As a basketball player we really want to improve our shooting not just to score many, but for us to be able to hit the game winning shot. When I was a beginner, I also tended to search for the best drills to improve my shooting and sometimes some drills listed on some blogs are not that much important. In this article, I only put 7 drills that all beginners should only practice. I highly recommend you to focus on these drills first before you advance on the amateur drills. This article is for basic basketball shooting drills for beginners only.
1. One hand shot
How to execute
- Use your dominant hand (left/right)
- Go near the rim
- Use your one hand only when performing this drill
- Perform on the left/right side of the rim and on the front of the rim
Importance
This basketball shooting drill will improve your dominant hand and it will also improve your muscle memory. It will also improve your basketball shooting position but only using your 1 hand.
2. Shooting close into the hoop
How to execute
- Make sure you are in the right shooting position
- Maintain your balance
- You should be close to the rim
- Shoot on the left/right side of the rim and on the front of the rim
- Do it for ten times each side
- If you miss, go back to 1
Importance
This basketball shooting drill will help your muscle memory to improve, that is why you need to be in the right shooting position. If you are in the wrong position and continue to execute this drill, you are building a bad habit. I suggest you fix your shooting position first before executing this first drill.
3. Basic Layup drill (No dribble)
How to execute
- Start on the free throw line
- Make 2 steps only without travelling
- Finish like a normal layup
- Do it on both left and right side
Importance
This basketball shooting drill is very important because it will improve your layup. Many players are missing their free layup and fast break layup because they don’t know the basics. Don’t focus on finishing a layup first, focus on improving your layup first because if your layup is great you can finish well. If you can execute this drill well, I guarantee to you that you will never miss a single free layup.
4. Basic layup drill (with dribble)
How to execute
- Start from the three point line
- Dribble and pick up the ball if you are on the paint
- Perform the layup
- Do this on both left and right side of the rim
Importance
This basketball shooting drill will improve your layup and your finishing as well. This will also help you to maintain your timing on when to pick up the ball. Remember, don’t go too fast if you know you are already free from your defenders. Relax and execute the layup well.
5. Free throw drill
How to execute
- Go to the free throw line
- Shoot free throw without jumping
- Shoot 30 free throws
- Perform 1 push up per free throw missed
Importance
This basketball drill will improve your free throw shooting and your free throw aiming. It will improve your basketball shooting muscle memory also.
6. Three point shooting drill
How to execute
- Follow the pattern used in the NBA three point contest (Start from the 3 point side)
- Shoot 10 shots on each of the 5 sides
- If you missed 1, perform 10 sit ups
Importance
This basketball shooting drill is important because it will improve your 3-point shooting accuracy.
7. Floater drill
How to execute:
- Start from the three point line
- Dribble the ball towards the free throw line
- Perform the floater on the free throw line
Importance
This basketball shooting drill will improve your floater shot. Floater is important especially when you are a guard and if you have tall defenders. Floater will help you to score easily inside the rim if you practice it regularly.
If you are a total beginner, I highly recommend you to do these drills 3 times per week or as your warm-up before starting the game. You can be an unguardable shooting machine if you consistently perform these basic basketball shooting drills 3 times per week, consistency is the key, remember that! If you are looking for paid courses or if you need a basketball shooting drills for beginners, you can check out our paid basketball courses page.
