Shooting Practice: How to Elevate Your Game

You’ve probably heard it a thousand times—”shooters shoot.” But what separates a good shooter from a great one? It’s more than just putting in hours at the gym. It’s about intentional practice, discipline, and mastering your form. Whether you’re just starting out or already climbing the ranks, refining your shooting can transform your game. Let’s break down a shooting practice that will set you apart from the competition and give you the edge you need to hit your goals—whether that’s making the varsity squad, getting scouted, or increasing your game-time performance.

Warm-Up: Start Strong, Finish Strong

Before you even think about launching deep threes, you’ve got to prepare your body and mind. Begin with 10 minutes of dynamic stretching. Focus on loosening up your hips, shoulders, and ankles—key areas that are crucial for your shooting mechanics. Then, transition to form shooting from close range. Here’s where you lock in on the fundamentals: follow-through, balance, and footwork. Shooting from close range is not just for beginners—it’s for pros, too. It helps develop muscle memory and builds the confidence needed to extend your range.

Spot Shooting: Repetition is Key

After your warm-up, it’s time to get into the flow. Move to five spots around the perimeter—corners, wings, and top of the key. At each spot, take 10 shots. These aren’t rushed shots; they are focused, game-speed shots. Imagine you’re in the middle of a game with defenders closing in. Repetition builds muscle memory, but game-like intensity builds winners. Don’t just count makes and misses—track your progress over time. Knowing your stats will push you to improve and set new goals.

Catch-and-Shoot: Timing is Everything

One of the most lethal skills any player can have is the ability to knock down shots off the catch. Whether you’re running off screens or catching passes in transition, mastering the catch-and-shoot will make you a threat on the floor. Here’s where it gets real: take 50 shots from various spots on the floor, using a partner or a rebounding machine to simulate real game situations. This drill will sharpen your reaction time, balance, and follow-through. The more you can simulate game situations, the more natural your shot will become under pressure.

Off-the-Dribble Shooting: Be Unstoppable

You’ve got to be more than just a spot-up shooter. To be an all-around offensive threat, your pull-up game needs to be deadly. Work on 30 shots off the dribble, mixing in dribble pull-ups, step-backs, and even side-steps. Whether you’re attacking off a pick-and-roll or isolating on the wing, these shots will allow you to create space and score when defenders are locked in. Mix it up—go from mid-range to three-point range. A shooter that can create their own shot is a nightmare for defenders.

Free Throws: Finish What You Started

Everyone talks about the glory of a three-point shot, but free throws win games. You know it, and I know it. Set a goal of making 50 free throws, and track your progress each time. Focus on your routine—breathing, rhythm, and follow-through. You can have the best moves on the court, but if you can’t hit free throws, you’re leaving points behind. And trust me, when it’s crunch time, free throws are the difference between winning and losing.

Why You Can’t Skip This

Think about this: every great shooter in the league got to where they are because of one thing—discipline. There’s no shortcut. These drills will transform you from being a “streaky” shooter into a consistent, reliable scorer. Every rep you put in is a deposit towards your future success. But if you skip these steps, you’ll keep falling short when it matters most. Do you want to be the player teams rely on in the clutch? Then you need to commit to this process. It’s not about how many hours you spend in the gym—it’s about the quality of those hours.

Take the Shot—Right Now

This practice plan isn’t just a routine—it’s your blueprint for success. If you’re not doing this, someone else is, and they’re getting ahead of you. Don’t miss out on the chance to take your game to the next level. Start today, put in the work, and watch how quickly your confidence grows.