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Shooting Off the Dribble Drill 1. Straight Drive One-Dribble Jump Shot.

This drill leads up to shooting jump shots off the dribble going to your strong-hand side and weak-hand side. Start with the ball at the left box outside the lane, your back to the basket. Pass to your self by tossing the ball high so it bounces high at the left elbow of the court. Run to the left elbow and catch the ball, your back to the basket, using a one-two stop, landing on your inside (left) foot first. Pivot on your inside (left) foot, using a front turn toward the middle and face the basket. Make a jab step with your right foot, while making a shot fake, showing the ball high. Be in triple-threat stance and in position to shoot first. Create space by dribbling once with your right hand toward the middle of the free throw line. Jump behind the ball.

Pick up the ball in front of your shooting knee with your shooting hand on top and your balance hand under the ball. Jump straight up and shoot a jump shot. Land in balance. Now perform the drill, starting from the right box and tossing the ball to the right elbow. Catch the ball while landing on your inside (right) foot first and pivot on your inside (right) foot, using a front turn toward the middle. Create space by dribbling once with your left hand toward the middle of the free throw line. Note: A right-handed player will have farther to jump when going to the left. A left-handed player will have farther to jump when going to the right in order to pick up the ball in front of the shooting knee. Record the number of one-dribble jump shots made out of 10 attempts, driving to the right from the left elbow. Your goal is to make 10 consecutive one-dribble jump shots off a straight drive right. Record the number of one-dribble jump shots made out of 10 attempts, driving to the left from the right elbow. Your goal is to make 10 consecutive one-dribble jump shots off a straight drive left.

Shooting Off the Dribble Drill 2. Crossover One-Dribble Jump Shot

This drill develops the ability to shoot jump shots off a crossover dribble while going to your strong-hand side and weak-hand side. The drill begins the same way as the previous drill. Begin with the ball at the right box outside the lane. Toss the ball to the right elbow. Catch the ball with your back to the basket using a one-two stop, landing on your inside (right) foot and pivoting toward the middle. Face the basket, making a jab step with your left foot, while making a shot fake, showing the ball high. Be in triple-threat stance, a threat to shoot first. Make a crossover step with your left foot to the outside. Create space with a long dribble with your outside (right) hand toward a 45-degree angle with the backboard. Jump behind the ball. Pick up the ball in front of your shooting knee with your shoot­ing hand on top and your balance hand under the ball. Jump straight up and shoot a jump shot. Land in balance.

Now perform the drill, starting from the left box and tossing the ball to the left elbow. Catch the ball while landing on your inside (left) foot first and pivot on your inside (left) foot, using a front turn toward the middle. Make a crossover step with your right foot to the outside. Create space with a long dribble with your outside (left) hand toward a 45-degree angle with the backboard. When dribbling to your weak-hand side, you can practice using two dribbles making a crossover dribble on the last dribble to pick up the ball in front of your shooting knee. Record the number made out of ten attempts using a crossover one-dribble jump shot from the right elbow, driving right toward a 45-degree angle with the backboard. Record the number made out of ten attempts using a crossover one-dribble jump shot from the left elbow, driving left toward a 45-degree angle with the backboard. Your goal is to make 10 consecutive crossover one-dribble jump shots off a crossover drive right and to make 10 consecutive one-dribble jump shots off a crossover drive left.

Shooting Off the Dribble Drill 3. Step-Back One-Dribble Jump Shot.

This drill develops the ability to shoot jump shots off a step-back dribble. As in the previous drill, begin with the ball at the right box outside the lane. Toss the ball to the right elbow. Catch the ball with your back to the basket using a one-two stop, landing on your inside (right) foot and pivoting toward the middle. Face the basket, making a jab step with your left foot, while making a shot fake, showing the ball high. Be in triple-threat stance, a threat to shoot first. Stop and read the defender. If the defender makes a retreat step, take a quick step-back away from your defender with your jab-step foot and at the same time dribble back with your strong hand. Jump behind the ball and pick it up in front of your shooting knee with your shooting hand on top.

Shoot a jump shot. Maintain balance by picking the ball up at your knee and exaggerating the follow-through of your shoulders, head and shooting hand toward the basket to counter any tendency to lean your head and shoulders back on your shot. Now perform the drill, starting from the left box and tossing the ball to the left elbow. Catch the ball while landing on your inside (left) foot first and pivot on your inside (left) foot, using a front turn toward the middle. Record the number of step-back one-dribble jump shots made out of 10 attempts from the right elbow. Record the number of step-back one-dribble jump shots made out of 10 attempts from the left elbow. Your goal is to make 10 consecutive step-back one-dribble jump shots from the right elbow and to make 10 consecutive step-back one-dribble jump shots from the left elbow.

Shooting Off a Step-Through Drill. Shot Fake Step-Through Jump Shot.

This drill develops the ability to shoot jump shots off a shot fake and step-through. As in the previous drill, begin with the ball at the right box outside the lane. Toss the ball to the right elbow. Catch the ball with your back to the basket using a one-two stop, landing on your inside (right) foot and pivoting toward the middle. Face the basket, making a jab step with your left foot, while making a shot fake, showing the ball high. Be in triple-threat stance, a threat to shoot first. Stop and read your defender’s hand position. If your defender’s hand is up on the same side as your jab step, step-through with your jab-step foot past your defender’s lead foot moving your head and shoulders under your defender’s arm.

If your defender’s hand is up on the side away from your jab step, crossover and step-through with your jab-step foot past your defender’s lead foot moving your head and shoulders under your defender’s arm. Protect the ball with your head and shoulders and move it away from your defender’s reach as you shoot a jump shot. Now perform the drill, starting from the left box and tossing the ball to the left elbow. Catch the ball while landing on your inside (left) foot first and pivot on your inside (left) foot, using a front turn toward the middle. Record the number of step-through jump shots made out of 10 attempts from the right elbow. Record the number of step-through jump shots made out of 10 attempts from the left elbow. Your goal is to make 10 consecutive step-through jump shots from the right elbow and to make 10 consecutive step-through jump shots from the left elbow.

Edited from:

Wissel, Hal. (2004). Basketball: Steps to Success. Human Kinetics, Champaign, IL. 2nd Edition.

Wissel, Hal. (2005). Basketball Shooting: Off the Pass, Off the Dribble and In the Post. Basketball World, Suffield, CT.

Dr. Hal Wissel is well known for his ability to develop players. Hal founded Basketball World, an instructional venture featuring basketball camps, clinics, books, videos and DVDs. Coach Wissel’s SHOOT IT BETTER Mini Camps are conducted worldwide for players ranging from NBA to youth level.

Wissel earned his doctorate in physical education and has authored two books. Basketball: Steps to Success has been translated into seven languages. Becoming a Basketball Player has been made into five videos. Dr. Wissel has produced two DVDs, Basketball Shooting: Confidence, Rhythm and Mechanics, and Basketball Shooting: Off the Pass, Off the Dribble and In the Post.

Coach Wissel has a wealth of NBA experience as an Assistant Coach with the Atlanta Hawks, Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies and New Jersey Nets. Hal was also Director of Player Personnel with the Nets and Advance Scout with the Milwaukee Bucks and Dallas Mavericks. As a head college coach, Wissel compiled over 300 victories. Hal coached Florida Southern College to the 1981 Division II NCAA Championship.