from the great, and frankly, it’s what decides games when the pressure is on. I was just looking at the recent PVL conference standings, where PLDT secured its playoff spot alongside Cignal, with two more quarterfinal seats up for grabs. It got me thinking—those final, high-stakes knockout rounds for the remaining four spots? They’ll be won by teams whose players can deliver under pressure, whose shooting accuracy holds steady when everything is on the line. That’s not luck. That’s mastered technique. So, whether you're a weekend warrior or an aspiring pro, improving your shot is the single most impactful thing you can do for your game. Here are seven proven techniques that have worked for me and countless players I've trained.

First, and I can't stress this enough, is your base. Your feet are the foundation of everything. A staggered stance, shoulder-width apart, with your shooting-side foot slightly forward—this isn't just a suggestion, it's non-negotiable. It creates balance and aligns your body toward the basket. I see so many young players with their feet squared or too close together; it kills their power and consistency. From that stable base, the power flows upward. Your legs generate about 70% of the force in a shot. A smooth, coordinated dip and extension of your knees and ankles is what gives the ball its necessary trajectory. A flat shot is a low-percentage shot. I always tell my players to feel like they're sitting back slightly into the shot, then rising up with force. It should feel athletic, not stiff.

Now, let's talk about the grip and the set point. The ball should rest on your fingertips and the pads of your hand, with a small, consistent gap between your palm and the ball—enough to slide a pencil through. Your guide hand rests gently on the side; its only job is to steady the ball until the moment of release. Any pushing or interference from that guide hand is a recipe for sideways spin and missed shots. The set point, where you bring the ball before launching it, is personal but crucial. For me, I prefer it just above my eyebrow, in my line of sight to the hoop. Whether you shoot from your forehead or higher, consistency is key. Find your spot and own it. Every single time. The release itself is a thing of beauty when done right. It's a full extension of your elbow, followed by a relaxed, snapping motion of your wrist and fingers. Your follow-through should look like you're reaching into a cookie jar on a high shelf—fingers pointed down, wrist floppy. This backspin you create is what gives the shot a soft touch. A ball with proper backspin has a better chance of bouncing kindly on the rim, and in close games, those friendly bounces are everything.

Targeting is another subtle but game-changing technique. Don't just look at "the hoop." Pick a specific spot. I'm a big proponent of aiming for the back of the rim or the small metal hook inside it. By focusing on a tiny target, you sharpen your brain's aim. Your peripheral vision will handle the rest. And then there's the arc. Through motion-capture analysis, we know the optimal shot arc is around 45 degrees. A higher arc gives the ball a larger entry angle into the cylinder, effectively making the basket bigger. A flat line-drive shot has almost no margin for error. To practice this, I have players shoot over a high obstacle, like a teammate holding a hand up, to ingrain that necessary parabola.

Finally, the two pillars that tie all this together: repetition and game simulation. Muscle memory is built through thousands of correct repetitions, not a hundred haphazard ones. Structured practice, focusing on one element at a time, is how you build a reliable shot. But here’s where many falter—practicing game speed and game fatigue. Your beautiful set shot means nothing if you can't hit it after sprinting the length of the court, with a defender closing in, and your heart rate at 180. This is directly relevant to that PVL knockout round scenario. Those "bottom four" teams fighting for survival need players who have practiced exhausted, off-balance, and under simulated pressure. Drill your moves at full speed. Add conditioning to your shooting drills. Practice the shot you'll actually take in a game, not just the comfortable, stationary one.

In the end, mastering the art of shooting is a lifelong pursuit. It's about marrying biomechanics with mental fortitude. Watching teams like PLDT and Cignal secure their spots early is a lesson in consistency—the product of daily, disciplined work on fundamentals like these. The teams that survive the knockout will be those whose players have automated these techniques so thoroughly that even under duress, the form holds. The ball leaves the fingertips with the same steady backspin, the same confident arc. Start with your feet, flow through your body, and finish with your fingertips. Trust the work you've put in. That’s the secret. It’s not magic; it’s method. And it’s the difference between watching the playoffs and deciding them.