What are some good shooting drills that one or two players can use to improve their shooting? Inside and out?
Costley Marr
New Zealand
Coach Marr,
The best shooting drill for every type of jump, set and foul shot is to find the distance where, with minimal leg action, you can fire off your Release at medium height and the ball comes down dead center, swish, every time! I call this the Pure Release Distance (PRD). It is a distance where, with the same release action every time, the ball can not go any further or any less far. Aiming medium high (maybe the ball clears the basket by 1-2 feet for this close-in shot), the ball will find dead center just about every time. You will be able to make 90-95% of your shots, 5, 10, 20 in a row anytime you want. You can close your eyes and do it. Even with your opposite hand, with practice. (Using the opposite hand is a great way to coach yourself.)
The distance will be just 4, 5, or 6 feet from the basket (depending on your strength). For younger players, where it is hard to get the ball easily up to 11-12 feet, then add a little leg action to give you power, but make it same every time, not a variable. If you are a really strong player, then maybe your PRD is up to 8, 10 feet or more. But further out is not necessarily better. Stronger players can have a Set Point that is a couple inches above the head up to 6, 8 or more above the head. Just find that perfect distance and Set Point where you can drill shots consistently over and over and over.
When you have trained your Release to do that, like a machine, then, as you move back and add legs and vary the arch appropriately, you will start to make everything.