Saoirse Downs
Finishing is one of the most important skills in basketball, but it's often neglected in favour of other skills practiced away from the basket. To improve your finishing ability, you need to develop a range of skills through drills and game-like scenarios. This includes improving your core strength to resist force, using the glass to finish, practicing with both hands, and learning to create contact with defenders to protect the ball.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Finishing moves | Non-linear and constraints-led approach |
| Drills | Fast break drills (3-on-2, 2-on-1, etc.), corner finishing, wing finishing, chair rip with help defender, 1-on-1 escape with help defender, ball screen finishing |
| Competition | Put players in competitive, game-like drills |
| Repetition | Quality repetitions, random and variable |
| Core strength | Forearm plank |
| Ball protection | Using the off-hand to protect the ball without fouling |
| Practice | Practice finishing with both hands, from different angles, and in different ways (off the glass high, off the glass low, floaters, finger rolls, baby hooks, mistimed jumps, etc.) |
| Coaching | Focus on player development, not just memorizing plays |
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What You'll Learn
Develop core strength to resist force and absorb contact
Core strength is essential for generating power and explosiveness in basketball. It is the key to improving your athletic performance, enhancing your agility and quickness, and improving your balance and stability. By developing core strength, you can increase your ability to generate force, which results in more powerful and explosive movements on the court. This includes more forceful drives to the basket, stronger rebounds, and more powerful shots.
A strong core also helps you resist and absorb contact, making your body more resilient to sudden movements and external forces. It acts as a protective shield, reducing the risk of injuries when colliding with opponents or landing awkwardly. For example, when driving to the hoop, you will likely encounter contact with defenders. With a strong core, you can better withstand and control the impact, maintaining your balance and stability to execute a precise shot.
To develop core strength, you can incorporate various exercises into your training routine. Bracing exercises such as planks, dynamic stability drills (like the hollow hold), and anti-rotation movements with bands can enhance core stability. Additionally, exercises targeting torso strength, such as hip extension exercises from a plank position, can improve your ability to stabilize and control your body during dynamic movements.
It is important to balance core training with other aspects of your basketball development, such as skill work, cardio, and strength training. Incorporate core exercises at the end of your workouts or on separate training days to ensure they receive dedicated attention. By prioritizing core strength development, you will improve your overall athletic performance and durability on the court.
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Practice finishing with both hands
Finishing with either hand is a crucial skill in basketball, as it makes you twice as dangerous on offense. It also helps to prevent injuries and muscle imbalances, which can occur from continually throwing or shooting with one hand.
To practice finishing with both hands, you can start with some basic drills. One such drill involves setting up under the basket, sprinting to the free-throw line and back, and then finishing with a layup. Repeat this for a set number of reps or until you achieve a certain percentage of makes. This drill simulates game-speed finishing and helps build endurance.
Another drill involves dribbling in with your dominant hand, laying it up, and then quickly following with your non-dominant hand. This forces you to work on both hands without pause. You can also weave through cones or markers at high speed and then execute a layup, which helps build agility, ball control, and layup consistency.
It's important to focus on proper mechanics when practicing finishing with both hands. Keep your head up and eyes on the target throughout the entire motion. Maintain consistent footwork and use repetitive "one-two step" drills to build muscle memory. When driving in from the perimeter, keep your dribble tight and your eyes on the rim to react to defenders and adjust your steps quickly.
Additionally, when posting up, try to catch the basketball deep in the paint to increase your chances of finishing or getting fouled. One way to establish a deep post position is by ducking in, which is a fundamental move that every player should learn.
By practicing these drills and techniques, you'll improve your finishing ability with both hands and become a more well-rounded and versatile player.
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Use the glass to improve finishing angles
Using the glass is an underutilized but highly effective way to improve your finishing angles and overall performance in basketball. The bank shot, as it is often called, can be a valuable tool in your arsenal. It is a blend of precision and creativity that can help you improve your scoring efficiency.
The key to a successful bank shot is understanding the angles and applying the right touch. The ideal angle for a bank shot is typically around 45 degrees from either side of the basket, and the target spot on the backboard is usually marked by a small square above the rim. To master this technique, you need to practice adjusting your shooting angle and gradually incorporate bank shot drills into your regular shooting practice to build muscle memory and confidence.
