Basketball Shooting Form For Beginners: Stance, Grip & Follow-Through

If you’re new to the world of basketball, allow me (Kyle) to say welcome…and welcome to the game. Understanding how to shoot a basketball effectively is undoubtedly one of the first things that you are going to want to learn, and even seasoned players fail to every get their “shooting form” down, and end up spending years of time and practice shooting the ball incorrectly.

Whether it’s that swish of the net or the thrill of learning to play help-side defense, the core fundamentals all start with your shooting form.

Mastering your shooting fundamentals early on is imperative. Nailing your technique from the get-go sets the stage for all future successes on the court. The old saying is that “perfect practice makes perfect”, and that is what we are going to help you focus on with your shooting form.

So let’s jump right into it, the first thing we are going to focus on is your shooting stance and grip, the two key focuses when you are looking set-up for a shot in basketball.

Getting into Position: The Stance and Grip

When I think of the fundamental aspects of basketball shooting for you as a beginner, there are two things that come to mind. A stable and robust stance coupled with a proper grip. Before you even attempt to release the basketball towards the hoop, the way you stand and hold the ball will dictate trajectory and success of your overall shooting effectiveness.

• The balanced stance. Unlike other sports where your comfort dictates your stance or how you carry your body, basketball is difference. Your stance is the launchpad to basketball success. A stance that’s too wide will negatively impact your movement, while too narrow a stance can leave you unstable (we don’t want you tipping over lol). You want your feet just under shoulder width apart, and knees slightly bent. One thing that you want to remember is that shooting power comes from your arms, not your legs.
• The positioning of your feet. Pointing your feet in the optimum direction – generally toward the basket – establishes a line of symmetry with your shooting arm, enhancing your shot’s power and accuracy. Like golf, if your feet are not pointing in the right direction, the ball is not going to go where you want it. The ball follows the direction your feet are facing. Adjusting the angle and spacing of your feet can also be the subtle tweak that brings a lot more consistency to your shooting form.
• The proper grip. Just as a painter holds their brush properly to create a beautiful masterpiece, you need to hold the basketball with just the right grip. It’s not simply about grabbing the ball and tossing it. Begin by positioning your shooting hand on the ball, ensuring your fingers are spread wide and your thumb is comfortably spaced. And then with your other “guide hand”, you want to hold it on the side of the ball…this is going to hold the all steady in the direction that you want to shoot the ball. The grip must feel natural, if your body is contorted the shot is going to be just as contorted.

Now, let’s divert our attention to the shot itself. This includes the execution (pushing the shot up) and the follow-through, which is the last and certainly not least aspect of having great form.

The Art of the Shot: Execution and Follow-through

Alright, you have established a good stance and your grip feels natural. Now, the crux of the shot is upon us: the actual shooting motion. Let’s dissect this pivotal motion, piece by piece. It starts from your legs, which as mentioned are your power. They move the force upwards through your body, to your arms, and finally, releasing the pent up energy through your fingers, sending the basketball arcing nicely towards the hoop.

The follow-through shouldn’t be an afterthought — it’s quite the opposite. You want to watch your follow-through, ensuring the ball’s smooth flight path. The sustained wrist position and hand gesture after releasing the ball — think of it as a hand wave goodbye after the perfect send-off, followed a motion that is similar to putting your hand in a cookie jar. This is critical for stabilizing your shot’s trajectory, and accuracy.

Beginners often overlook these crucial details. Rushed shots, neglected follow-through, or inconsistent shooting form (or a collection of all of them) lead to an inconsistent shot, and one where you are going to be throwing up shots in practice, but not noticing any improvement.

I highly recommend that you focus on each piece of the execution: the bend of the knees, the balance, the arm angle, and, of course, the follow-through. By paying attention to these, you’ll avoid beginner’s mistakes that even seasoned players can make. I mean, I have played with shooters that have been terrible at shooting 20+ years, yet they practice it all the time.

Why? Practicing bad form leads to a bad shot.

Analyzing video of pros can help you out too. Take some of the top shooters in the game, Klay Thompson, Steph Curry or otherwise, and watch them play and shoot the ball. You will see their shooting form meets at the criteria I have outlined, and their form is consistent.

Practice Makes Perfect: Drills and Tips for Improvement

Let’s look at a few practice tips and drills you can utilize to get your form dialed, and to start hitting more shots than ever (from anywhere on the court).

PRACTICE TIP #2: Solo drills. They can be as simple as shooting from various spots on the court, but don’t underestimate their power. It’s in these quiet moments of repetition that your muscle memory builds, that your form becomes second nature. Proper form + repitition is the ultimate formula.

PRACTICE TIP #2: Group drills. dd the element of pressure and mimic in-game scenarios. This is where you learn to adjust, to shoot with hands in your face, with pressure, and when there is the requirement for quick release. People tend to change their form under pressure, if they don’t practice with pressure frequently. So make sure you aim to focus on form in game-play situations.

PRACTICE TIP #3: Get Feedback. Be it from a coach, a teammate, or your own reflection in a window, feedback is your compass pointing towards betterment.

Set goals, not just any goals but SMART ones – specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound as these will help you become better. And track your progress against them. It’s not just about making shots; it’s about making progress while retaining the “form” that you are after.

And lastly, you should be patient wth your shot. There is a reason that even the professionals have shooting coaches and are constantly tweaking their form, and adjusting their shot (not to mention taking 1,000’s of shots per week. Form + repetition, that is your magic formula for becoming a top tier shooter.

If you have any form strategies you would like to share, or any questions about how to improve your shooting form, I would love to hear about it and/or help you out. Drop me a comment below.