
In Overwatch, players can attempt to shoot a basketball into a hoop while waiting for a match to start. This can be done in the drop ship room where certain Control maps begin, such as Ilios, Lijiang Tower, and Nepal. The basketball hoop and balls are placed throughout the room, and successfully making a basket results in a horn and confetti. While it is a simple concept, executing the perfect shot can be challenging due to the complex multiplayer physics involved. Players have shared various techniques and strategies online to achieve the perfect shot, including positioning, crosshair placement, and character height considerations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Drop ship room/spaceship room where certain Control maps begin |
| Purpose | To test your lag in Overwatch |
| Difficulty | Slightly more difficult to execute |
| Achievement | Confetti rains from the ceiling and a horn goes off |
| Techniques | Line up the ball with the basket, aim at the basket, position yourself using WASD or L stick, line up your reticle, punch or shoot the basketball |
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What You'll Learn

Positioning yourself to shoot a basket
Footwork and Body Positioning:
- Position yourself comfortably on the court, with your body facing the basket. Your feet should be shoulder-width apart, providing a stable base.
- If you're on the right side of the court, position yourself so that you can aim for the top right corner of the square on the backboard. Conversely, if you're on the left side, aim for the top left corner.
- When receiving the ball, dip it to your waist or thigh level. This prepares you for the shooting motion.
Hand Placement and Grip:
- Use your dominant hand (the hand you write with) for shooting. This hand will be responsible for launching the ball.
- Position your shooting hand so that your fingertips are perpendicular to the seams of the ball. This ensures a proper grip.
- Your non-dominant hand is for guidance. If you're right-handed, your left hand should be on the side, while your right hand firmly holds the back of the ball.
Shooting Technique:
- Form a straight line from your shooting eye to the basket, with the ball in line as well. This ensures accurate aiming.
- Jump and extend your shooting arm. Release the ball just before reaching the peak of your jump, aiming directly at the basket.
- Follow through with your shooting motion. Keep your shooting arm extended and stationary for a moment after releasing the ball. This helps control the trajectory and adds a steady backspin to the ball.
- Aim for a proper arc in your shot. This is generally recommended over a straight-line trajectory.
Remember, practice is key. The more you familiarize yourself with these techniques and apply them in scrimmages or games, the better your shooting accuracy will become.
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How to line up your reticle
To line up your reticle in Overwatch, you must first access the settings. In Overwatch 2, go to the main menu and click on the Options icon (gear symbol) or press Esc to open the settings menu. Then, select the Controls tab from the top menu and scroll down to the Reticle section in the Hero & Hub settings. In the original Overwatch game, open the options menu, select the Controls tab, and navigate to the Reticle menu under the Mouse and Controller settings.
Once in the Reticle menu, you can adjust the following settings to line up your reticle:
- Shape: You can choose from a variety of shapes, including the default crosshair, a circle, a combination of a circle and crosshairs, or a simple dot. Some players prefer a small reticle with high contrast to the in-game environment, while others prefer a larger reticle or a specific shape, such as a three-bar accuracy crosshair or a circle for better focus.
- Color: Choose a color that provides strong contrast against different environments and heroes. Neon green, magenta, or cyan are popular choices among pro-level players as they stand out against both dark and bright maps. Avoid colors that may blend with the environment or heroes, such as white, black, or red.
- Thickness, Length, and Center Gap: Adjust the thickness, length, and center gap of the reticle lines to customize its appearance and improve visibility.
- Opacity: Adjust the transparency of the reticle to make it more or less prominent.
- Show Accuracy: This setting adjusts the size of your reticle in real time to indicate the "spread" of your weapon. It is generally recommended to keep this setting turned off, as a dynamic reticle size can be distracting. However, turning it on can be beneficial for certain heroes with weapons affected by spread, such as shotguns.
Experiment with different settings to find the combination that suits your preferences and playstyle. You can also customize the reticle for each individual hero to match their unique abilities and requirements.
