How To Shoot A Basketball
A simple approach to the art of shooting a basketball
In our How to Play Basketball section, we focus on all of the skills and strategies of basketball, including fundamentals, like how to shoot a basketball.
It may be defense and rebounding that separates basketball teams in a game, but players who know how to shoot a basketball are certainly one step ahead, when it comes to knowing how to play basketball the right way.
When learning how to play basketball, teaching young players how to shoot a basketball is one of the first basketball fundamentals that should be taught.
As a student of the game at every level and a high school coach for 15 years, I’ve learned many simple techniques for teaching people how to shoot a basketball, but I find using the acronym BEEF to be one of the best methods.
One of the NBA's great young shooters, Cavaliers guard Daniel Gibson, was taught how to shoot a basketball, using this method. Young players should take their cues from excellent shooters, like Gibson.
How to shoot a basketball – the BEEF way
B – Balance: In understanding how to shoot a basketball, young players must learn balance. Teach them to go straight up and down, by having them use a circle or a hoop. They should land in the same circle or hoop each time for good balance.
E – Elbow in: Great players, who know how to shoot a basketball the same way each time, keep their shooting elbow in toward the body, and pointed at the basket upon release. As players learn how to play basketball and hone their practice routine, they should work on keeping the elbow in and pointing it at an imaginary basket, even when they are not on a basketball court.
E – Eyes on target: Young players, first learning how to shoot a basketball, often loose focus on their target. A simple drill is to work on shooting without a basketball. Each time the player, learning how to shoot, comes down, he should stand for a full two-second count with his eyes on the basket, emphasizing keeping eyes on the target throughout the shot.
F – Follow-through: The final, and often most critical, part of learning how to shoot a basketball is the follow-through. Teach young players the goose-neck wrist. In other words, when the ball is released, the wrist is snapped down, with all fingers pointing between the basket and the floor. Hold this position for a full second.
The BEEF method is simple for learning how to shoot a basketball and makes learning to play basketball more fun.
