1. Base and balance
Feet roughly shoulder-width, shooting foot slightly forward (the '10 to 2' stance). Knees soft. Weight on the balls of your feet. If your base is off, your shot will drift right or left every time.
2. The shot pocket
The ball should rest in a pocket near your shooting-side hip on the catch. Same spot, every time. This is the single biggest fix for catch-and-shoot consistency.
3. Elbow under the ball
As the ball comes up, the elbow tracks straight under the ball — not flared out. Your wrist, elbow, and shoulder should stack in a vertical line at the release point.
4. Release and follow-through
- Index finger is the last finger to touch the ball
- Wrist snaps fully — fingers point at the floor
- Hold the follow-through until the ball hits the rim
- Look at the front of the rim, not the ball