Every young basketball player today dreams of having the shooting ability of Steph Curry. Sure, it may seem like an impossible goal. But unless your player puts in the work, they’ll never unlock their true potential.

With another season just a few months away, now is the time to start becoming an offensive threat. Here are five ways to improve your shot.

Locate the rim earlier

Players are taught at a young age to look up while they possess the ball. Doing so not only allows them to survey the floor, but also keeps the defense honest. This same idea carries over to shooting as well. By locating the rim even a second earlier, you give your brain more time to calculate distance and focus on your target.

Improve your follow-through

Many young players make the mistake of following through with a tense wrist. Keep in mind that your wrists should stay relaxed, and your fingers should be pointed at your target (the rim). A player with good shooting form can usually see their fingers at the top of the background during their follow-through.

Avoid thinking about your shot during games

We’re guessing you’ve heard the phrase “paralysis by analysis.” When applied to athletics, it basically means that overthinking causes your performance to suffer. That’s why we remind players to relax and allow their ability to take over during a game.

Trust us, the last thing you want to do is worry about your shooting mechanics when you should be focused on helping your team win. Remember that even the best shooters in the world continue to put up shots when they’re struggling, so you should have the same mindset.

Make 50 shots before every game

Everyone gets a little nervous before a game. That said, it’s important to maintain a high level of confidence. Before every game, make 50 shots about five feet from the basket. Though this may seem like a waste of time initially, the reality is that watching the ball go in the basket so many times in a short period of time will increase your confidence. Get to a college or professional basketball game early and you’ll see that a lot of players do this.

Always correct your shot

It does you no good to put up a bunch of shots using incorrect mechanics. As with any bad habit, the more you do it, the more ingrained it becomes. If you or a coach spots a problem with your mechanics, work on fixing it immediately, even if that means doing something that feels uncomfortable for a short amount of time.

IMPROVE YOUR SHOT DURING OUR LEXINGTON BASKETBALL CAMPS

Here at Hoop Dreams, players often ask us how they can improve their shot. We always tell them about our Sharp Shooters program — a class designed to help participants become more confident, skilled shooters. Every Sharp Shooters class features detailed instruction, demonstration, proper mechanics, and, of course, the use of our shooting machine.

When it comes to basketball camps in Lexington, Hoop Dreams has you covered. Our coaches want to help you become a lights-out shooter and a better player overall.

Check out our upcoming basketball camps today!