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Using the basketballs in the original KOTH maps
In Overwatch, players can use the basketballs found in the original King of the Hill (KOTH) maps' spawns to practice their shooting skills and test their lag. The basketballs are located in the spaceship room, which is a starting area for certain Control maps. This room contains a basketball hoop and several basketballs that players can use to shoot hoops while waiting for a match to start.
To make a basket, players need to line up the ball with the basket and aim at the basket. However, it can be challenging to get a clear shot in a real game, as teammates or opponents may accidentally or intentionally knock the ball off the table or interfere with the shot. Additionally, certain character abilities, such as Lucio's right-click ability, used to be able to move or break the basketballs, making it harder to make a shot.
Players can also test their lag by punching or shooting the basketballs. The basketballs won't react until the server gives the go-ahead, as Blizzard has decided to simulate and share basketball movements across all players in a match. This feature adds a dynamic element to the game and provides an opportunity for players to test their physics knowledge.
Overall, the basketballs in the original KOTH maps offer a fun diversion for players waiting for matches to start and a way to practice their shooting skills and test their lag. With patience and practice, players can improve their chances of making impressive shots and seeing the confetti rain from the ceiling in celebration.
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Making the basketball shot with every hero
Overwatch players have been attempting to make basketball shots since the game's release in 2016. While it's a common pastime, it's not easy to execute.
To make the basketball shot with every hero in Overwatch, here are the steps you can follow:
- Positioning: Stand near the left side of the table, just in front of the ball. This position ensures that your hero's body and feet are in the right place for the shot.
- Aiming: Adjust your horizontal aim using WASD (or L stick) to centre your crosshair on the middle of the net. At the same time, ensure that the ball is centred as closely as possible on your screen.
- Height Consideration: When you know the centre point and two opposite extremes, estimate where to aim vertically based on your hero's height relative to the rest of the cast.
- Practice: With practice, you'll develop a sense of the vertical aim required for each hero.
It's important to note that heroes with melee attacks that hit to the side, like Reinhardt and Brigitte, may require additional adjustments.
Additionally, be aware of your teammates' actions, as knocking the ball off the table or destroying the room can ruin your shot.
While the above method provides a general framework, each hero may have unique considerations due to their abilities and characteristics. Experimentation and familiarity with each hero's capabilities will help you refine your technique for making basketball shots consistently.
Lastly, don't forget to enjoy the delightful touches Blizzard has added to the starting areas and maps, such as the basketballs and the interactive environment.
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Testing your lag by punching or shooting a basketball
To test for lag in Overwatch, one of the best ways is to punch or shoot a basketball. This is because Blizzard has decided to simulate and share basketball movements across all players in a match. The basketball won't react to your punch or shot until the server gives it the go-ahead. So, if there's a delay, you know you're experiencing lag.
To reduce lag in Overwatch, you can try the following:
- Use a wired Ethernet connection for a more reliable connection than Wi-Fi.
- Choose a game server closer to your location. A closer server usually means a lower ping.
- Update your graphics drivers to help maintain a high frame rate.
- Adjust Overwatch's graphics settings for better performance.
- Use a VPN to prevent ISP throttling to speed up high-bandwidth activities. However, note that a VPN can increase lag and ping time in most circumstances.
- Use a gaming VPN or optimisation software if you're still experiencing issues after trying the above.
In addition to the above, you can also try uncapping for the lowest input lag, which is a must-have setting for NVIDIA users. For G-Sync/FreeSync monitors, enable in the GPU control panel, force V-Sync on in the driver, and keep V-Sync off in the game. Finally, cap the FPS 3 below the refresh rate. These settings are used by OWL pros and will give you the maximum FPS while maintaining the visual information needed for competitive play.
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Frequently asked questions
In the drop ship room, there are basketballs placed throughout the room.
First, set up your horizontal aim by positioning yourself with the WASD keys or L stick. Then, line up your reticle and melee each ball while standing.
When you successfully make a basket, a horn goes off and confetti rains from the ceiling.
Three Overwatch spawn rooms have basketballs and a hoop: Ilios, Lijiang Tower, and Nepal.











































