Is There a Perfect Shooting Form in Basketball?

~ 4-minute read

Intro

The idea of a perfect shooting form has been debated endlessly. Coaches, trainers, and analysts have long emphasized specific techniques—elbow 90 degrees, follow-through, feet squared—to teach players how to shoot. But, despite the popularity of these teachings, the reality amongst elite shooters doesn’t always align with this structured approach.

A player’s success in basketball often isn’t tied to textbook mechanics but rather to their ability to adapt in an unpredictable environment with many distractions. We have seen this truth from our own experiences as viewers and performers. This is also true for jump shooting, especially when it’s performed in games. Why do we still follow the traditional approaches so heavily?

A brief history lesson

The basketball community quickly began to adopt a more standardized shooting technique due to many influential figures promoting this approach. The early influence of players like Glenn Roberts and Hank Luisetti during the 1930’s, sparked the adoption of standard shooting techniques that revolutionized the approach to shooting in games and how the skill is practiced.

John Wooden, a legendary coach known for his meticulous approach, further shaped the conventional wisdom around shooting. Wooden emphasized balance, proper hand positioning, and consistent follow-through, advocating for a systematic approach to developing shooting skills. His focus on repetition and muscle memory set a new standard for many coaches and trainers.

From these theories and beliefs from prominent basketball figures, the basketball community followed along without much change despite conflicting research and performances from elite in-game shooters.

The power of influence and culture

Many of the beliefs and ideas shared by the basketball community stem from the early adopters and influencers throughout history. This highlights the culture’s impact on playing, teaching, and understanding basketball. Unlike other fields that require skill, methods rarely come from facts, instead, they mostly come from theories.

While the influencers mentioned earlier were historical coaches and players who had gained substantial experience and perspective on basketball, their beliefs came from misjudgment. Are coaches and trainers in our community true experts in skill acquisition and human development? Most commonly not, but their successes in basketball give them an influence.

Basketball is not just a sport that can be learned to master, it’s a popularized form of entertainment. The voices in the entertainment realm of the sport are much louder than those sharing fact-based messages. While coaches and players may seem like experts, they often lack expertise in true skill development because their methods rely more on personal experience and tradition than research or data-driven facts.

The absence of evidence-based practices makes their guidance less reliable because it overlooks the complex nature of learning, adaptation, and performance enhancement, which research-based methods could more effectively address.

In truth, spectators and fans within the culture don’t truly understand this and would rather seek out the most accessible information or compelling components of the sport. Coaches, players, and trainers directly impact the evolution of the sport, for better and for worse, and should rely on facts to influence their approach.

Now, let’s break down some myths and explore why the idea of a perfect form doesn't hold up:

4 reasons why there isn’t a “perfect” shooting form

1) Adaptability Over Technique

Space and environmental factors play a crucial role in basketball. The conditions under which a player shoots — such as the shot clock, the speed and angle of a pass, and defensive pressure—introduce variables that influence shot execution. Proficient shooters adapt their techniques based on these situational factors, making flexibility and adaptability key to effective shooting.

2) Human nature

Can you recognize players solely based on how they shoot with no additional information?

Every human body is unique, from how we move to our physical traits. These individual differences play a significant role in how we move and interact with the world, especially in a sport as dynamic as basketball.

The problem with the current restrictive approach to jump shooting is that it overlooks the natural variations in human movement and perception. By enforcing rigid shooting techniques, players are kept from experimenting and adopting techniques that feel effective and open windows for unique adaptability.

4) Players are not robots

For every shot taken, there is a small difference in each repetition of a movement. Each shot comes with subtle, uncontrollable movements.

The nervous system controls how we move, but doesn’t send the same commands to our muscles every time we perform a task. Instead, it adjusts based on sensory feedback from our muscles, joints, and the environment. When you shoot a basketball, your nervous system makes minor adjustments based on how your muscles feel, how your body is positioned,

Movement variability also plays a role in how we learn and refine skills. When we make slight variations in movement, our brain receives feedback about what worked and what didn’t, helping us to make small corrections over time. This process is known as motor learning. By allowing some variability, we can explore different movement strategies, adjust based on the results, and ultimately become more skilled and adaptable.

