Basketball Shot Types (2024)

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In basketball, there are only two ways to score points: field goals and free throws. In both cases, a player must shoot the ball into their team's net. This may sound easy enough, but players on the opposing team are there to stop them. As a result, players have developed an arsenal of shot types to use in various game situations to give them the best chance at making baskets. Read on to learn about the various shot types that there are in basketball.

Here is a list of the basic shot types in basketball:

• Layups
• Dunks
• Jump Shots
• Hook Shots
• Bank Shots
• Tip-Ins
• Free Throws

• Layups
• Dunks
• Jump Shots
• Hook Shots
• Bank Shots
• Tip-Ins
• Free Throws
• FAQ

Layups

On a layup, players approach the basket and lightly bounce the ball off the backboard with an overhand or underhand motion.A layup is the most basic shot type in basketball. Layups utilize the backboard by bouncing the ball off of it before going into the net. Layups are always executed at close range to the basket.

As you approach the basket, you should pick up your dribble and get ready to jump towards the basket. When performing a layup, you pick either the left or right side of the hoop. As a player, you should practice making layups from both sides of the basket, because you never know what side is going to be guarded by defensive players.

When you jump, make sure to use the backboard and try to bounce it into the hoop. There are some advanced techniques when it comes to layups as well, like reverses and off-hand layups. Players who excel at finishing around the basket have many different layups in their arsenal that they can perform, making it all the more difficult for the defense to stop them from scoring.A layup that doesn't use the backboard is called a “finger roll” because the ball rolls off the fingers of a ball-handler's hands and into the basket.

Dunks

A dunk, or slam dunk, is a type of shot where the ball-handler leaps into the air and emphatically slams the ball into the net.Dunking requires a player to jump higher than the rim, which is ten feet above the floor on most basketball courts.It is difficult to dunk, as many players are not tall enough or can’t jump that high. If you can dunk, it is a great way to finish off a drive to the basket.

Dunks are known to get your team pumped up, as it is a great feat to dunk in a game. In addition to dunks being a part of regular games, there is also a dunking contest in the NBA every year during All-Star Weekend. At this event, the best dunkers in the league put on an entertaining show. Some iconic dunks have debuted at the dunk contest, such as Michael Jordan dunking from the free throw line and Blake Griffin jumping over a car to dunk.Remember, when dunking, you must be careful to avoid being called for traveling. When you pick up your dribble, you are allowed to take two steps before your pivot foot is established.

Jump Shots

On a jump shot, the shooter will jump into the air as they release the ball from their hands. Jumping helps the shooter get a height advantage over the defensive player who is guarding them. Players practice jump shots frequently, so jumping also helps with the timing of the shot.

As a player, you can utilize jump shots from anywhere on the court. To take a jump shot, a player should plant both feet and then jump. When they are at the highest point of their jump, they should release the ball towards the basket. Having a good jump shot takes a lot of practice and good technique. It can take years to perfect a jump shot.

When a jump shot is taken from behind the three-point arc, it counts for three points; any jump shot attempted within the three-point arc counts for two points. In today’s NBA, teams are shooting more three-pointers than ever before. Currently, some of the best shooters in history are playing in the NBA, including Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Kevin Durant. The game has moved away from bigs backing down defenders inside to shooters launching three-pointers at will.

Hook Shots

A hook shot in basketball is an overhand shot, typically made with one hand.Hook shots can be made while the shooter is facing the net directly or at a sideways angle. A hook shot is difficult to make, as it is quite different from any other type of shot in basketball. An example of a good time to take a hook shot would be when you are moving parallel to the baseline and want to surprise your defender with a shot they are not expecting, because you do not need to be facing the basket for a hook shot to be successful. Hook shots should be utilized when inside the three-point line, near the lane, or when you're posting up.

While hook shots are not nearly as prevalent as they once were in basketball, one player who utilized hook shots all the time was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He popularized the shot in the 1970s, but few have been able to replicate his success with the hook shot in years since.

Bank Shots

On a bank shot, the ball bounces off the backboard before going into the net. A bank shot in basketball is a type of shot that relies on the backboard. Sometimes, a difficult shot can be made easier by using the backboard. The backboard usually has a square painted on it to serve as a target to aim for when performing a bank shot.

If you shoot the ball and hit the square with the right amount of force, the ball will most likely go in the hoop. You should take bank shots when you are relatively close to the basket, as they get much harder the further away you get. This is due to the angle of the ball hitting the backboard. Learning to use the backboard as a tool is critical for mastering the bank shot.

Tip-Ins

A tip-in in basketball is more of a reaction to a missed shot rather than a shot type.If a shot is missed and the ball bounces off the rim, it’s legal for anyone to try and tip the ball into the basket as long as the ball wouldn’t hit the rim if it was left untouched. This can occur on any type of shot, whether it be a jump shot, layup, or hook shot. If the referee determines that the ball was going to hit any part of the rim and a player touched it, they will call basket interference.

As a player, you need to have a quick reaction to make a tip-in. Tall players such as power forwards and centers are especially good at tip-ins due to their height. A tip-in also counts as an offensive rebound, and these can be parts of huge momentum swings in a basketball game. It is important for the defense to box out to prevent the offensive players from tipping the ball in after a missed shot. Remember, no player can touch the hoop or any part of the net while the ball is on it or moving through the net. This is called basket interference, and it's a violation that results in a turnover.

Free Throws

A free throw is a type of shot in basketball that occurs after a foul is called.When someone commits a shooting foul, a player on the opposing team is given free throws, which they take from the free throw line. The amount of free throws a player is awarded depends on the foul that was called. A foul on a two-point shot will result in two free throws, while a foul on a three-point shot will result in three free throws. If a player makes the shot that they were fouled while attempting, the points will count, and they will shoot one extra free throw. This is known as an “and-one.”

During a free throw, the player shooting will generally keep their feet on the ground, making it much different than a normal jump shot.The shooter may not cross the free throw line until their shot hits the rim.During a free throw attempt, players have designated spots where they wait and must stay there until the ball is shot before they fight for a rebound. The team that is on defense has designated spots closer to the rim, giving them a better chance of rebounding the ball.Free throws are important, as teams need to capitalize on their opponents’ fouls for easy points.

FAQ

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Pages Related to Basketball Shot Types

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