12 Basketball Shooting & Finishing Drills

Basketball players at all levels need to develop strong shooting and finishing skills to be effective on the court. The following 12 drills are designed to improve your shooting accuracy, footwork, and finishing techniques while also building conditioning and game-ready skills.

1. Conditioning Shooting

This drill combines shooting with conditioning, helping players build stamina while maintaining shooting accuracy. Set up stations around the court, such as the corners, wings, and top of the key. Players must sprint to each station, shoot a set number of shots, and then move to the next station. The goal is to simulate game-like shooting conditions under fatigue.

2. Drive & Step Back 3

This drill focuses on creating space from a defender using a step-back move. Start by driving towards the basket, then quickly plant your foot and step back beyond the three-point line to take a shot. This drill helps players develop the ability to shoot off the dribble while creating separation from their defender.

3. Don’t Let It Hit the Floor

A great drill for building quick reflexes and hand-eye coordination. The player must catch the ball off a pass and shoot immediately without letting the ball hit the floor. This drill emphasizes the importance of catching the ball in a ready position and shooting quickly, just like in a real game scenario.

4. Catch Shoot & Contest

In this drill, a passer delivers the ball to a shooter, who must catch it and immediately take a shot while another player closes out to contest. The purpose of this drill is to practice shooting under pressure and learn to focus on the basket even when a defender is closing in.

5. Wing Pass & Cut to Corner

This drill works on quick decision-making and movement without the ball. The player starts at the wing, receives a pass, and immediately passes it back. The player then cuts hard to the corner to receive another pass for a quick shot. This drill improves a player’s ability to relocate on the court and shoot from different angles.

6. Right Angle Sweep and Go

Starting at the wing, the player sweeps the ball across their body and drives hard to the basket at a right angle. The focus is on explosiveness and finishing strong at the rim. This drill helps players develop a quick first step and the ability to finish in traffic.

7. 3 Man Scoring

This is a fast-paced drill that involves three players working together. One player starts with the ball, passes it to a teammate who drives to the basket and takes a shot. The third player rebounds and quickly passes it out to the original player, who then takes a shot. This drill helps with passing, shooting, and rebounding under game-like conditions.

8. Pass to Score

The emphasis of this drill is on passing and shooting under pressure. Players pass the ball around the perimeter, and after a set number of passes, a player must take a shot. This drill encourages quick ball movement and helps players learn to shoot in rhythm.

9. Hop Through Finish

In this drill, the player drives towards the basket, takes a hop step to avoid a defender, and finishes with a layup or floater. This move helps players develop body control and the ability to finish around the rim in tight spaces.

10. Race from Elbow

Two players start at opposite elbows of the free-throw line. A coach or teammate rolls the ball towards the basket, and both players race to retrieve it. The first player to get the ball takes a shot, while the other contests. This drill builds competitiveness and quick decision-making in scoring situations.

11. 3 Man Weave – 3 Jumpers

In this variation of the classic 3-man weave drill, players move the ball up the court using quick passes. After reaching the other end, each player takes a jumper in succession. This drill emphasizes teamwork, quick passing, and shooting off the catch.

12. Pass & Fade

This drill involves a player passing the ball to a teammate and then fading to a different spot on the court to receive a return pass for a shot. It helps players work on moving without the ball and getting into a better shooting position.

conclusion:

Incorporating these 12 shooting and finishing drills into your practice routine will help enhance your game by improving your accuracy, speed, and ability to perform under pressure. Whether you’re a coach looking to improve your team’s offensive skills or a player aiming to take your game to the next level, these drills provide a comprehensive approach to developing essential basketball skills.