1. Grip: fingertips only
Ball rests on the pads of your fingers, not the palm. You should be able to slide a pencil between your palm and the ball. Guide hand on the side, thumb pointing up.
2. Stance: 10 and 2
Shooting foot slightly ahead. Both feet pointed at the rim (or your natural turn — some elite shooters angle 10° off). Weight balanced on the balls of the feet.
3. Alignment: elbow under the ball
The shooting elbow tracks straight up under the ball at release. If it flares out, your shots miss right (for a righty). If it collapses in, they miss left.
4. Release: up, not out
Legs generate power; arms guide direction. The ball should be released just before your peak jump, going up and slightly forward — not pushed out from your chest.
5. Follow-through: hand in the cookie jar
Wrist fully snaps, fingers point at the floor. Hold the follow-through until the ball hits the rim. This is the single biggest self-diagnostic tool a shooter has.