To shoot a basketball effectively: 1) Focus on the rim and maintain your eye contact on the target throughout the shot. 2) Get into a stable stance with feet shoulder-width apart, one foot slightly ahead, and knees bent. 3) Use a two-handed shot, guiding the ball to the "shot pocket" at waist level before propelling it towards the basket with your legs and a straight elbow.

1. How to
Shoot a
Basketball
Created by Shawn Farmer

2. Focus on your target
- As soon as you know
that you want to take a
shot locate the rim of the
hoop.
- Keep your eyes on the
target and do not follow
the path of the ball or
look down at your stance.

3. Balance & Stance
- Your feet should be shoulder
width apart and slightly
staggered with your shooting
foot, the foot on the same side
as your shooting arm, slightly.
ahead of your non-shooting foot
- Point your feet towards the
basket.
- Bend your knees slightly.
- Once you find a stance that
you like use it every time so that
you don't have to think twice
about it.

4. Grip
- Position your elbow so that it's directly under the ball
-Your non-shooting hand should be on the side of the ball
acting as a guide for the shot. It should always come off of the
ball first.
- While you're preparing to shoot, your palm should not be
touching the ball. You should be controlling the ball with your
fingers and thumb.

5. Move the ball to
the shot pocket
- Line up so that the ball
and your shooting eye
form a straight line to
the basket.
- Put the ball a few
inches above your waist.

6. Taking the shot
- Don't bring the ball any lower than
the shot pocket.
- Jump. Use your legs to help propel
the ball by jumping while your
shooting hand launches the ball
upwards.
- Your elbow and wrist should be in
a straight line towards the basket.
- Just before you reach the height of
your jump, release the ball from
your shooting hand towards the
basket. Straighten your elbow and
push the ball forward with your
wrist.
- The ball should roll off of your
fingertips towards the basket.

7. Follow through
- If you don't follow through
your shot won't be that
accurate.
- Your shooting wrist should
be floppy and your fingers
should be pointed towards
the rim of the basket.
- Hold your follow through
until the ball hits the rim.

8. Perfecting your technique
- Practice practice practice to develop muscle memory.
- Practice shooting from many different angles and distances
from the basket, using the same form every time.