Kristian Ferrell
The follow-through is an important aspect of shooting in basketball. It is the last part of your shot, consisting of extending your arm and using your wrist to release the ball. The follow-through motion puts backspin on the ball, increasing the chance of it going in the basket. To improve your shooting accuracy and consistency, it's crucial to focus on proper form, including the follow-through. This means practicing the same technique repeatedly to achieve a repeatable performance. By analyzing the form of top shooters like Klay Thompson and Steph Curry, you can identify the key elements of a successful shot, such as knee bend, balance, arm angle, and follow-through. Additionally, paying attention to the details of your follow-through, such as keeping your hand in the air after releasing the ball, can help stabilize your shot's trajectory and accuracy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | The last part of your shot, involving the extension of your arm and the wrist motion in releasing the ball |
| Textbook Form | Completely extended arm held in place so that the forearm and upper arm form a straight line, with a fully flexed wrist so that the hand and fingers are pointed downwards |
| Variations | "Floating" follow-through, where the follow-through hand is moving down or drifting off to the side; "Waving" hand, where the wrist is not flexed down and is in line with the forearm or only slightly bent |
| Importance | Maximizes "clarity of motion" and control during dynamic movements, stabilizes the shot's trajectory and accuracy, prevents an "in and out" effect, reinforces the best form, and increases the chance of the ball going in the basket by putting backspin on the ball |
| Practice Tips | Focus on each piece of the execution: the bend of the knees, balance, arm angle, and follow-through; analyze videos of professional players and their shooting form |
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What You'll Learn
- The follow-through is the last part of your shot, involving arm extension and wrist motion
- Keeping your follow-through hand in the air after releasing the ball improves its flight path
- A 'waving' hand follow-through can cause a lack of backspin and control over the ball
- A 'chicken wing' elbow follow-through is caused by an elbow that is not fully extended
- Practising good form is essential to avoid beginner mistakes and improve accuracy
The follow-through is the last part of your shot, involving arm extension and wrist motion
The follow-through is an important part of shooting in basketball. It is the last part of your shot, involving arm extension and wrist motion. The textbook follow-through has a completely extended arm, with the forearm and upper arm forming a straight line. The wrist is fully flexed so that the hand and fingers are pointed downwards. This is the ideal form, but there are variations.
One variation is a "floating" follow-through, where the follow-through hand moves down or drifts to the side. This can happen when the player's body is already in motion, and it can cause the ball to rotate differently or go in another direction. Another variation is a "waving" hand, where the wrist is not flexed down and is instead in line with the forearm or only slightly bent. This can cause a lack of backspin on the ball, reducing control and the chance of the ball going in the basket if it hits the rim.
To improve your follow-through, focus on each piece of the execution: the bend of the knees, balance, arm angle, and follow-through. Analyzing videos of professional players can also help you understand the correct form and its importance. The follow-through reinforces the best form and ensures you don't end your shooting form early, which can impact the success of the shot. It also puts backspin on the ball, which can increase the chance of the ball going in the basket.
Practicing the same way every time will lead to consistent development and results. It is important to pay attention to the details of your follow-through, such as keeping your hand in the air after releasing the ball, to stabilize your shot's trajectory and accuracy.
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Keeping your follow-through hand in the air after releasing the ball improves its flight path
Keeping your follow-through hand in the air after releasing the ball is an important aspect of shooting in basketball. It helps improve the flight path of the ball, leading to more accurate and consistent shots.
The follow-through is the last part of your shot and involves extending your arm and using a wrist motion to release the ball. A proper follow-through technique involves holding your arm extended so that your forearm and upper arm form a straight line, with your wrist fully flexed so that your hand and fingers point downwards.
By keeping your follow-through hand in the air, you provide a stable motion that guides the ball towards the hoop. This helps to ensure a smooth flight path, increasing the accuracy of your shot. Think of it as a hand wave—your hand remains in the air after releasing the ball, similar to waving goodbye.
Additionally, maintaining this hand position helps prevent common mistakes such as a "floating" or "waving" follow-through. A "floating" follow-through occurs when the hand is already moving down or drifting to the side during the shot, which can lead to inconsistent results. A "waving" hand, where the wrist is not fully flexed, can cause a lack of backspin on the ball, reducing control over its trajectory.
To improve your follow-through, focus on practicing consistently. Repeat the same shooting motion over and over, analyzing your form to ensure a proper follow-through each time. You can also observe top basketball shooters and study their shooting form to identify the key elements that contribute to a successful shot.
In summary, keeping your follow-through hand in the air after releasing the ball is crucial for stabilizing the flight path of your shot. It helps ensure accuracy and consistency while also preventing common mistakes that can affect your shooting performance. With dedicated practice and a focus on proper technique, you can improve your follow-through and take your basketball skills to the next level.
