- There are many different ways to shoot a basketball, depending on where you are on the court.basketball boy 21 image by Paul Moore from Fotolia.com
Shooting a basketball is a skill that is developed over time and after consistent and sustained effort. Depending on the player's position on the court, there are a number of different kinds of shots available, but each can be difficult to make, particularly in a game situation with another team trying to stop the shooter. Big players who typically play closer to the basket will usually focus on the shots that work best from in tight, while smaller players who spend their time on the perimeter are usually better at knocking down shots from long range. - The jump shot is the basic shot in basketball. It can be taken from as close in as five feet, and it is the most common shot from 10 feet and beyond. The key to the shot is for the player to use her legs, bending slightly at the knees to get some lift before jumping from the floor while raising the ball high over the head to release the shot. The successful jump shot will come out of the hand with backspin and a little rotation. Guards and smaller players are usually better jump shooters than bigger players, and the best marksmen are able to take their shooting range outside the three-point line to as far as 25 feet away from the rim.
- The set shot is still in use by some players today, and was the precursor to the jump shot. It is taken in a similar fashion to the jump shot, with bend in the knees providing momentum to push the ball toward the rim. The feet, however, do not leave the ground, but the shooter merely raises onto his toes while releasing the ball. This shot was more common in the past, but now is most commonly seen when players shoot free throws.
- The lay-up is the shot that most anyone can take. It is taken at the basket, and is performed by laying the ball off the backboard and into the basket from close range. The shot is used by players who get out in front of the defense and are going alone to the basket, but is also used when a player is in close and in traffic. The key to being good at the lay-up is being able to score with either hand in order to be able to get the shot off regardless of which side of the court she is on. Some players pass on using the backboard and do a finger roll, simply rolling the ball over the front of the rim.
- The basketball highlight shows are filled with the slam dunk, which is the most powerful shot in the game. This one is not possible for all players as the rim sits 10 feet above the court, and the player must be able to leap to get the ball over the rim in order to dunk. The shot is less common in the women's game where the game is more commonly played below the rim, but it has been done a number of times even in women's high school and college ball. The slam dunk is performed by jumping and raising the ball above the rim and then throwing it down, with either one hand or two.
- The hook shot is most commonly used by bigger players as a way to get off shots in the five to 10-foot range while protecting them against being blocked. When players are in that range, the shot is performed with the body sideways to the basket and the hook shot being delivered by the hand furthest away from the rim. That keeps the shooter's body between the defender and the ball. She then swings the ball up over head and hooks it toward the basket.
