Learning The Jump Shot

Here is an exercise that will help you learn to shoot the most effective shot in basketball, the jumper. Though this exercise is for all ages, boys and girls under 13 should use a smaller ball and a lower basket.

Getting Set

Stand two or three feet directly in front of the basket. Assume a jumping stance. Your feet are shoulder-width apart, and parallel to each other with one foot slightly ahead of the other. (You should learn to shoot with either foot forward.) The knees are flexed.

Although both feet are entirely in contact with the court, almost your entire body weight should be on the balls of the feet and distributed equally on both feet. Your shoulders should be square to the basket and slightly ahead of your hips, which should be directly over the mid point of your feet. Your head should be erect.

Hand Position

Hold the ball with two hands, both in front of you and close to the body, and just above waist level. The fingers and thumbs of both hands are pointing directly away from you; keep the elbows in. The hands should be on the top half of the ball.

The complete inner surface of the hands should be in contact with the ball. The fingers and thumbs of each hand are spread comfortably. The distances separating the fingers and the thumbs should be the same. The forefingers should be parallel to each other. To hold the ball, push both hands towards its center to create enough pressure to hold it.

Maintaining Control

To establish fingertip control, apply gentle, but firm pressure with the pads of your fingers--namely the area between the tips of the fingers and thumbs and the first joint. Applying this pressure creates a paper-thin air space along the fingers, thumbs and palms, starting at the first joint and ending at the heel of the hand. Cock the wrists, making sure they are relaxed, so that you can easily cock and uncock them in a full range of motion. (To cock your wrists, bring the back of the hands towards the body. Do not lock your wrists!)

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