The AAU Player’s Handbook to the Best Shooting Drill for Basketball
There are many training drills for basketball. Coaches can train kids according to the AAU player’s handbook, and help them prepare for the games.
Boys can follow the coach’s instructions for recommended shooting drills where the mix of block, interleaving, random, and game-based practices would be repeated to correct the shooting skills.
Here we will discuss the best basketball shooting drills.
Recommended Shooting Drills
Type 1: Block Shooting Drills
With the block shooting drills, trainees practice the same skill repeatedly. Block drills are ideal for developing shooting technique, developing rhythm, and building confidence. They can also be coined as warm-up drills.
Examples of block shooting drills are –
- Shooting 10 jump shots from the right elbow without a live defense
- Shooting 10 jump shots in a row off a curl cut from various spots without a live defense
However, in a game, you need to mix your skills very often before passing, shooting, and dribbling. The outcomes may vary based on the defense, time, and score, which will determine whether you need to shoot, dribble, or make a pass.
Type 2: Interleaving Drills
Interleaving drills allow you to practice the best basketball shooting drills at once. You might work on dribble moves, finishing, passing, and shooting – all in the same drill. You might also work on passing, shooting, and offense skills like screen away. By mixing multiple skills you can simulate what happens in a game, and eventually improve your practice efficiency.
Type 3: Random Shooting Drills
Along with practicing multiple drills at one time, you can keep working on shooting drills. Random practice better helps you to simulate what happens during the game. It can also help you brush up on your accuracy for the games.
Here is an example of how you can practice –
- First round drill
Repetition 1: Curl cut and shooting a midrange shot
Repetition 2: Straight cut followed by shooting a 3-point shot
Repetition 3: Curl cut, catch, and pass, relocating to another spot to receive another pass and shooting
- Second round drill
Repetition 1: Straight cut and then shooting a 3-point shot
Repetition 2: Straight cut, making a dribble move, passing to another player, relocating to another spot on the floor, receiving a pass, taking one dribble, and then shooting the ball
Repetition 3: Straight cut, making a dribble move followed by shooting
Type 4: Game Based Shooting Drills
This is a form of random practice utilizing the defenders. This practice norm simulates to the actual game, where the defenders force decisions, randomize, and contest shots. Such drilling practices help connect the dots in the brain and keep you doing what matters in the game.
Practicing the Shooting Drills
To practice the best shooting drills for basketball, you need to follow basic routines. Great shooters have routines, that help them –
- Maintain and develop sound shooting technique
- Develop consistency in form
- Improve confidence
These progressions are useful for high school players as well as to be able to compete in AAU league games.
Which Shooting Progressions Can Help You
The Hop or the1-2 Step
The foundational drill or the One-hand drill should be corrected to reinforce good shooting techniques. The emphasis points for the technique would be –
- Feet: shoulder width apart; slightly staggered and/or turned
- Strong and stable position
- L with arm – you can start from this position
- Up and out – push up and out through your fingers
Shooting Workout
- The 1-hand form shooting drill – Try 10 wall shots with good technique. It should be practiced under the proper surveillance of a coach, as this drill requires a sound shooting technique.
- The 1-hand form shooting drill – 50 shots at the basket. Try 10 shots from 5 posts around the basket. Keep the distance of 3 to 5 feet from the basket. While practicing individual shooting drills in basketball under a coach, you should make 8 out of 10 shots from each spot with good technique.
One Hand form shooting drill – with Guide hand
In this basketball shooting workout, you need to try –
- 1-hand form shooting drills – 30 shots
You can shoot 10 shots from three spots, standing within 3 to 5 feet from the basket. You must be able to make 8 out of 10 from each spot to progress to the next exercise.
- 1-hand form shooting with Guide hand – 50 shots
Try shooting 10 shots from 5 spots. You should stand 3 to 5 feet from the basket. You should be able to make 8 out of 10 from each spot before progressing to the next level.
Set-To-Go Drill
For perfecting the best basketball shooting drills, coaches should guide trainees with various shooting progressions. The next shooting drill progression is Set-to-Go.
Here the shooter needs to start from a few feet from the basket. In the Set position, the player’s arm’s angle should be approximately 90 degrees, and the ball should be positioned near the shoulder.
Once the shooter is ready, the player can extend their legs and shoot at the same time in one fluid motion. The shot is more like a free throw, without requiring a jump with the progression.
Shooting Workout
- 1-hand form shooting drill – 20 shots
Try shooting 10 shots from 2 spots.
- 1-hand from shooting with Guide-hand – 20 shots
Try shooting 10 shots from 2 spots
- Set-to-Go – 40 shots
Shoot 10 shots from the distances of 3 feet, 6 feet, 9 feet, and 12 feet
Tuck to Go Drill
In this drill progression, you can bring the ball to the Tuck position. With the Tuck, you will have to set your arm angle at approximately 90 degrees, with your arms parallel to the ground near your waist to shoulder level.
By using the Tuck, you can generate a creative motion to the basket with a higher release point, which would create an S-path for the ball.
Shooting Workout
- 1-hand form shooting drills – 20 shots
Shoot 10 shots from 2 spots
- 1-hand form shooting with Guide hand – 20 shots
Shoot 10 shots from 2 spots
- Set to Go – 40 shots
Shoot 10 shots from the distances of 3 feet, 6 feet, 9 feet, and 12 feet
- Tuck-to-Set drill – 20 reps for each leg
You will do 20 reps with left-right footwork and 20 reps with right-left footwork
- Tuck-to-Go – start with the ball – 60 total shots – 30 each leg
You can do 3 sets of 20 shots.
Each set will have 10 shots with right-left footwork and 10 shots with left-right footwork
You can start the first set from 8 to 10 feet away.
Once you find your proper rhythm and timing for shooting by practicing individual shooting drills for basketball, you can start practicing shooting Off the Pass. This requires a perfect hand-eye connection and other aforementioned skills.
Workout norms for polishing the best basketball shooting drills
Beginner’s workout
- 1-hand form shooting drill – 20 shots
- 1-hand form shooting with Guide hand – 20 shots
- Set to Go – 40 shots – 3 feet, 6 feet, 9 feet, and 12 feet distance
- Tuck to Set drill – 20 reps for each leg
- Tuck to Go drill – Start with the ball – 30 shots each leg – start at 10 feet
- Shooting Off the Pass – 30 shots each leg – start at 10 feet
Intermediate warm-up
- 1-hand form shooting drill – 10 shots
- 1-hand form shooting with Guide hand – 10 shots
- Set to Go – 20 shots – 3 feet, 6 feet, 9 feet, and 12 feet distance
- Tuck to Set drill – 10 reps for each leg
- Tuck to Go drill – Start with the ball – 20 shots each leg – start at 10 feet
- Shooting Off the Pass – 20 shots each leg – start at 10 feet
Advanced shooting warm-up
- 1-hand form shooting with Guide hand – 10 shots
- Set to Go – 20 shots – 3 feet, 6 feet, 9 feet, and 12 feet distance
- Tuck to Set drill – 5 reps for each leg
- Tuck to Go drill – Start with the ball – 10 shots each leg – start at 15 feet
- Shooting Off the Pass – 20 shots each leg – start at 15 to 18 feet
Conclusion:
Under an experienced coach, trainees can practice the best basketball shooting drills to perfect their shooting and make it more accurate to be able to compete in AAU basketball games successfully.