Another important aspect of using the glass is to understand the concept of "high off the glass." This means creating contact with the defender before finishing at the basket. By seeking contact, you can maintain your angle to the basket and limit the defender's ability to get off the ground and block your shot. It is important to use your body to create contact subtly, without extending your arms or dipping your shoulder, to ensure it looks natural and avoids foul calls.
To improve your finishing ability, it is essential to work on it daily, just like ball-handling and shooting. Competitive game-like drills, such as fast break drills (3-on-2, 2-on-1, etc.), can help you develop your finishing skills in simulated game situations. With enough repetitions, you will adapt and discover new ways to finish against defenders. Additionally, weak-hand basketball finishing drills can help you improve your ability to finish from various angles around the basket.
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Learn to create contact to eliminate shot blockers
To improve your basketball finishing ability, it is important to learn to create contact to eliminate shot blockers. This is because creating contact helps to prevent the defender from getting off the ground to block your shot. If you allow the defender to come to you, you will likely get knocked off balance and lose your strong angle to the basket.
To do this effectively, use your body to create an angle and limit their ability to jump, similar to how Chris Paul plays despite being shorter than most defenders. Be subtle in your approach, as this will make it look more natural and prevent referees from favoring the defense. It is a common misconception that you need to be bigger than everyone else to be a great finisher.
Additionally, seek out contact at the right moment. Watch the defender's feet as they leave the ground, and time your jump to meet them at their highest point. This will only give you a split second to react, so practice until it becomes instinctive.
You can also use drills to improve your finishing ability. Fast-break drills such as 3-on-2 or 2-on-1 situations will help with finishing layups and contested drives to the basket. Competitive game-like drills will also help you develop your ability to finish at the basket.
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Use drills to simulate game-like situations
To increase your finishing ability in basketball, it is important to use drills that simulate game-like situations. This allows players to develop the necessary skills and decision-making abilities under pressure. Here are some ways to do this:
Scrimmages with Time Constraints
Divide the team into two groups and organise scrimmages with specific time constraints, such as 30 seconds left on the game clock. This helps players focus on executing plays, managing the clock, and making quick decisions under pressure.
Free-Throw Pressure
Create pressure situations in free-throw shooting drills, where players must make critical shots with the game on the line. Adding consequences for missed free throws increases the pressure and simulates high-stakes game endings.
Competitive Game-Like Drills
Competitive drills such as corner finishing, wing finishing, and 1-on-1 escape with a help defender can improve a player's finishing ability. With enough repetitions, players will adapt and discover ways to finish against defenders.
Bumper Ball Drill
This drill emphasises ball handling under physical pressure. One player dribbles toward the basket while another defensive player applies physical pressure by lightly hitting the ball handler with their basketball. The offensive player must manage this contact and complete a layup using the glass.
4 Moves 2 Finishes
This drill helps players work on their dribbling skills, finishing ability, and transitioning between moves using different hands. It involves attacking cones with the ball, performing dribble moves, and finishing with right- and left-hand layups.
91 Shots Drill
This continuous drill simulates as many game-like shots as possible. It starts with two lines of players underneath the backboard, each with a basketball. At the whistle, the players pass to a coach and then cut to the opposite wing or flare to the same side wing. This simulates game-like situations and helps players work on their shooting.
Non-Linear and Constraints-Led Approach
This approach involves creating different scenarios, such as varying defender sizes and abilities, to stimulate the retrieval process and shape learning for offensive players. It helps players develop finishing moves that can be adapted to various game situations.
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Frequently asked questions
One of the best ways to improve your finishing ability is through competition. Game-like drills help players adapt and discover ways to finish against defenders. Fast break drills (3-on-2, 2-on-1, etc.) can help with finishing layups and contested drives to the basket.
Drills like corner finishing, wing finishing, chair rip with a help defender, 1-on-1 escape with a help defender, and ball screen finishing can help improve finishing ability.
It is important to practice finishing with both hands and from different angles. Building a strong core will help resist force and absorb contact, allowing you to focus on converting the basket.
Avoid spending excessive time memorizing and practicing specific moves. Focus on developing a range of finishing techniques and understanding when to use them.
Seek contact with the defender to limit their ability to get off the ground and block your shot. Use your body to create an angle and be subtle to avoid giving referees a reason to favor the defense.