5) Mastery can’t be achieved through restrictive methods

Traditionally, the requirements to become a great shooter are to follow the rules and practice. This process resembles an assembly line, where every product is created to be the same through a mechanical process. Treating players like a product of interchangeable parts in an assembly line disregards the nuances of human movement and individuality. It also suggests that a set process will give everyone the same results which is far from true.

The goal for players should be to master their skill sets and frameworks. If mastery is a result and combination of human characteristics and experiences, ignoring these elements throughout a player’s development limits their path to this realm of proficiency.

As craftsmen, players should explore, think creatively, and innovate for the sake of passion and mastery with freedom. The game is about creativity — that’s where true mastery lies.

3 Reasons Why You Struggle with Ball Handling — Redefining what it takes

Intro

Ball handling is one of the most celebrated skills in basketball, often highlighted by flashy moves and dramatic plays. However, many players misinterpret its true value, focusing solely on mastering specific moves rather than the broader, more critical factors during games. If you want to improve your ability to navigate the court, it's essential to shift your focus from aesthetics to effectiveness.

While popular culture glamorizes ball handling as an art form for pulling off eye-catching moves, it can mislead players with larger goals. The popularization of this has influenced players to believe that its value is greater than in reality. Mastering a few fancy dribbles may not help you achieve long-term success on the court. Here are five critical elements to remember if you aim to improve, along with insights on the common mistakes players make in their process.

1. You focus on “moves”

Ball handling is the use of agile movements and deceptions to pursue or create opportunities for an entire offense.

Simplifying the skill to be just about using moves will prevent you from effectively executing the skill in basketball games. Your “AI crossover” or “Shammgod” move will not work in every scenario, especially when it lacks purpose.

Focusing on moves causes players to over-calculate their ball-handling execution in games. Many athletes believe that there are combinations of moves that they have to practice in training and mimic in games to be great ball handlers. Instead of pre-rehearsed moves, focus on reading the game and adapting your ball handling to what's available in each scenario.

2. Your decision-making needs to improve

Great ball handlers aren’t just skilled in technique—they are masters at making decisions as opportunities and threats come and go on the court. They can process multiple variables at once and make calculated decisions. Players with elite physical abilities who fail to make an impact on the court often struggle with decision-making rather than ball handling.

It doesn’t matter how quick your crossover is or how you can perform some of the same moves Kyrie Irving can. What matters is that you make strategic decisions on the court with the ball in your hands. Blindly moving around the court without being attentive to what matters will hinder your ability to make plays with the ball in your hands.

Examples of bad decision-making as a ball handler:

• Using purposeless “moves” to attack a blitz or double-team

• Recklessly moving towards help defenders

• Over-dribbling against an aggressive defender rather than finding better solutions

• Not taking advantage of space and angles to perform a move

3. You are easy to read

Most of the moves you see in highlight reels stem from creative problem-solving and awareness — they aren’t preplanned moves drilled into a player’s arsenal.

Skilled defenders rely on anticipation and pattern recognition to guard effectively. If your movements are too predictable — like rehearsed sequences, defenders have seen over and over—they can easily read and counter them.

Being an adaptable ball handler does not require preplanned moves, it requires some unpredictability. Deceptiveness, subtle body language changes, and situational awareness are what separate great ball handlers from average ones.

Explore using common, deliberate movements to make a different decision. For example, using screens to disguise your intentional decisions or using your eyes to throw off defenders can create more opportunities for yourself and your team to create a quality shot.

Remember, this is not about beating an individual defender each time you have the ball in your hands, it’s about navigating and responding to information on the court.

Two problems with your approach and mindset

While these are some of the core weaknesses of players who struggle with handling the basketball, two underlying issues cause players to approach the development of this skill ineffectively.

Many players believe that ball handling is a skill that must be worked on separately, hindering their approach and growth. To truly develop an adaptable skill, your practice must integrate real-game situations. Practicing in isolation, without context, limits your ability to apply the skill in games. So, play more basketball! Create situations where you can explore this skill with a few people.

