Should You Jump When Shooting A Basketball? (Explained!)

Yes, you should. You see, when you jump (when you shoot the ball), it makes your shot more accurate and more powerful. And, more power is good for shooting from beyond the arc as well as from close up. So, always shoot the ball, so it goes up in the air when you shoot it.

It’s easy to do. All you have to do is aim a little above the rim and shoot. The ball will go up and then come down because of gravity. But gravity will take care of the rest. Don’t worry if your shot doesn’t go up in the air. Just aim a little above the rim and shoot anyway. The ball will still go in. 

How does the jump shot work?

Next time you are at the gym, watch many basketball players as they are shooting their jump shots. Notice how they all shoot the ball, so it goes up in the air? That’s how you should be shooting your jump shot. Always remember: Power is the answer!

And, the more power you can get from the jump, the more likely you are to make a powerful shot. So, always aim a little above the rim and shoot anyway. The jump shot is the most challenging shot in all of basketball. People don’t talk about it nearly enough.

You see, not many people can shoot the jump shot well. However, almost everybody can learn to shoot it accurately. And, once you learn to shoot it accurately, you can then add power to your shot by jumping when you shoot it. 

Why do Basketball Players Need to Jump to Shoot?

Undeniably, the jump shot is one of the most challenging shots to make in all of basketball. It requires perfect balance, perfect coordination, and perfect timing. But, it is also an extremely effective shot. Why? Simply because of the way gravity works.

When a player shoots a jump shot, he starts by aiming a little above the rim. Then, he lets go of the ball and allows gravity to take care of the rest. But gravity isn’t the only thing working in your favor. The other thing working in your favor is the speed of the ball as it leaves the barrel of your gun. The faster the ball leaves the barrel of your gun, the more forward movement it will have and the more upward movement it will have due to the effects of gravity.

Higher Success Rates: 

Studies show that players who can shoot the jump shot have a higher success rate than players who cannot shoot it. Why? Simply because the jump shot is the most powerful shot in all of basketball. When you can shoot the jump shot, you give yourself a massive advantage over your opponent. Your opponent has to get closer to the basket to be able to shoot a jump shot. This means he is more likely to miss. You don’t have to get any closer to the basket when you can shoot the jump shot to be effective. You are effectively shooting from “across the court.”

The truth is, if you can shoot the jump shot, you are virtually guaranteed to make the basket. The only way an opponent can stop you is if he is very, very tall. And even then, it will be challenging for him to block your shot completely. The reason is simple: Gravity. As I said earlier, gravity works in your favor when you are shooting the jump shot.

More Momentum with Less Effort:

When you are shooting a jump shot, you don’t have to generate as much forward movement of the ball as you are shooting a layup or a free throw. You don’t have to generate any forward movement at all. When you can shoot the jump shot, the momentum of the ball takes care of itself. It wants to go where the hole is. The result is, you get more elevation on your jump shot than you do on your other shots. This means you get a higher percentage shot. The truth is, if you can shoot the jump shot, you should take almost every shot. The only time you shouldn’t shoot it is when a taller opponent is guarding you. But even then, it will be difficult for him to block your shot completely. The reason is simple: Gravity. As I said earlier, gravity works in your favor when you are shooting the jump shot.

More Confidence: 

When you can shoot the jump shot, you will have more confidence when taking the ball to court. You won’t have to think about the mechanics of the shot. You’ll just let your natural ability take over. The result is, you’ll make the shot with less hesitation and more confidence. When you can shoot the jump shot, the game slows down for you. You don’t have to think about whether or not the shot will go in. You just let your natural ability take over. The truth is, if you can shoot the jump shot, you should take almost every shot. The only time you shouldn’t shoot it is when a taller opponent is guarding you. But even then, it will be tough for him to block your shot completely. The reason is simple: Gravity. As I said earlier, gravity works in your favor when you are shooting the jump shot. 

More Accuracy: 

Shooting the jump shot requires very little thought. You simply let your natural ability take over and pull the trigger. This allows your mind to become focused on the mechanics of the shot. What happens as a result is your accuracy increases dramatically. You’ll make the shot with less thought and more confidence. When you can shoot the jump shot, the result is a more accurate jump shot. 

More Composure: 

When you can shoot the jump shot, you will have more composure when taking the ball to court. You won’t have to think about whether or not you will make the shot. You’ll just let your natural ability take over. The result is, you’ll make the shot with less hesitation and more confidence. When you can shoot the jump shot, the game slows down for you. You don’t have to think about whether or not the shot will go in. You just let your natural ability take over. The truth is, if you can shoot the jump shot, you should take almost every shot.

How do Basketball Players Perform the Basic Jump Shot?

As noted earlier, it is complicated for a defender to block your jump shot completely. However, most defenders try to do this. And most of the time, they succeed. This causes most players to become highly hesitant when they attempt to shoot the jump shot.