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A 'waving' hand follow-through can cause a lack of backspin and control over the ball
The follow-through is the last part of a basketball shot, which involves the extension of the arm to shoot the ball and the wrist motion in releasing the ball. The textbook form of a follow-through involves a fully extended arm and a fully flexed wrist, with the fingers pointing downwards. However, a waving hand follow-through occurs when the wrist is not flexed down and is instead in line with the forearm or only slightly bent. This type of follow-through can lead to a lack of backspin and control over the ball.
Backspin is crucial in basketball as it enhances shooting accuracy. When a ball with backspin hits a surface, it creates a backward force that slows it down. This is due to the friction between the ball and the surface, which affects the parallel-to-the-surface motion. By slowing down the ball, backspin increases the probability of a successful shot by reducing bounce mechanics and controlling error margins.
To create backspin, players need to master muscle memory and wrist flexibility. They should execute a proper follow-through motion, ending the shooting motion with a downward flick of the wrist. This imparts spin on the ball, causing it to rotate backward as it heads towards the hoop. A strong wrist snap enhances spin rates, and proper finger placement is key to achieving good backspin. The ball should be held with only the finger pads, and the fingers should point downwards while the thumb points to the side.
By not flexing the wrist downwards in a waving hand follow-through, players are unable to generate the necessary backspin on the ball. This results in a lack of control over the ball, as the backspin helps to stabilize its flight path. Without the downward flick of the wrist, the ball is released without the optimal spin, leading to reduced accuracy and a lower chance of the ball going through the hoop.
To remedy a waving hand follow-through, players should focus on creating space between their palm and the ball. By holding the ball with only their finger pads, players can achieve the necessary wrist flexion and follow-through motion to impart backspin on the ball. This will allow them to have better control over the ball's trajectory and increase their chances of making successful shots.
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A 'chicken wing' elbow follow-through is caused by an elbow that is not fully extended
In basketball, the follow-through is an important part of shooting form. It is the last part of your shot, referring to the extension of your arm and the motion of your wrist as you release the ball. A good follow-through helps stabilise the trajectory and accuracy of your shot.
A "chicken wing" elbow is a common issue in basketball, where the elbow is not fully extended and sticks out from the shooting arm. This can cause the ball to obstruct the shooter's view and result in a slower and less consistent shot. The chicken wing can cause the player to miss left or right, depending on their dominant hand.
To correct a chicken wing elbow, you must align your body correctly. One suggestion is to lay on your back and shoot the ball straight up; this forces your elbow to stay straight. Another tip is to look in a mirror and pose with your shot, then adjust your feet so they are slanted or angled, with one side of your body in front of the other. This helps to align your whole body correctly towards the basket.
Additionally, you should focus on keeping your elbow pointed straight towards the floor during your shot. This will ensure that when your arm extends, your follow-through is perfectly aligned with the hoop, increasing your chances of a successful shot.
By concentrating on proper form and practicing consistently, you can improve your shooting accuracy and reduce the occurrence of the chicken wing elbow follow-through.
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Practising good form is essential to avoid beginner mistakes and improve accuracy
However, there are many variations to the follow-through, and a common mistake beginners make is dropping the follow-through hand too early, resulting in an "in and out" effect. This can cause the ball to move slightly differently at the last instant, influencing the success of the shot. Another common mistake is a waving" hand, where the wrist is not flexed down, causing a lack of backspin on the shot and reducing the player's control over the ball.
To avoid these mistakes, it's important to focus on each piece of the execution: the bend of the knees, balance, arm angle, and follow-through. Analysing the form of professional basketball players can also help you improve your own form. By practising good form consistently, you can develop muscle memory and improve your accuracy.
Additionally, the follow-through reinforces the best form throughout the entire shot. By keeping your follow-through hand in the air after releasing the ball, you ensure that you don't end your shooting form early, which can cause the ball to rotate differently or change direction. Thus, practising good follow-through form is crucial to improving your accuracy and overall shooting technique.
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Frequently asked questions
Follow-through is the last part of your shot in basketball. It involves extending your arm to shoot the ball and the wrist motion in releasing the ball.
Follow-through is important as it reinforces the best form throughout the entire shot. It helps to stabilize your shot's trajectory and accuracy. It also puts backspin on the ball, which increases the chance of it going in the basket.
One common mistake is dropping the follow-through hand too early, which can result in an "in and out" effect. Another mistake is a “floating” follow-through, where the hand is moving down or drifting to the side, indicating that the player's body is not in a proper shooting position.
Focus on each aspect of the shot, including the bend of the knees, balance, arm angle, and follow-through. Analyze videos of professional players and try to emulate their consistent form. Practice solo drills and aim for repeatability and consistency in your shots.
The textbook follow-through has a completely extended arm and a fully flexed wrist, so the hand and fingers are pointed downwards. You can also post a video of your shot on forums like r/BasketballTips to receive feedback from other players.
