Kristian Ferrell
The three-point shot has become an increasingly popular feature of basketball, with the NBA seeing more three-pointers than ever before. The three-point shot was first introduced in 1961 by the American Basketball League (ABL) to add excitement to the game. To shoot a three-pointer, you need to focus on your technique and practice it repeatedly to develop muscle memory. The setup, aim, and follow-through are all critical components of a successful three-point shot.
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What You'll Learn
Hand and arm placement
Elbow and Wrist Positioning: Start by positioning your elbows at a 90-degree angle when setting up for the shot. This creates a stable base for your shooting form. Simultaneously, bend your wrists backward to generate some initial power for the shot.
Dominant Eye and Hand Alignment: Determine your dominant eye by creating a circle with your fingers and sighting an object through it. Keep your hand a couple of feet from your face, and close one eye, then the other. The eye that allows you to sight the object is your dominant eye. When shooting, align the ball with your dominant eye to improve your accuracy. Your dominant hand is crucial for generating power and controlling the direction of the shot. This is called your "shooting hand." Place your shooting hand (usually your dominant hand) on the ball, and use it to guide the ball's movement along the "shot line," which is the direction you are aiming. Your middle finger on your shooting hand can be a helpful reference point for maintaining alignment along the shot line.
Guide Hand: Your non-dominant hand is called the "guide hand." Keep it lightly on the side of the basketball, using it to stabilize the ball and keep it straight during the shot. Avoid gripping the ball with your guide hand, as this can restrict your shooting motion. When releasing the ball, ensure your guide hand doesn't drop too quickly, allowing it to linger in your follow-through.
Wrist Action: As you jump, snap your wrist forward, propelling the ball forward and giving it spin and arch. This wrist action is essential for generating extra force and improving your accuracy. Think of it like reaching into a cookie jar on a tall counter—your fingers should point down toward the floor as you snap your wrist.
Arm Extension: Fully extend your shooting arm as you jump, and keep it extended even after the ball has left your hand. This helps ensure that you maintain control of your body and follow through with the shot effectively.
Consistency and Practice: Finally, remember that hand and arm placement is all about muscle memory. Stay consistent with your practice to improve your technique. Incorporate exercises for your arms to develop more power and control when shooting.
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Crouching and jumping
To shoot a 3-pointer, you need to master the art of crouching and jumping. This technique provides the power and accuracy needed to sink the ball from long range. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you master this skill:
First, start with your feet in the correct position. If you're right-handed, place your right foot back, and then take a step forward as you get ready to shoot. This small movement helps generate forward momentum, which is crucial for a powerful shot. Keep your legs bent and your arms extended in front of you, holding the ball. Your elbows should be at a 90-degree angle, and your wrists bent back, ready to snap the ball forward.
As you straighten your legs, you'll begin to crouch, building potential energy in your legs. This crouching action is essential for two reasons: it helps you generate power, and it also allows you to quickly spring upwards, straightening your legs to jump. The jump itself provides the height and force required to shoot the ball over defenders and towards the hoop. As you jump, straighten your arms and push the ball forward and upwards, releasing it from your dominant hand.
The release of the ball is critical to the success of your shot. As your feet leave the ground, snap your wrist downwards, propelling the ball forward. This action not only sends the ball spinning towards the hoop, but it also gives it an arch, increasing the chances of a successful shot. It's important to keep your non-dominant hand lightly on the side of the ball as you shoot. This guide hand helps keep the ball straight and stable as it leaves your hand.
After releasing the ball, ensure your follow-through is smooth and controlled. Keep your wrist snapped forward, and try to land in the same place you jumped from. This helps you maintain balance and control, ready to react to any rebounds or changes in play. Remember, the key to mastering this technique is practice and repetition. The more you practice, the more your muscle memory will develop, making your 3-point shots more consistent and accurate.
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Wrist snapping
Understanding Wrist Snap
The wrist snap, also known as wrist breaking, is the action of snapping your wrist forward as you release the ball during a shot. This snapping motion propels the ball forward and imparts spin and arch on the ball, increasing the accuracy and likelihood of making the shot. The wrist snap is not just about your wrist; it's the result of proper coordination between your arms, legs, and wrist.
Form and Technique
To execute a proper wrist snap, start by setting up with your elbows at a 90-degree angle and your wrists bent back. Identify your dominant eye by performing a simple test: create a small circle with your fingers and look through it at an object, closing one eye at a time. Your dominant eye is the one that aligns naturally with the object. When shooting, ensure the ball is in line with your dominant eye to improve your aim.