They never really know if they will be able to get the ball off. Or if they will make the shot. Instead, they should simply drive to the basket and use their strength to get the ball past the defender. But that’s not always possible. Sometimes, the only option a player has is to shoot a jump shot. And that’s where most players mess up.

They are so concerned about whether or not they will be able to get the ball off, and they end up taking way too long to make the shot. They hesitate and eventually lose the ball. Or they don’t even take the shot and give up an open layup. The result is, they never develop the kind of confidence that comes from making a shot. The truth is, if you can shoot the jump shot, you should take almost every shot.

Prepare:

To Jump – Before you even attempt to shoot the jump shot, you must first prepare to jump. You should start by getting your body in position to jump. Next, you should focus all of your attention on getting the ball off. Once you do that, then you can worry about where the ball will go.

Get Your Body In Position – Start by getting your body in position to make the jump. This means you should be standing with your legs shoulder-width apart and slightly bent. Your knees should be slightly bent, and your weight should be evenly distributed between your feet. Next, you should be looking at the basket and focusing all of your attention on it.

Raise The Ball – Now, as the ball is coming up, you should be raising your arms above your head. At the same time, you should be pushing off with your feet. This will help you get your momentum going and get that jump shot off with the least amount of effort.

Follow through:

When you follow through, you should not be thinking about anything except completing the movement. If you do this correctly, the arc of the ball as it comes off the rim will be almost a straight line from the point it leaves your hand all the way down to the basket.

Concentrate On The Movement:

When you are concentrating on the movement, you will not be thinking about the outcome. Therefore, if you can think of nothing else, you should focus on the movement itself. This will help you develop a relationship with the ball and make it easier for you to make the shot. The Importance Of Mental Toughness: Mental toughness can deal with and overcome obstacles or problems without losing focus or determination. It is the quality that allows you to continue pushing even when it would be much easier to give up.

Finish Strong:

Finally, you should finish the movement with your strongest muscles. This means your arms should be above your head, and your body should be in a straight line from your knees to your shoulders and then to the basket.

 

What are the Jump Shooting Mistakes Basketball Players Avoid?

In brief, these are the five most common mistakes basketball players make when they are attempting to jump shoot:

Not Raising The Ball High Enough:

The first thing you must do is get the ball as high into the air as possible. You should be looking to put the ball at the level of your eyebrows or higher. Next, you must raise your arms above your head so the ball will have enough momentum to go all the way through the hoop.

Not Keeping Your Hands Steady Enough:

When you are trying to jump shoot, you must keep your hands steady. If they are not steady, the ball will deviate to one side or the other, and you will miss the shot.

Focusing On The Outcome Instead Of The Movement:

As I said earlier, when you concentrate on the movement itself, you will not be thinking about the outcome. Therefore, if you can think of nothing else, you should concentrate on the movement itself. This will help you develop a relationship with the ball and make it easier for you to make the shot.

Not Following Through:

When you follow through, you should not be thinking about anything except completing the movement.

Not Keeping Your Body In Line With The Ball:

When you are jump shooting, your body should remain in line with the flight of the ball. If you deviate from this, the ball will hit the ground before it reaches the basket. 

Can you really improve your jump shot by practicing?

Yes, you can. If you practice the fundamentals I have described every day for one month, and your jump shot will improve dramatically. The truth is, you will develop a natural ability to jump shoot that is far better than anything you can learn in a gym. And, the more you practice, the more natural your jump shot will become.

How Can You Improve Your Jump Shooting Percentage?

In general, the best way to improve your jump shooting percentage is by making more jump shots. However, there are times when this is not possible. For example, if you are playing in a pickup game where the other team has superior athletes, you may not have many opportunities to practice. In this case, you can work on your jump shooting technique until it becomes second nature.

However, even if you are playing against inferior opponents, you can still improve your jump shooting percentage by working on it. Here are some things you can do:

Work On Your Form:

The first thing you must do is work on perfecting your jump shooting form. To begin with, you should concentrate on getting the ball as high into the air as possible.

Work On Getting The Ball Through The Air With Maximum Speed: 

After you have gotten the ball as high into the air as possible, the next step is to work on releasing the ball at the exact moment you hit the apex of your jump. If you do this correctly, the ball will travel through the air with maximum speed. This will result in more jump shots being made. 

Concentrate On Making More Jump Shots: 

The last thing you should do is concentrate on making more jump shots. This is the most important thing of all. If you do this consistently, your percentage will increase dramatically. Can You Improve Your Jump Shot By Practicing Alone? Yes, you can. However, it will take a lot longer than just 30 minutes per day. I would venture to say it will take at least 500 hours of solo practice before you become even average. 

Conclusion

Should You Jump When Shooting A Basketball? Yes! You should always shoot while jumping. It is one of the best ways to improve your jump shot. However, it is very important to understand that something is easy to do, doesn’t mean it is the right thing to do.

In this case, jumping while shooting will make your jump shot better. This is because it will force you to use proper techniques. Also, jumping while shooting will develop muscular coordination, an important ingredient in being a good basketball player.