Alright, so I hit the court today specifically to work on that quick, deep jumpshot, you know the one. Been seeing it a lot and figured, why not give it a shot myself?
Getting Started
First thing, just getting loose. Did some basic dribbling, crossovers, nothing fancy. Then moved into some easy form shooting right near the basket. Just wanted to get the feel of the ball going through the hoop. You gotta start close, always. Spent maybe 15 minutes just on that, making sure the basics felt okay before trying anything crazier.
Working on the Shot
Okay, then I started backing up. The main thing I focused on was trying to get the shot off faster than my usual jumper. It feels different, less of a gather, more of a quick pop. Here’s kinda what I worked through:
- Started with catch-and-shoot from mid-range, just trying to speed up the release.
- Then added a dribble. One hard dribble, pull up quick. This was tougher. Getting the feet set super fast after the dribble is key.
- Moved back beyond the arc. Man, this is where it gets tricky. Trying to keep that quick release while getting enough power from deep? Not easy. My first few felt kinda like pushes, not real shots.
- Specifically tried pulling up off a screen (imaginary screen, obviously, I was alone). Coming off the pick and launching it quick. Felt awkward as hell at first.
Found myself really needing to focus on using my legs, even more than usual, because the upper body motion is so accelerated. If I didn’t get low, the shot had no legs, fell short every time. It’s less about jumping super high and more about that quick transfer of energy.
Observations and Challenges
It’s a rhythm shot, big time. When I rushed it too much, everything fell apart. Form went out the window, shots went everywhere. There’s a fine line between quick and rushed. Also, that little hesitation or change of pace dribble before the shot? Tried that too. It helps create space, yeah, but coordinating the dribble rhythm with the quick shot rhythm took a lot of concentration.
Honestly, consistency was the main battle. I’d make two that felt good, then brick three that felt awful. Keeping the same quick motion while also aiming and getting enough arc was tough. It’s definitely not as easy as it looks on TV, that’s for sure.
Wrapping Up
Spent a solid hour just focused on this stuff. Got pretty tired towards the end, which is when form really breaks down. Finished up with some free throws just to cool down and end on a good note. Overall? It was interesting. Definitely got a better appreciation for how hard that shot actually is to pull off consistently, especially from deep and off the dribble. Didn’t master it, not even close, but it was a good session. Something different to work on.