Walking onto the court last season, I remember thinking how much my shooting percentage had plateaued—hovering stubbornly around 38% from beyond the arc. It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t winning us games either. That’s when I started breaking down film, talking to coaches, and drilling relentlessly into what separates decent shooters from lethal ones. Shooting accuracy isn’t just about repetition; it’s about intelligent, focused repetition. And in the spirit of continuous growth—something I’m always emphasizing—I want to share three drills that transformed my game almost overnight.
Let’s start with the “Elbow-to-Wing Transition Drill,” something I picked up from an ex-college coach during an off-season training camp. You begin at one elbow, take a shot, sprint to the opposite wing, receive a pass, and shoot again—all within six seconds. The key here isn’t just speed; it’s maintaining form under fatigue. I used to lose nearly 12% accuracy when moving at game speed, but after two weeks of doing this drill for 15 minutes daily, that drop-off shrunk to just 4%. It sounds simple, but the magic lies in the footwork. So many players, especially younger ones, focus only on their upper body. But if your feet aren’t set and balanced, your release point wobbles, and your arc flattens. I can’t stress this enough: your shot starts from the ground up.
Another drill that made a huge difference for me is the “Pressure Free Throw Series.” You shoot 10 free throws in a row, but here’s the catch—if you miss one, you start over. The first time I tried it, I thought it would be easy. I mean, they’re free throws, right? It took me 47 attempts to complete all 10 without a miss. That drill taught me mental toughness more than anything else. It mimics those high-pressure moments in a game—like the playoffs or a tied score with seconds left. And it reminds me of something a seasoned player once told me during a tournament: “It’s just the eliminations. It’s a long way to go. Of course it’s good for our confidence to beat the defending champions, the number one seeded team, beat the number two seeded team but it doesn’t mean anything.” He was right. Wins build confidence, but real growth happens in practice, in the grind, when no one’s watching. That mindset shift alone boosted my late-game free throw percentage from 72% to around 85% in actual matches.
Then there’s my personal favorite, the “Spin-and-Spot Shooting Drill.” This one’s a bit unorthodox, but it works wonders for creating your own shot under defensive pressure. You start with your back to the basket, spin either way on command (I use a partner or an app beep), catch an incoming pass, and immediately rise for a jumper. It trains you to square your shoulders mid-air and release the ball at the peak of your jump—critical for contested shots. Before integrating this, my field goal percentage off spins was hovering at about 34%. After a month? I was hitting close to 46% in scrimmages. What I love about this drill is how it bridges the gap between stationary shooting and real-game movement. Too many players practice in static positions, then wonder why they can’t create space during games. This fixes that.
Now, I’m not saying these drills are magic pills. But they address the core elements of shooting—balance, mental focus, and adaptability—in ways that generic shooting practice often misses. And while it’s thrilling to hit game-winning shots or beat top-seeded teams, lasting improvement comes from daily, deliberate effort. Like that veteran said, beating champions feels amazing, but it’s just one step. The real journey is in refining your craft, drill by drill, until those skills become second nature. For anyone serious about elevating their shooting, give these a try. Start with just one. Track your numbers. I did, and the progress—though gradual—was undeniable. In the end, improving your shot isn’t about one brilliant performance; it’s about building a foundation that holds up when the lights are brightest.
