Helena Frye
Shooting a basketball like Stephen Curry is no easy feat. Curry is a palm shooter, which means he rests the ball on his hand with the weight of the ball on his palm. He then transfers the ball from his palm to his finger pads and off his fingertips. Curry is also a wide-stance shooter with his knees pointing inwards, and he keeps his shooting shoulder, elbow, and hip aligned. His shooting elbow is tucked in, with his right foot slightly ahead of the back one to aid accuracy. Curry also dips the basketball and uses the momentum to create rhythm for his shot.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Height | 6ft 2in |
| Shooting style | Wide stance with knees pointing inwards |
| Shooting eye | Yes |
| Hand-eye coordination | Elite |
| Shooting shoulder, elbow, and hip | Aligned |
| Forearm | Tilted away from the body |
| Shooting hand | Right |
| Feet | Turned slightly to the left |
| Rhythm | Uses momentum to create rhythm for his shot |
| Consistency | Keeps his motion the same every time |
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What You'll Learn
The transition of Tuck to Set
To master this transition, players should focus on the following:
Timing and Rhythm
Stephen Curry is known for his ability to create rhythm in his shots. After catching the ball, he brings it down to his waist before rising up to shoot, using the momentum from this dip to create a smooth and controlled shooting motion. This dip is especially prominent when shooting off the catch, as off the dribble, Curry is usually already low, with the ball at his waist. By incorporating this dip, players can add rhythm and flow to their shots, making their shooting motion more natural and effortless.
Body Alignment and Balance
Curry emphasises the importance of body alignment and balance in his shooting form. He ensures that his shooting shoulder, elbow, and hip are aligned, with his forearm tilted slightly away from this line to keep the ball above his shooting eye. Additionally, Curry positions his dominant foot (right foot for right-handed shooters) slightly ahead of the back foot, with his feet shoulder-width apart. This stance aids in accuracy and balance, as it aligns the elbow, hip, shoulder, and feet, providing a stable base for the shot.
Hand and Finger Placement
Curry is a palm shooter, which means he rests the ball on his entire hand, with the weight on his palm. As he shoots, he transfers the ball from his palm to his finger pads and releases it off his fingertips, snapping his wrist forward. Curry uses a 4-fingers-down release, and his middle finger is the last point of contact with the ball. He keeps his wrist relaxed and floppy during the release, ensuring a smooth follow-through.
Eye Focus
Curry emphasises the importance of eye focus during the shooting motion. He keeps his eyes on the rim until the ball is released, and only then does he follow the ball with his eyes to the rim. This technique ensures that his focus is on the target throughout the shot, maximising accuracy and precision.
Practice and Consistency
While understanding the mechanics of the Tuck to Set transition is essential, players should also focus on practicing and developing consistency in their shooting form. Curry emphasises the importance of maintaining the same shooting motion every time. By practicing the Tuck to Set transition repeatedly, players can develop muscle memory and refine their shooting technique, leading to more accurate and consistent shots.
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Dipping the basketball
The dip can provide rhythm and fluidity to your shot, helping to make it feel natural. It can also give you momentum as you transition from catching the ball to your set point. However, critics argue that dipping can cause discrepancies in precision and form.
Whether or not you choose to dip the basketball depends on what feels most natural for your shot. It is important to understand your own shooting process and how adding an extra layer, like dipping, will impact your performance.
Stephen Curry, a renowned three-point shooter, is a dipper. Off the catch, he dips the basketball and uses the momentum to create rhythm for his shot. This means that after catching the ball, he brings it down to his waist before rising up to shoot. Off the dribble, most of the time, he is already low, and the ball is already at his waist, so he doesn't need to dip.
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Hand position
Stephen Curry is a palm shooter, which means he rests the ball on his entire hand with the weight of the ball on his palm. He then transfers the ball from his palm to his finger pads and off his fingertips as he snaps his wrist forward. Curry uses a 4 fingers down release, and the ball comes off his middle finger last.
Curry uses a relatively relaxed hand position on the ball, with his index finger and thumb making a V-shape. His hand is on the side of the ball and rotates towards the net as he extends his arm. The ball first travels backward toward his head before traveling forward toward the net. Curry's set point is just above his right eye, with his thumb in line with his eyebrow and his palm facing to the side.
