Youth Basketball: Wilmington, NC      Learn to Play the Game the RIGHT way!

#6 Chair- Using Both Legs

As you raise the basketball into the shooting position, make sure your elbow is in and the ball remains on your fingertips. A good way to practice this is to use one hand only. Put your guide hand behind your back. This will insure that your elbow stays in underneath the ball, if not the ball will fall out of your hand.

#3 Ball Lift- Elbow In

When shooting the basketball, there are three positions. Position #1 is the proper shooting stance. Position #2 is transitioning the ball from the stance into forming the shot pocket, and position #3 is releasing the ball and using the proper follow through. You should make a smooth transition into each of these three positions using rhythm. This can only be achieved through repetition which creates muscle memory.

#5 Rhythm- 1,2,3

Doc's Dozen:

Coach Ernie Hobbie taught 12 fundamental steps as part of his shooting program to establish the "perfect" shot. It is known as the "Shooter's Dozen" or "Doc's Dozen." These twelve steps are the foundation of our approach to teaching players how to shoot at the Shot Doctor School of Basketball in Wilmington.

Everything in basketball should be done in the proper stance and shooting is certainly no exception. A good stance for a right handed shooter should include the right foot slightly ahead of the left, about shoulder width apart, knees bent, with the butt out.

Using a chair forces the shooter to use both legs to gain power when shooting the basketball. The ball should be in the #2 position, as the shooter rises from the chair he must use his legs not his arms to gain enough power to get the ball to the basket.

#2 Ball Balance- Fingertips, Not Palm

When shooting the basketball, the ball should be on the fingertips not in the palm. If you're a right handed shooter, place the ball in your right hand and use your left pointer finger to slide the ball up so it is resting on the pads of your fingers, not in the palm of your hand. It should remain there as you bring the ball up into the shooting position all the way through the completion of your shot.

#7 Hands on Shoulders- Legs=Power

#4 Shot Pocket- Above Eye Brow

#1"No Stance, No Chance!"

To form the proper shot pocket, the ball should be raised just above the eye brow. The elbow should be in with the wrist back and the ball on the pads of the fingers. The guide hand should be on the side of the basketball.