2 Drills to Increase Your Basketball Shot Quickness and Accuracy

2 Drills to Increase Your Basketball Shot Quickness 

and Accuracy

by Michael Coleman

Originally Published On: www.Stack.com

The most important part of shooting is being ready to shoot before you catch the ball. This requires a focus on footwork and form. You might be able to slowly aim and hit shots during practice, but you don't have that luxury during games. (Watch J.J. Reddick hone his shooting skills.)

Below are two shooting drills, courtesy of Coach Sarah Kirk (Bucklin High School) and the Kansas Basketball Academy Foundation. Both are designed to improve your shooting form and accuracy at game speed.

Form to Fast

Efficiency is key when it comes to being fast. If you have wasted movements, like swaying side to side, you are wasting power and energy that should be used to propel you forward. So, when doing sprints, remember these seven tips:

• • Start form shooting in the middle of the paint until you make five baskets
  • Move to the right block (low post) and form shoot off the backboard until you make five baskets
  • Move to the left block (low post) and form shoot off the backboard until you make five baskets
  • Move to the right elbow (corner of free throw line), catch a pass and shoot at game speed until you make five baskets
  • Move to the left elbow (corner of free throw line), catch a pass and shoot at game speed until you make five baskets
  • Move to left wing, three to five feet inside the three point line, catch a pass and shoot at game speed until you make five baskets
  • Move to right wing, three to five feet inside the three point line, catch a pass and shoot at game speed until you make five baskets
  • Cool down by shooting 10 free throws with a goal of making eight out of 10

Drive and Shoot

Set up cones three to five feet inside the three-point line at the corners, wings and top of the key. Make three shots at each station.

• • Start behind the three-point line (right corner), take three hard dribbles to the right of the cone and shoot. Repeat to the left.
  • Start behind the three-point line (right wing), take three hard dribbles to the right of the cone and shoot. Repeat to the left.
  • Start behind the three-point line (top of the key), take three hard dribbles to the right of the cone and shoot. Repeat to the left.
  • Start behind the three-point line (left wing), take three hard dribbles to the right of the cone and shoot. Repeat to the left.
  • Start behind the three-point line (left corner), take three hard dribbles to the right of the cone and shoot. Repeat to the left.
  • Cool down by shooting 10 free throws with a goal of making eight out of 10

Coaching Points:
Do not drop elbow when shooting // Shoot at the top of your jump // Follow through with your fingertips // Use proper footwork throughout drill

Photo: Middletownjournal.com

About the Expert

Michael Coleman - Michael Coleman is the co-founder of the Kansas Basketball Academy Foundation (KBAF), a non-profit organization whose mission is "to provide high quality workouts and exposition opportunities for student athletes to gain recognition by post-secondary athletic programs." He trains athletes for basketball, speed and agility through...