Basketball Essentials - Shooting

The next concept I will be focusing on, is shooting the basketball. Having success in shooting a basketball begins with the perfect mechanics. To become a consistent shooter, you must be consistent in your shooting form and mechanics. Rather than a drill, I will be describing steps to achieve a form that you can change to adapt to your body. After all, not all shooting forms look the same.

Steps:

1. Prepared Stance: Begin in a prepared stance with your knees bent, your feet shoulder-width apart, and your weight on the balls of your feet. Your arms should be in an L shape with the elbows tucked in at the side
2. Hand Placement: To ensure ball control, keep the ball on your finger pads and fingertips. You should be able to fit two fingers between the basketball and your palm. Also, try to spread your fingers as wide as possible to cover more area on the ball.
3. Eyes On The Basket: You can increase your shooting accuracy by having a laser focus. When the ball is in flight, keep your eyes locked on the basket and not on the ball. 
4. Body Control: To ensure a straight-line shot, keep your body squared toward the basket from the beginning of the shot until the end. Distribute your body weight evenly on the balls of your feet.
5. Lift Your Shot: Keep your elbow under the basketball to increase the lift of your shot. If your shot lifts up and your follow-through is in front of your body, the shot will not have adequate arc
6. Follow-Through: Complete your shot by extending your elbows and finishing with a strong and exaggerated flick of the wrist with your shooting hand. The fingers on the shooting hand point toward the ground, whereas the fingers of the non-shooting hand point upward.

There are many ways to perfect shooting mechanics, and none are universal. Try to find a technique that fits your form and style of shooting. Do you have any other tips to aid other players in finding a form that works for them?