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Saturday, May 11, 2019

Basketball: Seeking Unicorns. What's the Ideal Shooting Routine?

Seeking the ideal shooting routine is searching for unicorns. How old are you? How much time can you commit? Are you alone or have a rebounder/defender? 

We can build rituals of varying length but any reasonable approach includes variety of shots, three level shooting (layups, mid-range, deep), and shooting off the catch, off the dribble, off screens, and against defense. For younger players, devoting half the practice to threes and ignoring the midrange seems short-sighted. Practice from both sides of the court. 

No offense to the magnificent James Harden, but I don't think a thirty minute workout should include fifteen minutes of back-and-forth dribbling. If you have a partner, you have to commit to a longer time (two shooters) but you have a rebounder and competition.  

Without defense:
00-02:00 (Form shooting) Flips
02-04:00 (Bradleys)...two hops into high release shots (inside)
04-10:00 (Curry warmup)...Curry 100 makes (adjust to time)



10-15:00 (Box drills vs defense) - training to finish off either foot w/ either side
(vary some days with Mikan and Reverse Mikan drills)
15-16:00 (Elbow to sideline 1 minute)...track makes/personal best



vary with elbow to elbow (less running)
16-17:00 (free throws...goal to swish every shot, not just make...)
17-22:00 (Pierce wing series against defense)



22-23 One minute break
23-27 Celtics 32 (have 2 minutes to score a maximum of 32 points)...incorporates threes, midrange, and layups


This is competitive for both points and time. 
The longer version is Pitino 168 or 'quarters' (below)


27-30:00 Star drill. Each round 15 shots, 2 free throws between each set of 5. 


Want more?

Sideline volume free throws. Take 3. Sprint to sideline and back. Take 3 more. Repeat.
    Track makes in five minutes. 
One-on-one. There's no substitute. From wing, top, elbows, post up game. 
Spin-backs. Back to basket...self spin-back...quick pivot...emphasize quick release alternate with one-dribble shooting (insist on getting separation with the dribble). I did this to a fault as a kid (almost fifty years ago). 
Beat the pro/Bill Bradley. Must make 11 shots before miss 4. 
One-dribble floaters from each wing and top of key. 


251 (above). Track consecutive 3s without missing two in a row. At the corner (turn) make two before advancing to next spot. Pressure from having not to miss two consecutive shots. Track your record...add time limits to add more pressure. Much better with rebounder. 


Emergency shots. Fallaways, flyaways (drift), double pump jump shots. Bad shots that rarely come into play (no more than 5 percent of shots).