The shooting arm (dominant hand) is responsible for generating power and directing the ball, while the non-dominant hand, known as the guide hand, helps keep the ball straight. Avoid gripping the ball with your guide hand; instead, keep it lightly on the side of the ball. As you jump, extend your shooting arm fully and snap your wrist forward at the peak of your jump. This wrist snap will provide the necessary spin and arch to your shot.
Practice Drills
To improve your wrist snapping technique, practice shooting from different places behind the 3-point line. Start at the top of the key, using the backboard as support if needed. As you get more comfortable, work your way down the 3-point line towards the corners to perfect your shots from various angles. Remember to maintain proper form and wrist snapping technique throughout your practice sessions.
Additionally, you can perform a drill where you set up cones on the court and focus on them until you're ready to shoot. This helps prevent other players from anticipating your shot too early. Quickly turn your shoulders towards the basket, focus on the hoop, and execute your wrist snap as you release the ball.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
One common mistake to avoid is using your arms to generate too much power, which can negate the momentum created by your legs. Your legs should be the primary source of power, with your arms focusing on aim and wrist snap. Additionally, ensure your guide hand doesn't drop too quickly during the shot, as it helps with follow-through and stability.
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Leg and body positioning
To shoot a 3-pointer, you need to use your legs for distance and your arms for aiming. Your legs are plenty strong enough, but you will struggle with your aim if you try to push the ball with your arms. The force generated by straightening your arm and "breaking" your wrist should account for only 3-4 feet of distance.
To shoot a 3-pointer, you want to crouch, straighten, and then slightly jump. Your wrist should break (snap down) when your feet leave the ground. This should feel effortless. If your shot is too long or too short, fix it with your legs, not your arms.
If you are right-handed, start with your right foot back, take a step forward as you get into the crouch, and spring upwards. You want to maintain forward momentum throughout the sequence. Your toes should be pointing towards the target. If they aren't, your body has twisted.
Keep your non-dominant hand lightly on the side of the basketball. Your guide hand helps to keep the ball straight and helps you prepare your shot. Don't grip the ball with any fingers on your guide hand.
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Practicing and perfecting
Practicing your three-point shot is all about repetition and muscle memory. It's important to perfect your technique, and there are a number of steps to follow to ensure you're shooting with the right form.
First, you need to set up your stance. If you're right-handed, start with your right foot back, then take a step forward as you get into a crouch. Your elbows should be at 90 degrees, with your wrists bent back. You want to keep your non-dominant hand lightly on the side of the basketball as a guide, but don't grip the ball with your fingers. Your dominant hand is your shooting hand, and you want to line up the ball so that you can aim with your dominant eye.
Next, you want to be moving the ball down the "shot line" as you shoot. This means that the ball should be moving in the direction you are aiming from the time it's in your hand to the time it leaves your fingers. Your legs are for distance, and your arms are for aiming. You want to crouch, straighten, and then slightly jump, snapping your wrist down as your feet leave the ground.
When practicing, start with 25 shots from almost below the rim, and then another 25 from 5 feet away. Focus on your shot line and the breaking of your wrist. Then, practice shooting with an imaginary basket. You can also stand 20 feet apart from a partner and throw the ball back and forth as if you're shooting at a 10-foot basket halfway between you.
As you practice, check that your toes are pointing towards the target after each shot. They should be. If not, your body has twisted. You can also practice shooting from different places behind the 3-point line, starting at the top of the key and working your way down towards the corners to perfect your shots from every angle.
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Frequently asked questions
The system for shooting a 3-pointer is based on what Rick told Tim. The principles apply to any two-handed basketball shot. Keep your elbows at 90 degrees and your wrists bent back when setting up to shoot. Figure out if you are right- or left-eye dominant. This will help you aim. From the setup to the actual shot, you want to be moving the ball down the “shot line”. Jump straight up as you extend your shooting arm. Straighten your legs and push yourself off the ground to get the power needed to sink a 3-pointer.
To test, make a little circle with your fingers and look through the hole at some object, as if you’re sighting the object through the hole. Keeping your hand where you naturally put it, close one eye and then the other. Your dominant eye is the one where the object remains sighted. When shooting, line up the ball so you can aim with your dominant eye.
The “shot line” is the direction you are aiming in. You want the ball to be moving in this direction from the time you have the ball lower down to the time it leaves your fingers. The follow-through should also be along the same line.
Start practicing at the top of the key so you can use the backboard to help you if you overshoot. As you start to master shooting 3-pointers from there, work your way down the 3-point line towards the corners to perfect your shots from every angle. Stay consistent with practicing your shots. The best way to improve your technique is to repeat it multiple times and develop muscle memory.