Curry's shooting alignment is such that his shooting shoulder, elbow, and hip are aligned. His forearm is slightly tilted away from this line, keeping the ball above his shooting eye. Curry is right-handed, so to align his right side, he turns his feet slightly to the left.
Curry's off hand comes off the ball right before he snaps his wrist forward. He tucks his thumb in next to his index finger on his off hand. As he brings up the ball, his forearm is perpendicular to his biceps, creating a 90-degree angle at the elbow. This helps avoid what Curry calls a "chicken wing," where the forearm is skewed and the elbow points outward.
Curry uses his left thumb to get the ball into position, shifting the ball over his right hand with a left thumb flick. He brings the ball up from his centerline to his eyebrow and moves the ball to his side on release. The weight of the ball is on his thumb, pointer, and middle finger.
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Shooting form
Firstly, Curry's set point, the point at which the ball is released, is just above his right eye, which is a little lower than the eyebrow level that many coaches teach. This lower set point allows Curry to keep his eyes on the target and maintain alignment with the basket. As the ball comes up, he rotates his shooting hand behind the ball, creating an 'S' shape, with his shooting hip, elbow, and forearm in near-perfect alignment.
Curry also uses a technique called dipping, where he brings the ball down to his waist after catching it, to create momentum and rhythm for his shot. This technique is a matter of debate in the basketball community. However, it can be a powerful tool for improving your shooting.
Another key aspect of Curry's shooting form is his hand position. He uses a relaxed hand position, with his index finger and thumb forming a V-shape, and his hand on the side of the ball. As he extends his arm to shoot, his hand rotates towards the net. This technique allows for proper spin, rotation, and control of the ball.
Curry also emphasizes the importance of foot placement. Your dominant foot should be slightly in front, with your toes, hips, and abdomen squared up and facing the basket. This improves your odds of shooting on target. However, Curry notes that you can be a little off-center, as long as your feet are facing the same direction.
Lastly, Curry's inward knee bend is another unique aspect of his shooting form. While this technique may not be optimal for everyone and can slow you down, Curry uses this bend to create a strong base and maintain balance.
While these are the key principles of Curry's shooting form, it's important to remember that shooting is also about hand-eye coordination, and some of this is genetic. However, by understanding the mechanics of Curry's shooting form and applying the relevant principles to your own body and characteristics, you can develop a consistent and unstoppable shot of your own.
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Shooting from angles
Start by positioning yourself at different angles relative to the hoop. You can begin at the hoop on the left, move to the front, and then to the right. This approach helps in identifying your strengths and weaknesses from various angles. Gradually increase the difficulty by shooting from different positions on the court, such as the free-throw line or further back.
Another crucial aspect of shooting from angles is mastering the fundamental Tuck to Set motion. This involves bringing the ball down to your waist (the "Tuck" position) and then raising it up to the "Set" position as you start to extend your legs and jump. Ensure that your legs and jumping motion are coordinated with the shot motion, creating a fluid and seamless action.
When shooting from angles, pay close attention to your footwork. As Stephen Curry demonstrates, your dominant foot should be slightly in front of the other, with your toes, hips, and abdomen facing the basket. This alignment improves your chances of shooting on target. Additionally, be mindful of your stance—Curry typically employs a wide stance with his knees pointing inward.
Lastly, focus on your hand and arm positioning. Stephen Curry, being a right-handed shooter, turns his feet slightly to the left to align his shooting side. His forearm is tilted, keeping the ball above his shooting eye. As you release the ball, use your fingertips to impart precision and control over the spin.
Remember, each person's body mechanics are unique, so find the shooting form that works best for you. Practicing your shot from different angles will help you become a more versatile and well-rounded player.
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Frequently asked questions
The first step is to keep the same motion every time you shoot. Curry keeps his shooting elbow tucked closely to his body, with his right foot slightly ahead of his back foot.
The second step is to align your body. Curry keeps his shooting shoulder, elbow, and hip aligned. He also turns his feet slightly to the left as he is a right-handed shooter.
The third step is to bring the ball up in one quick movement from the hips to above the head. Curry uses the momentum to create rhythm for his shot.
The fourth step is to continue the ball moving upward and finish the shot with one hand. Curry uses a 4 fingers down release, and the ball comes off of his middle finger last.