You won’t impact the game solely because you can dribble the ball creatively, but you can make an impact if you can make creative and purposeful decisions with the ball in your hands. Decision-making is key, despite what the basketball community has been led to believe.

The second issue is a misunderstanding of the purpose of ball handling. Ball handling is often glorified for its aesthetics, but its real value lies in helping you create opportunities for yourself and your teammates. It’s not just about scoring for yourself — ball handling helps players navigate pressure, create dysfunction in defense, and help lead to scoring opportunities.

Ball handling isn’t everything, there are solutions to make an impact for your team without the need to take more than two dribbles in a given scenario. By shifting your focus away from isolated drills and how you look on the court, you will become a much more effective and adaptable player.

The Basketball Dilemma: Culture vs. Craft

~ 3-minute read

In most professions, expertise is required to influence or contribute meaningfully.

If you want to become a great photographer who produces high-quality photos, you probably won't listen to thousands of opinions that don’t come from personal experience and knowledge. You would likely prefer to hear from well-respected individuals in this field.

However, in the basketball community, it’s common for people who lack a real understanding of the game or player development to have a lot of influence over public opinion. Unfortunately, these are negative influences for players seeking to master the game of basketball.

Media influence

This is particularly evident in the media, where commentators and analysts shape narratives that can influence how the game is perceived by fans and players alike. For aspiring players, this dynamic can be challenging and detrimental to their character and approach to their development.

While the media's goal is to ignite excitement and fuel discussions about the game, it often achieves this by focusing on flashy highlights, controversial takes, and biased narratives. This overwhelming focus on entertainment can distract players from the true essence of basketball.

The highlights often emphasize flashy plays over foundational knowledge about the game, leading young players to prioritize what’s exciting rather than what’s essential for their development. The constant exposure to media narratives can also pressure players to follow the paths of players with the most popularity and media acceptance, rather than carving out their own journey to success.

Media-driven narratives and talking points have indirectly created some unrealistic expectations in the minds of youth players.

Community Influence

The media’s influence trickles down into the broader basketball community causing much more confusion for players. Fans often engage in conversations centered around stats, highlight-reel moments, and personal biases. Young players, eager to fit in, can easily internalize these values.

These shallow metrics and narratives don’t teach players how to excel in the long run and pursue mastery. Instead, they distort what it means to be successful, pulling attention away from the true principles of the game and the complex tools required to flourish as a competitive athlete.

Moreover, fans aren’t shy about voicing their opinions as facts, especially when it comes to player development or how the game should be played. For young athletes, constantly hearing these opinions can create confusion and stifle growth. When these opinions don’t align with what truly helps a player elevate their game, they become a hindrance, reinforcing harmful ideas that hold athletes back.

Trusted Influencers

Are coaches and trainers in our community true experts in skill acquisition and human development? Most commonly not, but their successes in basketball give them an influence.

The voices in the entertainment realm of the sport are much louder than those sharing fact-based messages, and those in professional spaces have the loudest ones. While coaches and players may seem like experts, they often lack expertise in true skill development because their methods rely more on personal experience and tradition than research or data-driven facts.

The absence of evidence-based practices makes their guidance less reliable because it overlooks the complex nature of learning, adaptation, and performance enhancement, which research-based methods could more effectively address.

Conclusion

Basketball is an exhilarating sport, and the media plays a huge role in amplifying the excitement. These influencers help build connections within the community through a shared love for the game. But for players, this dynamic causes conflict between two worlds — enjoying the game as a fan and developing themselves as players.

Young, aspiring basketball players should seek to find a balance. While enjoying the entertainment aspects of basketball, conversations with other fans, and seeing how others talk about the sport, players must be careful not to let these distractions influence how they approach their journey as basketball players.

During basketball activities or moments of intentional growth, players should focus on their growth, skills, and unique path. They should also find ways to learn from their own experiences as well as from experts and coaches who can guide their journey. While doing so, they should block out the noise of the culture — the fans and sports media. By maintaining this balance, players can enjoy the game as fans without letting the influences distort their personal development as athletes.