Basketball Shooting Drills
Shooting is the most trainable skill in the game, and the best shooters got there through thousands of deliberate reps. These drills build repeatable mechanics and game-speed confidence — from one-hand form work up close to catch-and-shoot off a pass and finishing through contact at the rim.
Basketball Shooting Drills in the library
Form Shooting Drill
Groove a repeatable one-motion release close to the rim — balanced base, high elbow, and a held follow-through — before any shooting range is added.
View drill →Catch and Shoot Drill
Turn a pass into a shot in one rhythm — arriving with feet set and hands ready, gathering off a hop or 1-2, and releasing a balanced set shot on the catch.
View drill →Spot Shooting Drill
Build repeatable game-speed range from five perimeter spots — hitting a make target at each spot under time pressure and charting where shots fall to expose weak zones.
View drill →Mikan Drill
Groom ambidextrous finishing under the rim — soft touch off the backboard, quick second jumps, and equal comfort with both hands — through continuous, non-dribble reps.
View drill →More basketball skills
How to coach shooting
Build shooting from the rim out. Start two to three feet from the basket with one-hand form shooting. Keep foot, knee, elbow and wrist in one line to the target, release from the same point every time, and hold the follow-through until the ball lands ("reach into the cookie jar"). Only step back when the ball is going in with good form, because range with bad mechanics grooves bad habits. Then add the game: catch with hands and feet ready to shoot, shoot off the move, and finish at the rim with either hand. Track makes, not attempts. A player who knows they went 38 of 50 from the corners has a number to beat next practice.
Which shooting drill to run, and when
Form shooting and the Mikan drill belong in every warm-up: five minutes that groove touch and footwork close to the basket. Catch-and-shoot builds game-speed repetition off a pass, with players stepping into the shot. Spot shooting takes the same work to the five or seven spots your offense creates, so reps match game shots. For youth players, lower the rim or use a smaller ball where possible and keep them in range. For older players, add pressure: a closeout, a time limit or a make target before the group can move on.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best basketball shooting drill for beginners?
One-hand form shooting close to the basket. It isolates the release and follow-through, produces lots of makes, and builds the mechanics every other shooting drill depends on.
How many shots should a player take in practice?
Aim for quality makes rather than a fixed number. In a team practice, 50–100 game-like shots per player is a useful range, tracked so improvement can be measured week to week.
What is the Mikan drill for?
Finishing at the rim with both hands: continuous alternating layups or hook shots off the glass without letting the ball touch the floor. It builds touch, footwork and rhythm under the basket and works as a warm-up at every level.
Animate your basketball shooting work.
Build any of these on a Coach Board tactical board, animate the movement, and share it with your squad in one click.
No card required