3. Consistent Shot Pocket

The shot pocket is the area a player is most comfortable starting the basketball from when beginning their shot.

This will usually be around the stomach area and will usually be in the middle of your body or slightly to the shooting hand side.

You must find what feels comfortable for you.

Each time you catch the basketball to shoot, you should bring the basketball back to your shot pocket before rising up into your shot.

Since the shot pocket is often low, this will give you a much better rhythm to your shot as you go up for your shot.

Keeping a consistent shot pocket helps you shoot the basketball the same way with rhythm every time.

4. Limit Your Guide Hand

Growing up people always called your none shooting hand your guide hand which is weird because it shouldn't be guiding anything.

Your guide hands only job while shooting a basketball is to help hold the ball on your shooting hand until you release the shot.

Your guide hand should be on the side of the ball and should not add force or spin to the shot.

The palm of your non-shooting hand should always face inside and should never turn with the shot. This will keep it from interfering with the shot causing you to miss left or right.

5. Use Your Jump To Power Your Shot

Its called a jumpshot for a reason, your upward push from your legs play a huge part in a successful shot.

You should release the basketball before you reach the top of your jump. Your jump is a great way to increase your range without changing the form of your shot.

When you get out of your range your form starts to change causing you to miss more shots. A good way to increase your range is to jump more with your shot.

But You must shoot on the way up, this will allow you to shoot further away without changing your form.

6. Hold Your Follow Through

This is one basketball tip I heard often from coaches growing up and for good reason, this very simple act can help your shot greatly.

Holding you're follow through reminds you of proper shooting form. The ball will always go in the direction that the hand sends it.

If you're squared up, knee and elbow aligned, the ball will go in the direction of the release.

Analyzing your follow-through and the direction of your release is a good troubleshooting tool for diagnosing your shooting problems.

7. Shot Preparation, Be Ready

Being ready to shoot before you catch the ball can be the difference between having enough time to take a good shot or getting your shot blocked by a defender closing out.

Being a great shooter starts before you receive the basketball.

Have your knees bent in an athletic position. If you catch the basketball with straight legs, it will take extra time to bend your legs before raising up for your shot.

Get your hands up ready to catch the ball. Showing your hands to your teammates shows them that you're ready and exactly where you want them to pass you the ball.

You'll never be more open than when you first catch the basketball. As long as you're within your comfortable shooting range, you must be mentally prepared to shoot on the catch.

8. Analyze Your Grip

Your shooting hand should be behind the basketball and your guide hand should be on the side of the basketball. Your fingers should be spread comfortably wide on the basketball.

Upon catching the basketball you must be able to quickly adjust your hands to the correct positions on the basketball.

Only let the top half of your palm touch the ball. The ball should be controlled by your fingers at all times. This helps with controlling the direction and having good backspin.

Your shooting hand controls the ball and The guide hand is used for balance, and control up until you release the ball. Make sure that your guide hand is on the side of the ball and not in front or on top, in the way of the flight of the ball.

9. Get Your Elbow Under The Ball

Your elbow on the shooting arm should be close to your body and lined up with the target. If your elbow moves out and away from your body it may change the direction of the flight of the ball.

Players who flare their elbow out while shooting will often miss to the left or right because they're not shooting the basketball straight.

10. Confidence is the Most Important Factor in Shooting

This is number one among all the basketball tips. Believe in yourself, You want to have confidence in your ability to make the shot every time you shoot. Confident shooters control their thoughts and feelings. They believe every shot is going in.

Shooting is much more than good mechanics. It's the feeling, thoughts, and belief in your self that comes first. Basketball is a mental, as well as a physical, game. Developing the mental aspect is a key to enhancing shooting as well as performance in all fundamentals.

The only way to develop true confidence is through practice, hours upon hours of practice. When you make a certain shot from a certain spot thousands of times you can't help but believe you can make it when it counts.

"I've been working on that shot my whole life."

That was Kevin Durant's response to Doris Burks question "how did you walk so confidently into a 3 when you are down and a finals game is on the line"

11. Shoot in Rhythm For Higher Percentages

Rhythm is the Second Most Important basketball tip of Shooting. Your shot should be smooth and free-flowing. Mechanics are important, but you want to have good mechanics without being mechanical.