Improving Your Three-Point Shot

• By Ryan Brennen

The three-point shot is a very popular skill amongst basketball players, mainly due to the advantage a player has when they can shoot from a long distance. However, this type of skill does not come easily. It takes a lot of practice and a lot of strength and conditioning to master.

One of the most important things when shooting a three-pointer, and shooting a basketball in general, is the mechanics of your shot.

This will play an important role in how far you can successfully shoot a basketball. The other way to improve your range is through increasing your physical strength and power. Improving these two aspects of your game will show great results when moving further back to shoot, as well as an extra point.

Technique Is Everything

Shooting a basketball in general is a very difficult task to master. It takes a lot of hard work and practice. One of the most important things when shooting is being comfortable with your shot. If something feels wrong, figure out what and fix it.

When shooting a three-pointer, there are a few tips and tricks to take into consideration. As opposed to a free throw or a mid-range shot, three-pointers take more strength, more power, more mechanics and more practice. With the right training through effective drills, you can master the three-point shot on your own.

Build Arm Strength, Hit The Gym

Increasing your physical strength is going to start with you joining some type of gym or weight training program.

You will want to work out every aspect of your body, making sure your legs, core, wrist, forearms and triceps stay in tip-top shape. In addition, it is encouraged to shoot a basketball around 500 times every day. This will naturally help strengthen your wrist and forearms.

Another way to increase your strength and power is to use a heavy basketball, preferably one that is twice the weight of a normal basketball. When using the weighted ball, players usually find it much easier to shoot from a further distance due to the contrast. However, it is encouraged to also practice form with the weighted ball. Don’t give up good form just to get more distance out of your shot. That will lead to a guaranteed missed shot. Try working with the weighted ball away from the basket. Work on your form while simply shooting the ball up in the air.

Shooting Mechanics, Increasing Your Shooting Range

Be aware when changing your mechanics because it can result in your shot being thrown off. If you do decide to adjust your mechanics, be ready to practice it a lot. You are going to need to retrain your muscle memory to forget your old form. This can take thousands of repetitions. However, if you follow the 500 shots per day, this won’t be as difficult.

If possible, you should only make changes to your mechanics in small loads. Just take it step-by-step, perfecting every aspect of your shot. Don’t rush or this will only lead to muscle confusion, which will result in missed shots.

One technique for adjusting your mechanics is to intentionally shoot the ball over the backboard. With your added leg power and just releasing the ball a second before reaching your maximum jump height, you will feel yourself have more power in your shot. This will help you get used to shooting the ball further than you are comfortable with. Soon, when you go to shoot a three-point shot, it won’t seem as far as it used to. Once you’ve built enough power, work on shooting for rim instead of over the backboard. Now that you are aiming for the rim, you will be more confident because of the drop in distance. Remember to shoot just before you reach the top of your release. If you hang and shoot the ball on your way down, you will lose a lot of momentum and power.

Another technique to adjust your mechanics for a three-point shot is to learn from NBA point guard, Steve Nash. If you watch him shoot three-pointers, you’ll notice him drop his elbow when he shoots. This can be a good option to consider since it doesn’t really alter the delivery of your shot. It’s just a small adjustment that can make a huge difference if practiced correctly.

One last technique is decreasing the time it takes for the ball to get from your shooting chamber to your release point. This will increase your range by adding power and momentum to your shot. Practice this often and be sure to keep a good form while doing so. You only want to change the time it takes from your shooting chamber to release point.

Working From Close-Range to Deep-Range

If you are looking for a safer way to increase your range while shooting a basketball, you still have some options to consider. For one, you should practice a lot from the inside. Shoot hundreds, even thousands, of shots from the inside 12 feet area focusing solely on your shooting form. This will help you master your form and get more comfortable with your shot.

Once you feel you are completely solid at a certain range, take a few steps back. Continue to do this until you feel your shooting form or your rhythm start to change. This indicates the limit to your range and also indicates where you need to focus your practice. Don’t move from that spot until you feel as comfortable shooting as you did from 12 feet. Once you start to feel comfortable, take a couple hundred more shots just to make it feel automatic.

One of the most important things when shooting a three-pointer is to shoot the same shot every time. This comes from much practice working on shooting form to make it an automatic muscle movement. It can take up to thousands of shots before you improve your shot, so be prepared to put in some long hours of hard work. No great shooter was made overnight.